Forums

The Franklin Merrell-Wolff Fellowship Forum Series


On Government: The Political Philosophy of Franklin Merrell-Wolff


The Franklin Merrell-Wolff Fellowship is pleased to announce the inauguration of an annual series of forums on Franklin Merrell-Wolff and his work. Each fall we will announce a call for papers on a topic related to Wolff and his work. The deadline for submission of critical essays on this topic will be the following autumn, at which time accepted articles will be published in the Fellowship’s online journal, Proceedings of the Franklin Merrell-Wolff Forums. Our intention is to emphasize the practical aspects of Wolff’s work in these forums, which we hope will get more people engaged with this work and help us establish connections with other organizations that share similar interests.

The Fellowship’s first forum is a reflection of contemporary world affairs, in which we find ourselves questioning the role of government in our lives. Indeed, the problems of the world today—human rights and welfare, terrorism, climate change, arms control, poverty, over-population, corporate responsibility, to name but a few—present unprecedented challenges for our societies. And yet, it seems evident to many that our political systems are largely ill-equipped to meet these challenges. Not only do our politicians seem ineffective or uninterested in such matters, our governments are not properly organized to address them.

Franklin Merrell-Wolff thought that it was important to engage in the political world, and in 1940, he advised that:

It is a matter of vital importance for all, for the pure scientist and for the recluse, as well as for men engaged in more ‘practical’ affairs, just what form the future organization of society may assume. At this time it is no longer safe for any man to abstract himself from concern relative to political affairs.

This quote is from a booklet in which Wolff advances a political agenda he called the “The Vertical Thought Movement.” Wolff wrote this manifesto in the wake of the 1940 United States presidential election, which saw the New Deal Movement run virtually unopposed. In response, Wolff proposed a new political association that he intended to be a “continuous crusade oriented to a principle and conviction which stands in contrapuntal relation to the Socialist Movement.”

More of Wolff’s thoughts on government can be gleaned from his books Pathways Through to Space and The Philosophy of Consciousness-Without-an-Object, as well as several essays he penned prior to the 1960s. After this date, Wolff made a number of audio recordings that addressed political natters, including the political turbulence of the 1960s and 1970s. Those works in the Wolff Archives (both written and audio) that contain Wolff’s ruminations on matters political are listed below.

No doubt some will find aspects of Wolff’s political commentary troubling—he was staunchly conservative, and was not shy about expressing his displeasure with the current affairs of his day. And not surprisingly, he had no tolerance for a political system that suppressed the expression of human spirituality (Marxist communism, for example). It is important to understand, however, that our concern in this forum is not on partisan politics, but on political theory in the general sense. In fact, Wolff’s agenda not only allows for, but recognizes the importance of, a dialectical interplay between the Right and the Left. He notes that in an ideal world “profound social balance” is achieved with a harmonious balance between Rightist and Leftist temperaments, and suggests that the United States Constitution as originally written achieved this equilibrium.

Wolff goes on to argue that American politics has lost this balance, and is now weighted too heavily to the Left. He sees this imbalance as beginning in the infancy of the American republic, and as continuing with the New Deal and the student rebellion of the 1960-70s. Wolff’s argument for this assertion is open to debate, and he would have been the first to welcome a critical scrutiny of his reasoning. Accordingly, this claim is fair game for the forum (see the ‘Historical’ bullet point in the “Call for Papers” that follows).

Of course, such an analysis cannot be carried without a clear picture of Wolff’s general agenda, which is the central focus of this forum. Thus, our first order of business is to provide a sketch of this agenda, a project that will require analyses from a philosophical, an historical, and a psychological standpoint. We may then address the questions of whether Wolff properly analyzed the political milieu of his day, and whether his agenda can help guide us through the turbulent waters of current political affairs.



CALL FOR PAPERS


Franklin Merrell-Wolff thought that it was important to engage in the political world, and in 1940, he began to advance a political agenda known as the “Vertical Thought Movement.” Does Wolff’s agenda have any relevance to our current political scene? In particular, can this agenda help us chart the turbulent waters of today’s political world? In order to answer these questions, we believe a number of viewpoints of Wolff’s work should be explored—including the following:


• Philosophical: What is Wolff’s political agenda, and how is it rooted in his philosophy?


• Historical: What was the political milieu of the period when Wolff began to advance his agenda, and how was his agenda a reaction to this scene? How and why does he see the New Deal (and the student rebellions thirty years later) as disturbances to the equilibrium of political balance?


• Psychological: Wolff employs notions from Jungian psychology in his agenda—what are these notions and how are they employed?


• Political: How would one categorize and analyze today’s political situation in terms of Wolff’s agenda?


The Franklin Merrell-Wolff Fellowship invites interested parties to submit critical essays that address the above questions, or that address other topics that are relevant to political philosophy of Franklin Merrell-Wolff. Honorariums are available for accredited scholars. If you are interested in submitting an essay for this forum, please contact the Forum Moderator at forum@merrell-wolff.org


Accepted essays will be published in both emailed and on-line editions of the Fellowship’s annual series, Proceedings of The Franklin Merrell-Wolff Fellowship Forums. In addition, an online wallboard will be created for each piece so that readers may post responses and comments.


