Sylvia Swinden

From Monkey Sapiens to Homo Intentional: the Phenomenology of the Non-violent Revolution Sylvia Swinden

From Monkey Sapiens to Homo Intentional discusses the theory and practice of the non-violent revolution, comparing the cultural influence of concepts arising from the fields of humanism, psychoanalysis, sociology and behavioural psychology. It critiques social Darwinism as a mere theoretical justification for the concentration of wealth and power in a few hands and calls for an alternative understanding of the human psyche that could be used to produce desired social and personal transformations. The book posits that violence is for dummies and shows how different forms of violence oppress and suppress the human person. It sensitises the reader to ways in which language could be used to further the objectives of the powerful and also analyses some of the recent wars to show how commercial interests and the need to gain electoral advantages could trigger and sustain armed conflict. It also warns about the misapplications and misinterpretations of science, arguing that science needs to be given a humanising direction to enable it to fulfil its humane role for humankind. The book proposes the notion of New Humanism in which humankind rather than money is the central value, and articulates a manual for non-violent education that could help activate human intentionality as a powerful tool to defeat mechanical inevitability. ________________________________ Silvia Swinden, Medical MRCPsych, is a medical doctor who has worked in the fields of Internal Medicine, Psychiatry and Intensive Care. She campaigns on Human Rights and travels throughout Europe, Africa and the Americas lecturing and training teachers, community leaders, students and other activists on Education for Non Violence - a programme based on the Psychology of New Humanism. She has presented her work at several international Conferences.