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A review by berkough
Civilization and its Discontents by Sigmund Freud
4.0
Deceptively short, incredibly dense... I revisited this book/essay after listening to Brendan O'Neill talk with Daniel McCarthy, the editor of "Modern Age." They were discussing how modern academia has given rise to a new brand of secular guilt that is being subtlety pushed by the liberal intellectual class, which has resulted in the pushback and popularity of Donald Trump and the various aspects of our culture that Trump represents. Interestingly enough, Freud wrote this essay in the years leading up to the Nazis taking power in Germany, and there are definite parallels to what Freud was observing and discussing here and western civilization today, not just the United States and Trump, but the UK with Brexit as well.
The first half of the essay concerns itself with the individual as he relats to his environment and society, whereas the second half of the essay is predominantly concerned with expanding on Freud's own brand of psychoanalysis and how we can be understand ourselves within the context of the society we find ourselves in.
Clearly this is an academic text, so it's hard for me to review and recommend... I think it's interesting how the prevailing theme of guilt is used by Freud to describe how the individual interacts with society and also how conservative intellectuals are defining the way in which intersectionality is being thrust onto the public's consciousness by the liberal intellectual elite.
The first half of the essay concerns itself with the individual as he relats to his environment and society, whereas the second half of the essay is predominantly concerned with expanding on Freud's own brand of psychoanalysis and how we can be understand ourselves within the context of the society we find ourselves in.
Clearly this is an academic text, so it's hard for me to review and recommend... I think it's interesting how the prevailing theme of guilt is used by Freud to describe how the individual interacts with society and also how conservative intellectuals are defining the way in which intersectionality is being thrust onto the public's consciousness by the liberal intellectual elite.