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uditnair24's review against another edition
3.0
One of those thinkers who is hated and appreciated equally. But what is more essential is that he cannot be ignored. The fundamental problem with Freud's concepts is that it can be misunderstood and hence just one reading of the text wont suffice.
josh_paul's review against another edition
3.0
Some of Freud’s analogies meander on for a long time without really leading anywhere, but it’s still an interesting read.
mosalah314's review against another edition
5.0
I've tasted but the smallest apetizer of this man's annoyingly ardent pessemisim which he arrives at with infuriatingly careful, thoughtful, and well-reasoned steps. Though I can't quite put my finger on what he's actually thinking, I'd say the final flavour is a bit short of the optimism of the Universe I enjoy--- but at the same time, I see how far-back his reasoning and speculation go, and it's something respectable and valuable in itself.
mg2023's review against another edition
2.0
This book brushes through several themes that revolve around one question: how will civilisation overcome the discontents aroused by communal life? Freud carefully constructs a simple yet potent argument by asking a series of questions and pondering over their responses. It is almost a conversation.
What do people seek? - Happiness.
How can people be happy? - By satisfying their drives.
What are their drives? - Eros (a complex concept that can be translated as lust or urge to procreate) and aggression (an urge to destroy).
Why can't people satisfy their drives? - Because its bad for survival.
So what must people do? - Suppress their drives.
How can people suppress their drives? - Install an authority.
What does an authority that suppresses basic drives do? - Create aggression and anxiety.
How can this be overcome? - By internalising the aggression.
What does internalising aggression cause? - The creation of a super-ego, i.e. conscience.
Does conscience help? - No. It causes further anxiety and aggression due to the creation of the feeling of guilt.
How can guilt be overcome? - By realising that this whole scheme, society and our conception of human nature is flawed and needs to be recognised and reconciled.
Freud thus treats society as if it's a neurotic patient and tries to uncover what its subconscious ills are. He merely uncovers his own bias. In an attempt to provide an alternative spectrum of reality that can replace religion and culture, Freud falls into the misfortune of dwelling in delusional imagination which he masks as psychoanalysis and science. Reading the book, I felt nothing but pity towards the poor man. Thinking that Freud's influenced so many people in their thinking makes me even sadder because it is clear that such an immature explanation of human nature and such lack of purpose and reason can only cause further anxieties as it has in the materialist, consumerist and self-absorbed societies of today.
What do people seek? - Happiness.
How can people be happy? - By satisfying their drives.
What are their drives? - Eros (a complex concept that can be translated as lust or urge to procreate) and aggression (an urge to destroy).
Why can't people satisfy their drives? - Because its bad for survival.
So what must people do? - Suppress their drives.
How can people suppress their drives? - Install an authority.
What does an authority that suppresses basic drives do? - Create aggression and anxiety.
How can this be overcome? - By internalising the aggression.
What does internalising aggression cause? - The creation of a super-ego, i.e. conscience.
Does conscience help? - No. It causes further anxiety and aggression due to the creation of the feeling of guilt.
How can guilt be overcome? - By realising that this whole scheme, society and our conception of human nature is flawed and needs to be recognised and reconciled.
Freud thus treats society as if it's a neurotic patient and tries to uncover what its subconscious ills are. He merely uncovers his own bias. In an attempt to provide an alternative spectrum of reality that can replace religion and culture, Freud falls into the misfortune of dwelling in delusional imagination which he masks as psychoanalysis and science. Reading the book, I felt nothing but pity towards the poor man. Thinking that Freud's influenced so many people in their thinking makes me even sadder because it is clear that such an immature explanation of human nature and such lack of purpose and reason can only cause further anxieties as it has in the materialist, consumerist and self-absorbed societies of today.
situationnormal's review against another edition
3.0
Freud’s ideas are still applicable to society. His writing is a little difficult to understand unless you completely devote your attention to it and don’t do other things at the same time (which is a big problem for a multi-tasker like me). But, a little bit of the language and a lot of the ideas could use some updating. It’s an interesting starting point, since everyone has drawn from Freud, but if you want to be more fully informed something recent might better serve your purposes.
ori_gina_lity's review against another edition
2.0
One of his last major works Civilization and its Discontents was written in 1930 which was late in Sigmund Freud’s life but it also stands to be one of his most well known works that seeks to answer fundamental questions about society and his theories behind suffering and guilt. *yawn* Okay, I enjoyed reading parts of this - it was fascinating I’ll admit and I like to acknowledge anyone who can articulate such complex thoughts (obviously I can’t today) but I’m not the kind of person who likes to “read into EVERYTHING” either.
It’s tedious reading, not really my thing but I appreciate the opportunity to better understand such an influential thinker. And if I hone in on the areas of the work I was interested in, like this quote, “Beauty has no obvious use; nor is there any clear cultural necessity for it. Yet civilization could not do without it.” I found the reading rewarding enough…. but if i’m going to be completely honest with myself let’s use one of Freud’s handy invention’s: free association! You say “Civilization and its Discontents" I say, "Depressing!" That was raw thought and after reading all that I needed to get it out. 2/5 stars.
It’s tedious reading, not really my thing but I appreciate the opportunity to better understand such an influential thinker. And if I hone in on the areas of the work I was interested in, like this quote, “Beauty has no obvious use; nor is there any clear cultural necessity for it. Yet civilization could not do without it.” I found the reading rewarding enough…. but if i’m going to be completely honest with myself let’s use one of Freud’s handy invention’s: free association! You say “Civilization and its Discontents" I say, "Depressing!" That was raw thought and after reading all that I needed to get it out. 2/5 stars.