New Man (utopian concept)
The New Man is a
Philosophical and religious versions
Baháʼí New Race of Men
Baha'u'llah emphasises the selfless, altruistic nature of this new humanity that will come into being, writing that, "To be purged from defilement is to be cleansed of that which is injurious to man and detracteth from his high station—among which is to take undue pleasure in one’s own words and deeds, however worthy they may be. True peace and tranquillity will only be realized when every soul will have become the well-wisher of all mankind."[9] The Baháʼí writings also clarify that the initial response of fear will be short-lived, saying, "The fears and agitation which the revelation of this [God’s] law provokes in men's hearts should indeed be likened to the cries of the suckling babe weaned from his mother's milk, if ye be of them that perceive. Were men to discover the motivating purpose of God's Revelation, they would assuredly cast away their fears, and, with hearts filled with gratitude, rejoice with exceeding gladness". [10] Philosopher Ian Kluge identifies what he terms, "the process of revolution and transformation from within" as only a part of a wider process of radical change initiated in this current era of history, citing this quote from the Baha'i writings: the "whole creation was revolutionized and all that are in the heavens and all that are on earth were stirred to the depths. Through that Word the realities of all created things were shaken, were divided, separated, scattered, combined and reunited, disclosing entities of a new creation..."[11]
The Baháʼí Faith also emphasises how this ideal human state is a distant goal towards which all must strive -
“we can see that the process of recreating ourselves to be part of a new race of men will be an ongoing struggle for years to come”.
Regarding this new state in humanity's evolution, it is also stated that "souls will arise and holy beings appear" who will "labor ceaselessly", "scatter in the world, and travel throughout all regions", "raise their voices in every assembly, and adorn and revive every gathering", "speak in every tongue, and interpret every hidden meaning", "reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom, and manifest unto everyone the signs of God", "perfume and revive the souls of men", and "reinvigorate the peoples and nations of the world".[15] Baháʼí economist, John Huddleston, in discussing the three necessary dimensions required to achieve World Peace writes that “The first dimension is the creation of a new race of men: the adoption of the highest ethical standards by every man, woman, and child on the planet”.[16] In the Lights of Irfan annual publication, philosophy scholar Ian Kluge provides a comparative treatment of Baháʼí and Nietzschean concepts, including the Baháʼí new race of men and Nietzsche's Übermensch.[17]
Nietzschean Übermensch
Philosopher
Political versions
Liberal
Thomas Paine and William Godwin believed that the spread of classical liberalism in France and the United States constituted the birth of a New Man and a new era.[19]
Utopian socialist
Utopian socialists such as Henri de Saint-Simon, Charles Fourier and Robert Owen saw a future Golden Age led by a New Man who would reconstruct society.[20]
Communist
The Cuban state sought to develop the socialist New Man through its voluntarism-focused Revolutionary Offensive campaign.[22]: 37–38 It again sought to promote the socialist revolutionary ideals of the New Man during the Battle of Ideas, a political campaign launched by Fidel Castro in 2000 following the popular mobilizations seeking the return of seven year-old Elián González from the United States.[23]: 138–139
Fascist
Part of a series on |
Fascism |
---|
Fascism supports the creation of a New Man who is a strong-willed, dynamic archetype, a figure of direct action and bellicose violence. An anti-individualist, he is characterized by a sense of confidence and masculinity, quiet dignity and self-worth, determination, and authoritativeness. With a detachment from romantic love, family background and schooling, his worldview is romanticized, passionate, serious and realist, preoccupied with the honoring of fallen heroes, a strong belief in personal responsibility, national rebirth and renewal. He regards himself as one component of a disciplined mass that has shorn itself of individualism, party politics discrimination, and cohesive class orientation in favor of a united, para-militarist effort.[24] One example of this was the idea of the Political Soldier, which was developed by the leaders of the Official National Front in the UK in the 1980s and became part of the ideology of the Third Position.[25][26]
Transhumanist
Transhumanism welcomes the creation of a literal new man by enhancements through cybernetics and other "human enhancements", and look to the singularity as that point in time when the new man arrives, his birthday if you will. Scholar Klaus Vondung argues that Transhumanism represents the final revolution.[27] Others have made similar observations.[28][29]
See also
References
- ^ The Universal House of Justice. A New Race of Men and the meaning of "Tread Under". 2013-09-13. http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj_tread_race_men
- ^ "Arabic and Fársí transcription list and glossary for Bahá'ís".
