Essay, Research Paper: Neurosis And Chaos In Freud's Civilization And Its

Freud presents an extremely disturbing projection of the human race: we are creatures of destruction who are influenced by irrational impulses. Up until the publication of his works, including Civilizations and its Discontents, the darker reality of human nature and psychological stability had not been of much emphasis. Civilization and religion are two institutions that are guilty of this ignorance. These institutions create a comical, yet delusional reality by suppressing our irrational instincts in an effort to promote stability. However, this stability exists only on an external level. Unfortunately, the psychological level becomes an area of neglect and consequently a source of much discontent. The neurotic ways of civilization and religion will ultimately lead to disorder. The vision of a better life brought about the creation of civilization. The basic purpose of civilization is to ensure a harmonious life, "namely to protect men against nature and to adjust their mutual relations. (Freud 42)" However, the stability created by civilization is at the expense of our happiness. Freud supports that, "There is no golden rule which applies to everyone: every man must find out for himself in what particular fashion he can be saved. (Freud 34)" Civilization expects everyone to follow one set of laws which do not adapt to each individual's needs. While one individual may be able to cope with the laws and attain happiness, another may not. This tragedy is the source of much tension in civilization. Furthermore, these laws suppress our natural instincts. "It is impossible to overlook the extent to which civilization is built up upon a renunciation of instinct, how much it presupposes precisely the non-satisfaction of powerful instincts. (Freud 52)". This "powerful instinct" is our innate impulse for destruction: "Besides the instinct to preserve living substance and to join it into ever larger units, there must exist another, contrary instinct seeking to dissolve those units and to bring them back to their primaeval, inorganic state. (Freud 77)" Civilization has suppressed our instinct, and consequently our happiness, for order. Because of the suppression of this instinct, civilization will inevitably have its discontents. The ethical standard from civilization and religion is another problematic issue. Christianity, like many other religions, support the "Love thy neighbor as thyself" ethic. Freud objects to its validity. "A love that does not discriminate seems to me to forfeit a part of its own value, by doing an injustice to its object; and secondly, not all men are worthy of love. (Freud 57)" Civilization masks a tragic reality into an utopian ideal. Civilization denies the existence of undeserving men by implementing a universal love. If we exercise this universal love, we will not only cause injustice to those who truly deserve our love, but we will also diminish the value of love.
The ramifications of religion are similar to those of civilization. "Religion restricts this play of choice and adaptation, since it imposes equally on everyone its own path to the acquisition of happiness and protection from suffering. Its technique consists in deperssing the value of life and distorting the picture of the real world in a delusional manner... (Freud 36)"Freud describes religion, like civilization, as another delusional manner in which we deal with our tragic reality. Upon analyzing the negative impacts of civilization and religion, one would likely question how they contintue to maintain their influence. Freud states that civilization "obtains mastery over the individual's dangerous desire for aggression by weakening and disarming it and by setting up an agency within him to watch over it, like a garrison in a conquered city. (Freud 84)" The garrison is the Super-Ego, a psychological component sculpted by the ideals of civilization. While the outside world remains peaceful and stable, the psychological world is one of chaos and constant struggle. The Super-Ego continuously battles against the Id in an effort to suppress our irrational and destructive instincts. The suppresion of our natural tendency toward destruction and irrationality inhibits our happiness. Civilization and religion suppresses our irrational impulses to create stability. However, this stability is only external. Freud unveils the internal world which is perhaps the most significant to our happiness. Unfortunately, civilization will eternally corrode the possibility for psychological stability through its neurotic ways: by not respecting our individuality, by suppressing our natural instincts, and by neglecting our irrational reality. Freud replies to the situation by explaining that "If the loss is not compensated for economically, one can be certain that serious disorders will ensue. (Freud 52)" In other words, the psychological turmoil from unsatiated desires will ultimately lead to chaotic consequences.