Civilization and Its Discontents
|
|
Civilization and Its Discontents was a book written by Sigmund Freud in the decade before his death and was first published in German in 1929. The original title is Das Unbehagen in der Kultur. In it he states his views on the question of man's place in the world, a place Freud describes as being on the fulcrum between the individual's quest for freedom and society's demand for conformity. Freud believes that man, aggressive and egotistical, has goals and desires that are not always conducive to the needs of civilization. As a result, civilization, or its culture, inhibits man's instinctual drives, which can result in guilt and unfulfillment.
Quotes
"...admittedly an unusual state, but not one that can be stigmatized as pathological..." (describing romantic love).
"...Civilisation overcomes the dangerous aggressivity of the individual by weakening him, disarming him and setting up an internal authority to watch over him, like a garrison in a conquered town."