Hans Adolf Pestalozzi (February 7, 1929 – July 14, 2004) was a

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

social critic of late 20th century capitalism, which eventually led to his becoming a bestselling author (''Nach uns die Zukunft'', ''Auf die Bäume ihr Affen'').

Biography

Pestalozzi was born in Zürich. After his university education at University of St. Gallen, he started working for Migros. 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 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 lectures, 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 Subversion () refers to a process by which the values and principles of a system in place are contradicted or reversed in an attempt to transform the established social order and its structures of power, authority, hierarchy, and social norms. Sub ...

" 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 Guaranteed minimum income (GMI), also called minimum income (or mincome for short), is a social-welfare system that guarantees all citizens or families an income sufficient to live on, provided that certain eligibility conditions are met, typical ...

for everybody. Hans A. Pestalozzi died a recluse by

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

in his home near Wattwil, Canton of St. Gallen.

External links

*
Pestalozzi's "Aufruf zur Rebellion"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pestalozzi, Hans A. 1929 births 2004 deaths University of St. Gallen alumni Suicides in Switzerland