Sunday, March 1, 2009
Freud
Not having been in class on Wednesday, I have the powerpoint and the reading to go on in this post about Freud. I am puzzled by an aspect of these theories, as illustrated by this quote: "[Freud's theories] bought to fore a powerful critique of the constraints imposed by the moral and social codes of Western civilization" (Coffin, 856). I don't fully understand what the authors are saying here. That the constraints of society forced people to go mad? To sublimate and repress urges that, for true satisfaction, should not be sublimated or repressed? Though I don't know that much about Freud, it seems to me that his notion of the power of the unconscious and the ability of the superego to control it suggests that the power of reason and morality (as imposed by society) is stronger than natural impulses. It seems to support the power of human reason, not question it. But maybe the question is about whether reason is powerful enough, but about whether reason should be powerful enough. Are social restraints harnessing too much of what is natural in human beings, a natural power and tension that should be relieved and set loose? But wouldn't society break down without its moral and social constraints? How would removing them be a good thing? I would appreciate opinions.
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"That the constraints of society forced people to go mad? To sublimate and repress urges that, for true satisfaction, should not be sublimated or repressed?"
ReplyDeleteGood question: The short answer you come to: That it hurts us to do what society tells us to do.But Freud thought this was necessary--without it, society would fall. Yet there is a downside--the issue of female hysteria and sexuality--the Dora case referred to in the reading. Society is actively damaging people and psycho-analysis is aiding and abetting that damage. Two thinkers later on, Deleuze and Guattari spell this out in some detail, especially the connection to capitalism. I will write about this on my blog.