Who is a misanthrope?

Very often one has to hear about famous people: "famous scientist", "philosopher", "inventor", "made a great contribution to the development of a certain sphere of human activity" and at the same time ... "misanthrope". What is behind this word? Who it misanthrope?

Misanthrope (a composite of the Greek "man" and "hatred") is a person who adheres to a certain philosophy of life, or rather philosophy of misanthropy. Misanthropy can manifest itself in a mild form of predisposition to rejection of people, and extreme forms of intolerance. It is worth emphasizing, however, who the misanthrope is. This is an individual whose hatred is not directed at specific people, but on existing social values and norms of behavior, on a sinful human nature that can not be changed by anything. Misanthrope is not without self-criticism at all, sometimes he exposes himself to more overstated demands than to others. The rejection of society does not prevent, however, such people from maintaining warm intimate relationships with those few friends or loved ones to whom they feel sympathy.

Finding out who is a misanthrope, let's try to trace the history of the term itself. Widespread use of the word "misanthrope" received after the publication of the same name Comedy by Jean Baptiste Moliere. In it the author tells us about a young boy, Alzeste, who was very surprised his relatives and friends with his strange deeds. Contrary to the public and lascivious manner of communication accepted at that time, the hero did not want to follow generally accepted norms and preferred to speak the whole truth in person, whatever it was. He constantly rebuked his friend Philint, beloved by Seliment and other people around him, adhered to his principles even when they brought him to a very disadvantageous position. The result of this play is sad: pursued by his judicial adversary, rejected by his beloved, he retires to live alone, to have the full right to talk about people what he really thinks. What is really more important for a person - a social position or own opinion? Here's what kind of question makes the reader think "Misanthrope."

The meaning of this word acquired a new significance in the heyday of capitalist society, when money becomes higher than moral values and breaks down the established foundations for centuries, workers are exploited as working units. Against the backdrop of this world fairs of human vices, the most vivid protest against the existing order of things is expressed in the works of Schopenhauer (who believed that he lives in the worst of the worlds) and F. Nietzsche (who claimed that man no longer evolves). Misanthropy became almost a universal phenomenon due to the wars and social catastrophes of the 20th century, then it was even fashionable to say: "I am a misanthrope." Therefore, with a certain degree of certainty, it can be argued that the spread of anti-human sentiments is an important indicator of the state of social decay, when a man becomes a burden to his brothers in reason, their values and principles.

About one who is such a misanthrope, whether he is useful for society, one can argue for a long time, but one thing remains obvious: the phenomenon of misanthropy existed throughout human history, only in different scales.