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Faustian Bargain:

The Dark Temptation That Destroys Societies

Demagogues sow division and create chaos. Their followers cheer and applaud for them it's all entertainment. The Faustian bargain is to sacrifice your integrity for the thrill of power. Is it worth it? 

Boy looking at poster: "Power corrupts. Character builds resilience. Choose your path!"

On this website we will explore:

✦ What the "Faustian bargain" means

✦ What the seven classical virtues are

✦ Why they matter more than ever 

✦ How they cultivate deeper inner strength

Read and listen to the summary below!

First, a brief look at the background.
We’ll continue just below. 

 

Background:

The Dramatic Journey Behind the Philosophy

Erik Pleijel

ABOUT ME. My name is Erik Pleijel, and I’m from Sweden. I believe theology and philosophy should offer real help and guidance in everyday life — not just remain abstract theories. My journey has involved practical work with water supply projects across Africa and Asia.

I share that story in my book Adventures and Reflections — combining life experience with the lessons it’s taught me. 

What others have said about the book:

Book cover In fast-moving, sometimes dramatic texts , he takes us to genocidal Rwanda, civil war Sri Lanka and an absurdly closed North Korea. ... But he is not an ordinary technology nerd, rather a humanist, philosopher and theologian. Who thrives on human diversity, listens, learns, reflects and tries to empathise with the history and identity of other individuals and cultures. ... [Swedish prime minister], give this book to your ... minister for international development ...!
Column in Bohusläningen newspaper (6 Oct 2014), by Stefan Edman
Based on his life experience, he reflects on aid, philosophy and Christian faith on a Lutheran basis. It is a wise man who writes and his wisdom is often easily transferable to everyday life in Sweden.
Review in KT, the Swedish church newspaper (issue 34-2014), by Bishop Mikael Mogren
Here are some excerpts from the book:

Now, back to the main theme!

I’ve seen crisis, conflict, and power plays up close — just the kind of turmoil that fills the headlines. But that’s only half the story. Beneath the real-world drama lies an inner struggle that matters just as much.
Let's take a look at how we can meet that challenge with insights that have stood the test of time.
Read and listen! Audio narration included. Go to this page or watch a this scrollcast:
Continue to the full book.

  

Faustian Bargain, No Thanks: Staying Sane in a Polarised Age, Copyright © 2025 Erik Pleijel. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International. You must include this link: ErikPleijel.se/eng. You can view the full license details here: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 .
Illustrations: Cartoon queen, sloth: FriendlyStock; Cartoon priest: Copyright Brad Fitzpatrick; Cartoon boy: VectorStock;  Kaio hfd CC BY-SA 3.0;
Contact: email


Book cover Book cover