Civilization and Its Discontents

Civilization and Its Discontents is Sigmund Freud’s analysis on the nature of civilization and how those within it can become discontent. Beginning with the source of religion, he posits that religion has its roots in infantile dependence on a father figure for its support and provision. From here, he moves into the general realm of relationships between people, namely that he strongest bond is that of sexual gratification, because it provides the greatest amount of pleasure and happiness, which is the goal of human life. Civilization though comes against the pursuit of these pleasures by enforcing a need for communal over personal happiness. This struggle continues into the realm of primal human aggressiveness as well. Freud later says that civilization introduces the super-ego, the initiator of one’s conscience, as a deterrent against aggressiveness, namely the form of guilt. However, Freud believes the restriction of these aggressive impulses can cause more damage to the person than if they had been acted out. Thus, there seems the inevitable, eternal struggle between the individual and civilization.

Frankly, I disagreed with a lot of what he said. I think it may be because he does not seem to have a correct understanding of love, that it is not something that must be selfishly indulged but one of self-sacrifice. He gives his definition of power of love as “the male unwilling to be deprived of his sexual object – the woman –, and the woman unwilling to be deprived of the part of herself which had been separated off from her – the child,” (79-80). In both these relationships, there is nothing of sacrifice on the part of the lover; no thought is given to the well-fare of the beloved. Everything revolves around the maintaining of happiness for the individual, even at the cost of the beloved. No wonder there is so much turmoil in Freud's view of civilization if its basis is such an understanding of love.