Is The Human Race?

“Civilization and Its Discontents” is a book written by Sigmund Freud in 1929 (originally titled “Das Unbehagen in der Kultur” or The Uneasiness in Culture.) This is considered to be one of Freud’s most important and widely read works. In this book, Freud explains his perspective by enumerating what he sees as fundamental tensions between civilization and the individual. He asserts that this tension stems from the individual’s quest for freedom and non-conformity and civilization’s quest for uniformity and instinctual repression. Most of humankind’s primitive instincts are clearly destructive to the health and well-being of a human community (such as the desire to kill.) As a direct result, civilization creates laws designed to prohibit

that humans have often paid a great price for civilization; this price, he believed, was

It does, however, imply that at the center of all of us is a genetic code of animalistic survival. Regardless of how civilized we become, what moral guidelines we breed, or how giving we are to the less fortunate, we all at the core will do what is necessary to survive. This includes actions that would be considered antisocial, if not actions directly against others.

Civilization is the stage of human social development. Civilizations have improved over the years. The ancient River Valley Civilizations have created a foundation for future human developments. The ancient River Valley Civilization all made key contributions for future societies. The Civilization from Mesopotamia and China had a massive influence for future civilizations.

Why must humans be either inherently good or inherently evil? The narrative Night by Elie Wiesel illustrates humanity in one of the darkest periods of history, to abandon humanity to survive vs keeping it from spiraling down into hopelessness. As Eliezer struggles to survive against starvation and abuse, he also grapples with the destruction of his faith in God’s justice and battles with the darker sides of himself.Throughout the novel, Eliezer feels a conflict between protecting his father who poses as a burden and giving himself the best chance of survival. The narrative also brings up a very important question, ‘’Are humans inherently good or evil?’’ How can we ever compare the kindness of the French girl who healed Eliezer 's wounds to the SS officers that had beaten him cruelly? We can not, and not just for that reason alone. Are humans born inherently good and became soiled by the filth and corrupt of the world, conditioning them to forget their morals and turn against each-other? Or are humans born inherently evil judging by their capability to commit heinous crimes and there is no goodness in this world, just people who are far less evil than others? In my opinion, humans are born neither inherently good or evil. It’s not as if Eliezer was born with a moral compass, he was raised with high morals and to serve God (and abandoning him when he feels God is cruel to let them suffer). His experience in the camps allows him to explore the darker concepts in humanity

The true nature of human beings, when they are born, is kind hearted and gracious, but their own species tarnishes them and they turn malignant. One piece of evidence to support my claim incorporates quotes from the book Frankenstein. In the beginning of the monster’s expedition , he is innocent and sympathizes with the Delacey family. The monster explains how he was sad when they were sad and would feel whatever they felt (Shelley 75). But, this all changed when the human species rejected him for his appearance. His character went from well behaved to atrocious. After not getting accepted, many unfavorable thoughts had crossed his mind and he desired to do many bad things (Shelley 92). When reading these quotes, the reader can comprehend that

Freud mainly focuses on human nature and questions the desire, ideas ,and beliefs that shape a human, he then further analyses them. We see in his literature, Civilization and its Disconnect, that he questions religion and the belief in God. He himself does not believe in God, but wants to know why many people follow and trust something that they cannot see. He also questions the concept of human relationships. Knowing that a two person relationship and interaction is inevitable and that it is a part of life, but he does not know if a third relationship, and further on, is necessary. Regardless, human relationships are a part of society, and one of causes of civilizations, which Freud defines as “the whole some of achievement and the regulations which distinguish our lives” (Freud). With one of the achievements

Humanity’s natural aggression means that civilization is “constantly threatened with disintegration” and it must make every effort to ensure these urges are curbed, in order for its continued existence. He continues in this vein, by stating that, in order for people to “forgo the satisfaction of their tendency to aggression” civilization encourages us to form into groups, however for this to work their must continue to be “outsiders,” that the aggression can be turned towards. This is in accordance with On the Genealogy of Morals, where it is the Slaves ascetic nature that forces them to also control their instincts. Likewise, both Freud and Nietzsche assert that these restrictions cause people to internalise their aggressions, turning inward.

Freud referred to the Hobbes argument that humans are naturally hostile to one another, humans depend on their own man made devices and hostile nature, leading humanity into a war where a man will be against each other (Hobbes 1906, 96). Human civilization is an effort to set up limitations for man’s aggressive

In his book Civilization and Its Discontents, Sigmund Freud offers an explanation for why, as individuals, we tend to punish

In his ground-breaking book Civilization and Its Discontents, Sigmund Freud postulates that society, despite ostensibly being set up to protect us from unhappiness, has a net negative impact on human happiness.  According to Freud, the three most important causes of suffering are the natural world, our own bodies, and our interactions with other people (Freud 44).  In addition to identifying these as the main causes of suffering, Freud also states that the suffering that comes from other people is the worst of the three.  Given how civilization has changed since Civilization and Its Discontents was published, however, this belief simply no longer holds true.  Freud’s belief that interaction with other people in society is the worst cause of human suffering is no longer valid in today’s world because of the net benefits of society’s protection, because of society’s benefits to the human body, and because of advances in society’s ability to satisfy human happiness.

While we originally entered society precisely to be protected from nature, escape the forces of mutual aggression and self-destruction, the necessity to thwart our aggressive instincts has caused great unhappiness and development of guilt. In addition, Freud supports that the civilization is largely responsible for our misery and we should be much happier if we return the primitive conditions. Because the aggressiveness caused by death instinct is tried to repress by the rule of law, imposition of the authority or ongoing result of these, superego.

This fulfillment would later lead to love and the formation of families. In addition, the ego seeks not only pleasure in the fulfillment of sexual desires, but in companionship of a more plutonic nature. This form of companionship, according to Freud, leads to the formation of civilization. Freud writes that civilization is perpetuated and developed through the internalization of natural aggressiveness, and that the repression of such aggressiveness in the interest of civilization leads to the formation of the superego and thus feelings of guilt, not only for carrying out such aggressiveness, but for musing upon it. Therefore, Freud seeks to imply that the relationship between mental life and civilization is intertwined, that they are dependent upon one another.

The author thinks human nature is uncooperative and irrationally destructive. I do not agree with that statement. Human nature essentially good. No one is born evil. Even though there is a lot of evil across the globe, there is more good. For every one bad deed, there are a hundred good deeds. God will put you on the right path.

On the other hand, Freud is more concerned with instilling the idea that infancy and childhood is a key role in development, he states, “by the time the child's intellect awakens, the doctrines of religion have already become unassailable,” suggesting that religion is a force that shapes civilization in which people function, as well as form our judgment of human civilization. Hence, the importance of developing successfully as opposed to failing to function in society, whether they are religious or not. Instead, he dubs man as “a creature of weak intelligence who is ruled by his instinctual wishes.”