ABOUT THIS BOOK

The eminent political scientist Manfred Halpern (1924–2001) viewed politics as belonging to each of us, as part of the nature of being human. In A Comprehensive Philosophy of Transformation, his magnum opus, Halpern elucidates the interconnected “four faces of our being”: the political, personal, historical, and sacred. This momentous volume identifies several modes of political activity, warns against the dangers of leaving politics to professional politicians, and urges us to build networks of compassion that include everyone in a just society. Overall, Halpern calls for a transformative politics achieved through enhanced participation and understanding.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Manfred Halpern (1924–2001) was professor in the Department of Politics at Princeton University.
David Abalos is visitor professor of politics at Princeton University and professor emeritus of religious studies and sociology at Seton Hall University.

REVIEWS

“This is Manfred Halpern’s magnum opus. It is a scholarly and spiritual masterpiece. The human race is rapidly approaching a crisis of epic proportions, with America at the epicenter of it all. Manfred Halpern’s comprehensive philosophy addresses what the crisis is really about, how best to meet it and how to embrace the changes we must make or face unimaginable perils. This work is about the importance of seeing dramatic change as a positive thing and about the strength, beauty and necessity of universal transformation. What could be more significant and useful at this time in history?”

— Ted Becker, Auburn University

“Manfred Halpern’s Transforming the Personal, Political, Historical and Sacred in Theory and Practice is destined to be a classic. It is the culmination of a lifetime of work. Sparked by Halpern’s experience as a diplomat in the Middle East, it was then shaped by decades of research and reflection, and honed by communicating the ideas to generations of students and colleagues. At Princeton, Halpern’s ideas captivated students in the way that Teilhard de Chardin, Mircea Eliade, Martin Buber, Carl Jung and Friedrich Hegel captured earlier generations. This is a rare and brilliant book that will endure.”

— Carl Rigolot, Princeton University

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Invitation to an Unfamiliar Journey

PART ONE: THE HEART OF THE MATTER

1. The Archetypal Drama of Transformation

2. Questions about the Drama of Transformation

3. Who Are We?

Knowing, Interconnecting, and Fulfilling the Four Faces—and Also the Source—of Our Being

PART TWO: THE FOUR WAYS OF LIFE

4. Enclosing Ourselves in Emanation as a Way of Life

5. In the Service of Incoherence

6. Deformation: A Way of Life Moving Us toward Destructive Death

7. Transformation as a Way of Life

PART THREE: CHOICES WITHIN EACH WAY OF LIFE: INTRODUCING ARCHETYPAL RELATIONSHIPS AND STORIES

8. Nine Archetypal Relationships

9. The Archetypal Drama of Being Competent

10. Transforming Love, Romantic Love, and Other Forms

Contrasting Archetypal Dramas

11. What Archetypes Shape Culture—and Race and Ethnicity?

12. Archetypal Dramas of Being Masculine and Feminine

PART FOUR: THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF TRANSFORMATION

13. The Nature of Archetypal Dramas

14. Choosing from among Four Sacred Sources

15. What Kind of a Theory is This?

16. On Justice

Bibliography

Index