Deadline for Submission: October 15, 2012


Those works in the Wolff Archives (both written and audio) that contain Wolff’s ruminations on matters political are listed below. A download/printable copy of the this list as well as of this call for papers are available at the end of this page.



WOLFF'S WORKS "ON GOVERNMENT"


Written Work


Woman's Place in the New Race (1916)


This is Wolff's first publication, which appeared in the January 1916 edition of The Temple Artisan, a quarterly publication of The Temple of the People. Located in Halycon, CA, this organization is still operating, and continues to publish this quarterly pamphlet. Reprinted in The Sangha November 1, 1991.


Franklin Merrell-Wolff's Experience and Philosophy: A Personal Record of Transformation and a Discussion of Transcendental Consciousness (1936-44)


This volume contains Pathways Through to Space, and Parts 1 and 2 of The Philosophy of Consciousness Without an Object.


Transformations in Consciousness: The Metaphysics and Epistemology (1937-44)


This volume contains an edited version of Parts 3 and 4 of The Philosophy of Consciousness Without An Object. Edited with a foreword by Ron Leonard.


The Vertical Thought Movement (1940)


This is a manuscript that Wolff wrote in the wake of the 1940 U.S. presidential election, in which the New Deal Movement went virtually unopposed. Wolff proposes a new political association—The Vertical Thought Movement—which he sees as a “continuous crusade oriented to a principle and conviction which stands in contrapuntal relation to the Socialist Movement." Reprinted in Assembly of Man Bulletin Nos. 13-20 (Summer 1962 - Summer 1964). This manuscript was also distributed as an undated pamphlet with a foreword note by Lakshmi Devi. An excerpt from this document was printed in The Sangha August 1980.


"God and-or Caesar" (Date unknown)


Published in The Seeker Nos. 1 & 2 (May-Summer 1967).  Reprinted in The Sangha September 1993 and December 1993; an excerpt printed in December 1984. 


"Responsibilities of Co-Students" (Date unknown)


Written by Yogagñani. Reprinted as "Responsibility of Co-Students" in The Sangha October/November 1982.


Audio Recordings


Lectures to University Students: Part 05 (02/??/1969)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff addresses a group of students concerning the "wrongness" in the world due to suffering, ignorance, and perverse will. He makes a case for cultivating an attitude of nonviolence and raises the question of conscientious objection to military service. He discusses the use of truth-force and cautions that in a world that is not morally mature, we are going to face compromise. He then offers a distinction between speculative and transcriptive thinking and affirms that transcriptive thinking may come in from above to help solve world problems.


Lectures to University Students: Part 07 (02/??/1969)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff offers a preliminary assessment of the student revolution of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He submits that its lack of a defined positive objective distinguishes it from other historical revolutions and renders it both inexplicable and dangerous. He goes on to discuss the need to overcome inner violence and issues a stern warning against the indiscriminant use of drugs.


Population Explosion and Ecological Imbalance (3/19/1970)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff discusses the drastic consequences of not coming to terms with our serious ecological problems of over-population, pollution, and over-consumption.


Federalism and the Question of Conscientious Objection (7/2/1970)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff offers a critique of the decision handed down by the Supreme Court in the case of Elliott Ashton Welsh, II. He discusses the division of powers in our government and what should be the basis of conscientious objection to participation in military service by considering the distinction between purely conventional morality, reflective morality, and spiritual morality.


Positive Law, Manners or Morals, and Freedom (7/9/1970)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff continues to examine the reasons why we are justified in not regarding our present state of social and governmental development as a true civilization by analyzing three principles that guide our  conduct and activities: first, those governed by positive law; second, the zone of manners or morals; and third, the zone of freedom.


Student Revolt with Special Reference to the New Left (8/11/1970)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff discusses the irrationality of the student revolt of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He argues that it should be understood as a massive social illness calling for psychological and spiritual attention.

Student Revolt and with Special Reference to the New Left: Introduction (8/23/1970)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff describes the noble and dark sides of the student revolt and offers introductory remarks to clarify his strong condemnation of this movement.


Student Revolt with Special Reference to the New Left: Further Thoughts (8/21/1970)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff gives a strong condemnation of the unethical and evil behavior exhibited by the revolting students at the Democratic Convention in 1968. He attributes the negative influence exerted upon them to the work of Karl Marx and Dr. Sigmund Freud, and provides an insight into the irrational nature of crowd psychology.

On Manners, Taste, and Style (8/30/1970)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff offers a distinction between the aristocratic and vulgar attitudes among men and suggests that the "aristocrat" develops a sense for nuance and subtle discernment that makes him more capable of realizing spiritual consciousness.


Report on the Longhairs (11/16/1970)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff gives his impression of the "longhairs." He denounces their orientation to what he calls universal “uglification” and urges those young people oriented to peace and love to sever their connection with those who are not so oriented. He then condemns the evil and vicious tactics historically employed by Marxist regimes.


