Hans A. Pestalozzi
Encyclopedia
Hans A. Pestalozzi was a Swiss
social critic who, in the prime of life, broke free from the Establishment and started a new life explaining and criticizing late 20th century capitalism
, which eventually led to his becoming a bestselling author (Nach uns die Zukunft, Auf die Bäume ihr Affen).
Pestalozzi was born in Zürich
. After his university education, which he received at University of St. Gallen
, he started working for Migros
and soon began to climb the career ladder. In the 1960s he also built up the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institut
, a think tank
named after the Migros founder (who had died in 1962). The institute was being established to investigate the range of possible shortcomings and negative effects of capitalism, in particular within Western consumer society
, so that they could be combated more effectively.
Pestalozzi fulfilled that task very thoroughly, especially in his lecture
s, so much so that in 1977 he was fired by Migros. Rather than looking for a new job, he became a freelance writer
and self-proclaimed "autonomous agitator" who sided with the fledgling European youth, peace and ecological movements. He preached "positive subversion" and, in a Kantian
manner, tried to convince people that using their own intelligence was the right thing to do. Moreover, he demanded a guaranteed minimum income
for everybody.
Hans A. Pestalozzi died a recluse by suicide
in his home Heimetli near Wattwil, Canton of St. Gallen
.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
social critic who, in the prime of life, broke free from the Establishment and started a new life explaining and criticizing late 20th century capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, which eventually led to his becoming a bestselling author (Nach uns die Zukunft, Auf die Bäume ihr Affen).
Pestalozzi was born in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. After his university education, which he received at University of St. Gallen
University of St. Gallen
The University of St. Gallen is a public research university located in St. Gallen, Switzerland. It is specialized in the fields of business administration, economics, law, and international affairs. The University of St. Gallen is also known as HSG, which is an abbreviation of its former German...
, he started working for Migros
Migros
Migros is one of Switzerland's largest enterprises, its largest supermarket chain and largest employer. It co-founded Turkey's largest retailer, Migros Türk, which became independent of Migros Switzerland in 1975....
and soon began to climb the career ladder. In the 1960s he also built up the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institut
Gottlieb Duttweiler Institut
The GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute is an independent think-tank and the oldest organisation of its kind in Switzerland. It is located in Rüschlikon, near Zurich....
, a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
named after the Migros founder (who had died in 1962). The institute was being established to investigate the range of possible shortcomings and negative effects of capitalism, in particular within Western consumer society
Consumer
Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...
, so that they could be combated more effectively.
Pestalozzi fulfilled that task very thoroughly, especially in his lecture
Lecture
thumb|A lecture on [[linear algebra]] at the [[Helsinki University of Technology]]A lecture is an oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject, for example by a university or college teacher. Lectures are used to convey critical information, history,...
s, so much so that in 1977 he was fired by Migros. Rather than looking for a new job, he became a freelance writer
Freelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...
and self-proclaimed "autonomous agitator" who sided with the fledgling European youth, peace and ecological movements. He preached "positive subversion" and, in a Kantian
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg , researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th Century Enlightenment....
manner, tried to convince people that using their own intelligence was the right thing to do. Moreover, he demanded a guaranteed minimum income
Guaranteed minimum income
Guaranteed minimum income is a system of social welfare provision that guarantees that all citizens or families have an income sufficient to live on, provided they meet certain conditions. Eligibility is typically determined by citizenship, a means test and either availability for the labour...
for everybody.
Hans A. Pestalozzi died a recluse by suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in his home Heimetli near Wattwil, Canton of St. Gallen
Canton of St. Gallen
The Canton of St. Gallen is a canton of Switzerland. St. Gallen is located in the north east of Switzerland. It covers an area of 2,026 km², and has a population of . , the population included 97,461 foreigners, or about 20.9% of the total population. The capital is St. Gallen. Spelling...
.
External links
- Hans A.Pestalozzi: "Strategies of Social Change" (1990) (on Erich FrommErich FrommErich Seligmann Fromm was a Jewish German-American social psychologist, psychoanalyst, sociologist, humanistic philosopher, and democratic socialist. He was associated with what became known as the Frankfurt School of critical theory.-Life:Erich Fromm was born on March 23, 1900, at Frankfurt am...
) - Pestalozzi's "Aufruf zur Rebellion" (in GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
)