noun

demosophy

Name: Demosophy
Author: D.G. Kleintjens MSc

demosophyn [f]demosophieslittle demosophy

meaning: the wisdom of what we share — a study of what humans have in common across body, nature, culture and society.
etymology: from Greek dēmos (people, the common) and sophía (wisdom); literally, the wisdom of the common.
synonyms: sense of the common, shared humanism, civic wisdom, anthropology of the shared.

example of demosophy:

From cell to society

An interdisciplinary secondary-school textbook

meaning: a single arc that follows the human from biology to community — demosophy in its most concrete form. [2] use for those who want to teach what we share.

Let us know you exist ↓ First read what demosophy is

Definition

What is demosophy?

Demosophy studies what humans biologically share (make-up), what makes them equal as a species (nature), what culturally connects them (culture), and how they organise themselves together (society). The book is grounded in empirical research and case studies.

Make-up

What humans biologically share.

Nature

What makes them equal as a species.

Culture

What connects them culturally.

Society

How they organise themselves together.

The path

Where this is heading

Demosophy begins as a book, but the ambition reaches further: a place where you don't just read the material — you do it. This is the path — the direction, not a promise with dates.

now
The book
Demosophy as an upper-secondary textbook: the synthesis on paper, from cell to society.
next step
The series & teaching material
Deepening and supporting material around the book — several parts that together carry the ideas.
on the horizon
The interactive learning app
Learning by doing, in the spirit of Brilliant: small, interactive steps with direct feedback instead of only reading.

now
The book
Demosophy as an upper-secondary textbook: the synthesis on paper, from cell to society.
next step
The series & teaching material
Deepening and supporting material around the book — several parts that together carry the ideas.
on the horizon
The interactive learning app
Learning by doing, in the spirit of Brilliant: small, interactive steps with direct feedback instead of only reading.

Want to see this grow? Let us know you exist.

Let us know

Scope & approach

Four layers that shape each other

The book is built around a transactional development model (after Urs Fuhrer), in which four layers continuously influence one another — from the biological to the wider cosmos.

Biogenetic possibilities

What we are given by nature.

Psychic wiring

How the individual processes and makes sense of experience.

III

Cultural possibilities

What the surrounding culture offers.

Environment & cosmos

The wider context in which all of this takes place.

Science and religious or philosophical convictions are treated in this book as equally valid cultural possibilities — no hierarchy, only context.

Structure of the book

Six parts, sixteen chapters

The textbook is divided into six parts, with chapters H1 through H16 and a closing bibliography.

Part I
Placeholder — short description to follow.
H1 – H3
Part II
Placeholder — short description to follow.
H4 – H6
Part III
Placeholder — short description to follow.
H7 – H9
Part IV
Placeholder — short description to follow.
H10 – H12
Part V
Placeholder — short description to follow.
H13 – H15
Part VI
Placeholder — short description to follow.
H16 + Bibliography

For whom & level

Upper secondary — as a course or enrichment

Demosophy is written at an upper-secondary (VWO) level and can be used as a full course or as enrichment alongside existing subjects. The approach is interdisciplinary — biology, psychology, culture and civics come together in a single continuous narrative.

For parents

A book you can give your child to help them learn to think broadly and with nuance — about themselves, others, and society.

For teachers & school leaders

Material that connects subjects and invites students into serious, interdisciplinary reflection on people and community.

For professionals

For people in business and other organisations who want a shared, well-grounded vocabulary for what makes people and communities thrive.

Plan & editions

Three editions for three audiences

Demosophy will be published in three editions. Each edition translates the same interdisciplinary core — from cell to society — into the language, examples and depth of a specific audience.

Young adults

Demosophy — young-adults edition

An accessible introduction at upper-secondary (VWO) level, usable as a full course or as enrichment. Grounded in examples from young people's own lives.

In developmentKeep me posted

Teachers

Demosophy — teachers edition

Background, didactic guidance and discussion prompts to bring the material into the classroom — across subjects, not just alongside them.

In preparationKeep me posted

Professionals

Demosophy — professionals edition

For people in business and other organisations: a shared, well-grounded vocabulary for what makes people and teams thrive.

In preparationKeep me posted

Titles and publication dates are indicative. Sign up and we'll let you know when each edition is ready.

Author

D.G. Kleintjens MSc

A short biography will follow.

Publisher

Parvae

Independent publisher of thoughtful study material.

Participate

Insights & sources

Demosophy lives from what readers, teachers and thinkers add to it. Share an insight, a good source, or a question that shouldn't be missing. Contributions appear on this page after a short editorial review.

Loading contributions…

{demosophyde.mo.so.phy}