Contradiction of Civilization
The Contradiction of Civilization
In Civilization and its Discontents, Sigmund Freud provides meaning to human nature and our unhappiness. He proposes that mankind is in constant struggle with instinctive violent and sexual behaviors. Civilization has created boundaries to regulate our behavior. Freud believes that these boundaries repress our natural instincts and ultimately lead to unhappiness. Civilization is created to protect mankind and establish a functional society, but it is in our aggressive nature to destroy it.
“The existence of this inclination to aggression, which we can detect in ourselves and justly assume to be present in others, is the factor which disturbs our relations with our neighbor and which forces civilization into such a high expenditure. In consequence of this primary mutual hostility of human beings, civilized society is perpetually threatened with disintegration. The interest of work in common would not hold it together; instinctual passions are stronger than reasonable interests. Civilization has to use its utmost efforts in order to set limits to man's aggressive instincts and to hold the manifestations of them in check by psychical reaction-formations.” (pg. 95)
Freud’s concepts and theories will forever be influential to us. He was thought to “agitate the sleep of mankind.” (pg. 151) He can hold our attention and provide a deeper interpretation of the human mind. The enlightenment age developed the need for reason and it was especially important that Freud could give meaning to our actions.
I believe a major motivation for Freud to write this book was to help himself as well as others cope with the devastation of World War I. Many people were highly supportive at the start of the war. With death looming, guilt was hanging overhead in the aftermath of the destruction. That feeling of guilt is later explained as the most problematic source of unhappiness. This book was providing an explanation for the uncontrollable dynamics
In Civilization and its Discontents, Sigmund Freud provides meaning to human nature and our unhappiness. He proposes that mankind is in constant struggle with instinctive violent and sexual behaviors. Civilization has created boundaries to regulate our behavior. Freud believes that these boundaries repress our natural instincts and ultimately lead to unhappiness. Civilization is created to protect mankind and establish a functional society, but it is in our aggressive nature to destroy it.
“The existence of this inclination to aggression, which we can detect in ourselves and justly assume to be present in others, is the factor which disturbs our relations with our neighbor and which forces civilization into such a high expenditure. In consequence of this primary mutual hostility of human beings, civilized society is perpetually threatened with disintegration. The interest of work in common would not hold it together; instinctual passions are stronger than reasonable interests. Civilization has to use its utmost efforts in order to set limits to man's aggressive instincts and to hold the manifestations of them in check by psychical reaction-formations.” (pg. 95)
Freud’s concepts and theories will forever be influential to us. He was thought to “agitate the sleep of mankind.” (pg. 151) He can hold our attention and provide a deeper interpretation of the human mind. The enlightenment age developed the need for reason and it was especially important that Freud could give meaning to our actions.
I believe a major motivation for Freud to write this book was to help himself as well as others cope with the devastation of World War I. Many people were highly supportive at the start of the war. With death looming, guilt was hanging overhead in the aftermath of the destruction. That feeling of guilt is later explained as the most problematic source of unhappiness. This book was providing an explanation for the uncontrollable dynamics