Monday, September 27, 2010

What are the main points in Freud's Civilization and Its Discontents?

One of the fundamental ideas in Freud's work is the social
interpretation of Freud's theory of the subconscious.  Given the time of its writing,
with the rise of Hitler in Europe, there is a ominous tone to the work in its
articulation of the subconscious and conscious, Eros, the force of love, and Thanatos,
the death instinct.  The work also discusses how society and social orders are forces
that seek to artificially control the subconscious through its acceptance and practice
of repression.  Freud's analysis of individual dreams as well as social practices help
to bring this idea out in full force.  It is through this that the notion of guilt
develops, and Freud's analysis calls for a more thorough approach to how the individual
addresses their own needs of the understanding of the subconscious as well as
acknowledging what society demands and wants.  In the end, the work forces individuals
to better understand themselves, but also does so in better articulation about the
direction of society.  With the emergence of Hitler and the Nazis, the work becomes even
more relevant to the times.

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