WTF is a Misanthropic Humanist?
Well obviously it’s someone who is both a Humanist and a Misanthrope? Not getting it? Read on...
OK let’s have some definitions:
Humanist : An adherent to a non-religious philosophical outlook that places human wellbeing and flourishing at the centre of moral and ethical considerations.
Misanthrope : A hater of humankind; a person who distrusts and generally dislikes other people.
Got it now? OK, I’ll admit it might seem like a bit of an oxymoron, but bear with me. A misanthropic humanist is someone who wants the best for everyone despite believing that most people are arseholes—and that a good portion of the remainder are dickheads. Still confused? Press on, ‘beloved’ reader (ha!), and hopefully all shall become clear.
The book’s central dichotomy is this: how and why do we reconcile putting the value of people at the centre of our worldview while constantly being disappointed by the dickishness of most of the ones we actually meet, see, or read about? By the end, maybe we’ll have an answer—or at the very least, we’ll have had some fun and learned something useful along the way.
I definitely relate to this, I have been doing some inter and intrapersonal searching lately. Even putting myself in vulnerable situations where I have reached out to other local driven women to directly from or help their causes. It's all come full circle now, some gatekeepers along the way but that's to be expected. I read somewhere that those people haven't yet healed from the turmoil of isolation in their journeys and when they see someone like me come along they are immediately skeptical to connect. Others have made an attempt to carve time for me, and then went back on the agreement to meet. So, I don't know what to make of it...I just keep searching, reading, learning, growing...I choose me in the end anyway.