- ^ "Proofs from the Holy Qur'án Regarding the Advent of Bahá'u'lláh".
- ^ "Qā'imiyya - the Letter to Mullā Shaykh AIī Turshīzī entitled 'Aẓīm (D. Tehran 1852) | Hurqalya Publications: Center for Shaykhī and Bābī-Bahā'ī Studies".
- ^ Nwachuku, Anisa Khadem. Critiquing Economic Frameworks in Sustainable Development: Health Equity, Resource Management and Materialism. Diss. Columbia University, 2011 - Baha'u'llah cited page viii
- Abdu'l-Bahá and the Iranian Constitutional Revolution: Embracing Principles while Disapproving Methodologies1." The Journal of Baha'i Studies 24.1/2 (2014) https://journal.bahaistudies.ca/online/article/view/160
- ^ The Universal House of Justice. A New Race of Men and the meaning of "Tread Under". 2013-09-13. http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj_tread_race_men
- ^ LIV - Baháʼuʼlláh, and Shoghi Effendi. Prayers and Meditations. Baháʼí Pub. Trust, 1987.
- ^ "Bahá'í Reference Library - the Tabernacle of Unity, Pages 3-13".
- ^ "Bahá'í Reference Library - Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, Page 175".
- ^ Ian Kluge, "Nietzsche and the Baháʼí Writings: A First Look" in Lights of Irfan, volume 18, pages 351-424, 2017. Publisher: ‘Irfán Colloquia. http://irfancolloquia.org/130/kluge_nietzsche
- ^ The Universal House of Justice. A New Race of Men and the meaning of "Tread Under". 2013-09-13. http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj_tread_race_men
- ^ "Bahá'í Reference Library - the Promulgation of Universal Peace, Pages 58-60".
- ^ "Bahá'í Reference Library - Paris Talks, Pages 146-151".
- ^ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá. http://www.bahai.org/r/517008437
- ^ Huddleston, John (1987). "Just System of Government: The Third Dimension to World Peace". The Bahá'í Faith and Marxism.
- ^ Ian Kluge, "Nietzsche and the Baháʼí Writings: A First Look" in Lights of Irfan, volume 18, pages 351-424, 2017. Publisher: ‘Irfán Colloquia. http://irfancolloquia.org/130/kluge_nietzsche
- ^ Hans van Stralen. Choices and conflict: essays on literature and existentialism. Pp. Brussels, Belgium: Peter Lang, 2005. 127-128.
- ^ Gregory Claeys. The Cambridge Companion to Utopian Literature. Cambridge, England, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Pp. 11-12.
- ^ Gregory Claeys. The Cambridge Companion to Utopian Literature. Cambridge, England, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Pp. 14.
- ^ Guevara, Che. "Socialism and man in Cuba". www.marxists.org.
- ISBN 978-0-520-39313-4.
- ISBN 978-0-520-39313-4.
- ^ Cyprian Blamires. World Fascism: a historical encyclopedia, Volume 1. Santa Barbara, California, USA: ABC-CLIO, 2006. Pp. 466, 506.
- ^ "Political Soldiers and the New Man - part one". Community Security Trust. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
- ^ "Political Soldiers and the New Man - part two". Community Security Trust. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
- ISBN 9781443846769– via Google Books.
- .
- ^ Knowing New Biotechnologies: Social Aspects of Technological Convergence, p. 77-91