Sigmund Freud's Civilization & its Discontents Discussion Led by Julie Segedy
Sigmund Freud's Civilization & its Discontents Discussion Led by Julie Segedy
Discussion Syllabus:
| Date | Pages | Chapters |
| Monday, 27 February | Bio & Intro 3-9 | |
| Tuesday, 28 February | 10-21 | 1 |
| Wednesday, 1 March | 22-36 | 2 |
| Thursday, 2 March | 37-52 | 3 |
| Monday, 6 March | 53-63 | 4 |
| Tuesday, 7 March | 64-82 | 5, 6 |
| Wednesday, 8 March | 83-96 | 7 |
| Thursday, 9 March | 97-112 | 8 |
Monday, Feb. 27
Due: “A Brief Life,” pp. ix-xxiii; “Editor’s Introduction,” pp. 3-9
Thoughts: What, in your opinion, are the “discontents” of civilization?
Themes: “…the irremediable antagonism between the demands of instinct and the restrictions of civilization…” (4).
Tuesday, Feb. 28
Due: Chapter 1, pp. 10-21
Thoughts: What does “happiness” mean to you? What are the sources of happiness? Why is happiness so difficult to achieve?
Themes: “The ‘oceanic feeling’”; searching for happiness.
Wednesday, Mar. 1
Due: Chapter 2, pp. 22-36
Thoughts: What is the purpose of life, according to religion? What is the purpose of life, according to humans’ behavior?
Themes: Sources of suffering; “palliative measures” taken; the “pleasure principle”; controlling our instinctual life
Thursday, Mar. 2
Due: Chapter 3, pp. 37-52
Thoughts: What is the nature of civilization? How is civilization hostile to human happiness?
Themes: Paradoxes of progress; features of civilization; the necessity to renounce human instinct
Monday, Mar. 6
Due: Chapter 4, pp. 53-63
Thoughts: What restrictions on human sexuality does civilization require?
Themes: Love and Work (Eros and Ananke)
Tuesday, Mar. 7
Due: Chapters 5 & 6, pp. 64-82
Thoughts: Why should you love your neighbor? Your enemy?
Themes: “Aim-inhibited love”; love and aggression: the power of Thanatos; happiness vs. security
Wednesday, Mar. 8
Due: Chapter 7, pp. 83-96
Thoughts: “What means does civilization employ…to inhibit the aggressiveness which opposes it…? (83)
Themes: The “Superego,” conscience, guilt, remorse, control.
Thursday, Mar. 9
Due: Chapter 8, pp. 97-112
Thoughts: “But who can foresee with what success and what result?” (112)
Theme: “The fateful question…”
And Freud further said…
•”Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”
•”Time spent with cats is never wasted.”
•”Everywhere I go, I find a poet has been there before me.”
•”One is very crazy when in love.”
Online Resources for Freud:
Salnave, Robert (1998) Sigmund Freud and the Freud Archives. The New York Psychoanalytic Institute and Society. http://users.rcn.com/brill/freudarc.html
Library of Congress (1999) SIGMUND FREUD: CONFLICT & CULTURE. Exposition. Available online at: http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/freud/
Teuber, Andreas (1998) Freud on the Internet. Brandeis University. Available online at: http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/freud_links.html
The Anna Freud Centre (2004) http://www.annafreudcentre.org/
