Civilization and Its Discontents

This is arguably Freud's best work, in the sense that it covers issues that are absolutely timeless in the most straightforward manner possible. Not inflected with Freud's theories on trauma, gender, or hysteria, this book is a pure distillation of the un-get-around-able question: How do we balance our our visceral desires with out need to get along? How do the sacrifices we make in order to live in society affect our primal selves? And are they worth it? Written in the wake of a devastating war, this book contains a streak of intelligent, wary pessimism that's hard to counter. In the lineage of lasting works that address the question of balancing desires with responsibilities, urges with laws, this book comes after Euripides' "The Bacchae" and Nietzsche's "The Birth of Tragedy" for me. It's a compelling read and re-read.

A good book though a little wordy at times. Follows a train of thought from time to time just to illustrate that it's a dead end. Does it a lot to be honest. The struggle to transform the inner primate into the higher being and all the twists and turns that lead men astray. To supress, to deny, to self-loathe, the fear of acceptance. "Civilization and Its Discontents" discusses the very dilemna of humanity's persistent emptiness and seemingly futile attempts to become an "enlightened" race and proposes the idea that the answer may very well lie in a simplistic new perception of where we come from and where we are going. A satisfying read that I would recommend to anyone intrusted in the study of psychology/sociology and the dynamic evolution of consciousness.

Leaving aside the second short text included in this volume and the introduction and rereading “Civilization and Its Discontents” after more than 20 years, I am more impressed than ever. The details of psychological depth processes are secondary to Freud’s deep understanding of THE fundamental problems of modern civilization -- which are increasingly of fatal potential. As put by Freud “Much of mankind’s struggle is taken up with the task of finding a suitable, that is to say a happy accommodation, between the claims of the individual and the mass claims of civilization. One of the problems affecting the fate of mankind is whether such an accommodation can be achieved through a particular moulding of civilization or whether the conflict is irreconcilable (p. 42). Freud continues and states frankly “I can no longer understand how we could have ignored the ubiquity of non-erotic aggression and destruction and failed to accord it its due place in the interpretation of life. (p 72); and “I take the view that the tendency to aggression is an original, autonomous disposition in man, and I return to my earlier contention that it represents the greatest obstacle to civilization…to gather together individuals, then families and finally tribes, peoples and nations in one great unit – humanity… These multitudes of human beings are to be libidinally bound to one another; necessity alone, the advantages of shared work, will not hold them together. However, this programme of civilization is opposed by man’s natural aggressive drive, the hostility of each against all and all against each. This aggressive drive is the descendant and principal representative of the death drive, which we have found beside Eros and which rules the world jointly with him. And now, I think, the meaning of the development of civilization is no longer obscure to us. This development must show us the struggle between Eros and death, between the life drive and the drive for destruction, as it is played out in the human race. This struggle is the essential content of all life; hence, the development of civilization may be described simply as humanity’s struggle for existence (p. 75). towards the end comes the most crucial insight of all: “Human beings have made such strides in controlling the forces of nature that, with the help of these forces, they will have no difficulty in exterminating one another, down to the last man. They know this, and it is this knowledge that accounts for much of their present disquiet, unhappiness and anxiety” (p. 106). Given nuclear weapons, climate change, gene editing and emerging nano technologies, Freud’s mind foresaw the fateful choices increasingly faces the human species and the inherent difficulties and perhaps impossibilities to cope with them. This is what makes “Civilization and Discontent” into a crucial text for the 21st century. Professor Yehezkel Dror

"Men have brought their powers of subduing the forces of nature to such a pitch that by using them they could now very easily exterminate one another to the last man. They know this – hence arises a great part of their current unrest, their dejection, their mood of apprehension. And now it may be expected that the other of the two heavenly forces, eternal Eros, will put forth his strength so as to maintain himself alongside of his equally immortal adversary." Sigmund Freud Civilization the super-ego stamps down the individual instinctual desires (id). Sigmund pretty much describes Western societies sense of guilt to sacrifice some of us libido energy: aggression, sex for the communal good and in many ways is good compared the violent polygamous past of our ancestors. However, in our modern times with the example of the rise of sexless young men playing out their aggression or resigning from life and little contributions to societies. As much as we tout that we're more than our animalistic parts it doesn't change the fact our instinctual drive is rooted in our nature and if it's not not channeled and fulfilled in the right places: work (art, creating something of value in reality) and love (sex, intimacy, procreation) that energy will find its way out and hopefully not in a destructive manner if we don't address malaise that's taking place in societies these days.

Thought provoking book, by a good author. Although, I do not agree with his views on religion. He seems a little lost, and has a very sex-craved mind. Anyways, this was a cheap edition but with several misspellings, so I am not pleased overall.

Great Knowledge to apply... on how to improve your biology.

Out of 100 or so books I've read so far, this one does not compare. Brings you through reality like a ride you cannot but accept it has passed, a view you cannot but crave to re-feel, a high you cannot but wish it were your first time again. Not the easiest digestion but undoubtedly the most satiating; most rewarding; most enlightening; most freeing. I promise! Activity 十 Create Facebook

アメリカでは大学の教養課程にて使用されるほどのテキストにも関わらず、邦訳はなぜか出版されていないようです。 "It is considered one of Freud's most important and widely read works" [...] 立ち上がりはかなりスローです。社会一般において立派な書籍であると認識していないとしたら、つまりフロイトによって書かれたものであることと知らなかったとしていたら、途中で読むのを止めていたかもしれません。しかし章が進むにつれ徐々にペースが上がって行き、取り扱われる要素間の関連性も把握しやすくてなっていきます。と言いましても簡単に咀嚼できる文面ではなく、かなり込み入った、密度がそれなりに高い内容なのだと思います。人の本能に関する記述が綴られており、人類学的な観点を持ち合わせて解説が進められています。

Good

If you are psychology student you can read it however if you are not do not read this book.