Civilization and Its Discontents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Civilization and Its Discontents - Essay ExampleThe essay Civilization and Its Discontents talks close the central thesis of Sigmund Freuds Civilization and its Discontents which is the assertion that the conflict between sexual needs and the societies restrictions is a big factor to human dissatisfaction, aggression, hostility and ultimately, force-out. Given that the book was published in 1930, peoples mindsets were largely conservative, which led to protests and outcry against the book. But putting it in a purely scientific context, there is much truth in this thesis. Freuds introduction to his book begins with the following lines Psycho-Analytic work has shown that these frustrations in respect of sexual life are peculiarly unendurable to the so-called neurotics among us. These persons manufacture substitute-gratifications for themselves in their symptoms, which, however, are either painful in themselves or become the cause of suffering owing to the difficulties they create fo r the persons environs and society at large but culture demands other sacrifices besides that of sexual gratifications. Further support for the Freudian view of human discontent could be found in Isabel Fonsecas seminal work on the Gypsy tribes Bury Me Standing. Fonseca attempts to decipher several aspects of the Gypsy way of life. The author shows that by moral excellence of remaining in their native geographies and not letting go of their primitive lifestyles, the Gypsies dont live unfulfilled lives.