Sigmund Freud: Civilization & Its Discontents

Civilization and Its Discontents: Sigmund Freud

Adult Great Books Program, First Series, Volume 1, 1985

Discussion Questions

1. What does Freud mean by “oceanic feeling”? What does he think of it? Does it change his view of religion? [page 236]

2. Have you ever experienced an “oceanic” feeling? If so, what prompted it and what was it like? And what does it tell you about human existence?

3. What does Freud offer by way of empirical or scientific evidence for his propositions?

4. On page 240, Freud provides a brief summary of his book, Future of an Illusion, starting with “In my Future of an Illusion, I was concerned with…” through the end of the paragraph. He has a very critical view of religion. Why? Do you agree?

5. What does Freud say are the three ways that people deal with the difficulties of life? What does he see as the issues with each? [page 241]

6. What does Freud see as the main sources of unhappiness or suffering? [page 243] Do you think he is right? Are there others?

7. Per Freud, why doesn’t an increase in technology, or progress in general, create more happiness? [page 247] Do you agree with Freud that it doesn’t?

8. What does Freud think of the maxims “love thy neighbors as thyself” and “love thine enemies?” [page 251, 252] Is he right? Why or why not?

9. What does “civilization” employ to combat man’s natural, in-born aggressiveness? [page 255]

10. Freud’s title, in German, is Das Unbehagen in der Kultur. Unbehagen translates as “uneasy” or “discomfort”. Kultur translates as “culture”; “civilization” is a secondary meaning. So, the title could have been translated as “The Uneasiness of Civilization”, or “The Uneasiness of Culture.” Do these have the same meaning as “Civilization and Its Discontents”? Which better describes the work?

TWO BONUS QUESTIONS!

11. How is Freud’s view of ‘happiness’ different from Aristotle’s? What does the ‘pleasure principle’ have to do with ‘virtuous’ living?

12. Compare Freud’s view of ‘conscience’ (through the superego, to influence behavior through guilt) with Kant’s view of ‘conscience’ (internal judge of conformity with moral laws).