Sigmund Freud, in his 1930 essay Civilization and Its Discontents, argues that thesublimation of sexual desire leads to the mental energy required for advances in civiliza-tion: science, art, politics, etc. He writes,“Sublimation of instinct [such as sexual instinct] is an especially conspicu-ous feature of cultural development; it is what makes it possible for higherpsychical activities, scientific, artistic, or ideological, to play such an impor-tant part in civilized life... it is impossible to overlook the extent to whichcivilization is built up upon a renunciation of instinct...” How would an economist phrase Freud’s argument, in terms of opportunity costs? Might this explain the development of monogamous marriage as an institution?

Sigmund Freud, in his 1930 essay Civilization and Its Discontents, argues that thesublimation of sexual desire leads to the mental energy required for advances in civiliza-tion: science, art, politics, etc. He writes,“Sublimation of instinct [such as sexual instinct] is an especially conspicu-ous feature of cultural development; it is what makes it possible for higherpsychical activities, scientific, artistic, or ideological, to play such an impor-tant part in civilized life... it is impossible to overlook the extent to whichcivilization is built up upon a renunciation of instinct...” How would an economist phrase Freud’s argument, in terms of opportunity costs? Might this explain the development of monogamous marriage as an institution?

Microeconomic Theory

12th Edition

ISBN:9781337517942

Author:NICHOLSON

Publisher:NICHOLSON

Chapter19: Externalities And Public Goods

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 19.2P

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