Collectivism and Individualism (11/21/1970)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff discusses three main forms of socialism: the administrative, the idealistic, and the revolutionary. He argues that the real contrast in political systems is not between socialism and capitalism, but rather between the collectivity and the individual. He points out that by emphasizing the freedom of the individual, the good of the collectivity can best be attained.


Philosophy and the New Left: Part 01 (11/24/1970)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff presents a critique of various pragmatic thinkers and their philosophic line of influence on the New Left. He suggests how the pragmatic orientation to action fits the political scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s.


Philosophy and the New Left: Part 02 (12/20/1970)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff outlines his impression of Henri Bergson while attending Harvard. He discusses the nature of the moral dilemma reached by both the Vitalistic and Voluntaristic schools of philosophy. He provides an analysis of the theory of evolution held by Bergson and the Pragmatists in the light of evolutionary theories presented by the Theosophical movement and Sri Aurobindo. He discusses the nature of mediate and immediate cognition and the luminous roots of introceptual knowledge.


Philosophy and the New Left: Part 03 (12/27/1970)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff continues to draw correlations between Pragmatism and the New Left. He outlines the distinction between thalamic and cortical behavior as presented in a quote from Arthur Koestler’s The Yogi and the Commissar, and insists that the rational principle did not evolve only to assist in the adaptation of a living organism to its environment as the Pragmatists assert. He goes on to discuss the nature of 'systematic' and 'physiognomic' time as formulated in Spengler's The Decline of the West. He then offers an analysis of Marcuse's influence on the thought and behavior of the New Left and a critique of his misapplication of the triadic dialectic.


Philosophy and the New Left: Part 04 (1/3/1971)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff continues his analysis of the Marcuse's misuse of Hegel's triadic dialectic and the influence Marx and Freud had on his thought. He discusses the Eros principle, the power principle, and formulates the basis for motivation by the Truth principle. He then goes on to discuss Jung's impression of Freud by considering a lengthy quote from Memories, Dreams, Reflections and suggests that this reveals the influence of Freud's thought to be very largely dark and evil.


Philosophy and the New Left: Part 5 (??/??/1971)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff concludes his discussion of Freud's sexual theory and its regressive interpretation of culture. He then suggests that the schema offered in Kundalini Yoga provides another way of interpreting the relationship between sexuality and culture that is not fraught with this denigrating implication. He concludes this series by maintaining that in dealing with the essentially irrational factors that characterize the thinking of the New Left, we cannot dispense with the need for "conversion."


The State of the World (1/9/1975)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff examines the energy crisis, the threat of nuclear destruction, population explosion, and environmental deterioration. He discusses the problems inherent in dialectic materialism around the world and the irrational multiplication of law in our country. He condemns the breakdown of sexual discipline, indulgence in violence in act and entertainment, the cult of ugliness, and the use of drugs. He argues that we are living in a world of vice that can only be saved from disaster by the intervention of illumined men who watch and guard this humanity.


Revolution and Evolution: Part 01 (1/14/1975)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff presents a mathematical approach integrating the concepts of revolution and evolution. He then outlines a theory of individual psychology and explains how psychological type forms the basis of one's political orientation either to the collective or the individual. He maintains that both have their place and that society should be so organized that neither is crushed. He discusses the nature of military, political, and economic power and states his preference for economic power where the principle of reason has an opportunity to function effectively.


Revolution and Evolution: Part 02 (1/18/1975)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff continues to argue that the distinction between the collective and the individual is not simply a moral one but a question of individual psychology. He discusses different collectivistic patterns and maintains that the contrast is not capitalism versus socialism but freedom versus regimentation. He insists that it is more important that the individual should be emphasized since it is only through the individual that the Divine enters the world.


Revolution and Evolution: Part 03 (3/8/1975)


Franklin Merrell-Wolff continues to outline the general principle of governance in the field covered by the terms politics, economics, and sociology—including the religious field of interest. He proceeds to an evaluation as to which type of individual should be in positions of power—individuals who are more feeling and emotion oriented or those who are more thinking and reason oriented. He then discusses Le Bon's work on crowd psychology and Moley's characterization of the political mind.

The Case against Adversaryism (8/5/1975)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff discusses determination by the principle of force in our governments, in our courts, in the business world, and in sports. He argues that although the still emerging principle of reason is becoming more dominant, governments are still oriented to the principle of coercion and war and that to become truly civilized we must reject adversaryism and replace it by rational determination. He then submits that beyond the principles of force and reason, the principle of ananda and compassion, guided by love and peace, is yet to be realized.


The Political Problem: Part 01 (12/17/1975)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff examines the implications of the preamble to our Declaration of Independence. He notes that it is essentially a metaphysical statement and proceeds to discuss the concepts of self-evidence, creation, and equality.


The Political Problem: Part 02 (1/14/1976)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff continues his examination of the preamble to our Declaration of Independence and offers a trenchant analysis of the notions of equality and unalienable rights.