Discontent in Culture? A Critique of Sigmund Freud's Philosophy

Is the distinctive feature of human beings their rational capacity? Does it truly place them above the rest of the species? What about human impulses, specifically the erotic and aggressive ones discovered by Sigmund Freud? Should they be repressed to avoid a clash with societal norms? Is it necessary to give up on the direct discharge of instincts and channel them towards morally acceptable activities? Isn't there an intermediate alternative between the cultural norms (with the discomfort it brings) and barbarism (with the abandonment of human social status)? Is there discomfort in culture? A critique of Sigmund Freud's philosophy exposes the issue of "discomfort in culture" diagnosed by Freud, based on the basic tenets of his psychoanalytic and anthropological theory, to challenge this position that leaves humans in despair and discouragement.

In addition to providing a general overview of Freud's thinking, accessible not only to specialists but also to the general public, the author presents the ideas of philosophers like Erich Fromm and Herbert Marcuse, from which emerges a hopeful alternative to living in "well-being in culture."

"The discovery of the unconscious represents the most significant advancement in psychology since I began studying that science." —William James

product information: