Freud's Civilization and its Discontent and Orwell's 1984

Freud's Civilization and its Discontent and Orwell's 1984

Introduction

Civilization usually depicts how well developed societies are and the level of advancement that prevails. It can be in the form of education, tradition and productivity level. As a whole, civilization is updating the obsolete system and entering the modern world. This social, human development involves some rules and regulations that may consider some human's instinct to be immoral and unethical.

In civilization and its Discontents, Freud explains that civilization is based upon the self restraining of the instincts such as sex and aggression that does not satisfy ones desire. The act is conditioned on the basis of what is considered right and wrong. Freud's concept of civilization is also depicted in George Orwell's 1984 that describe human nature's potential in civilization and how civilization is capable of repressing happiness that destroys instinctual human nature.

Freud's concept of civilization is incorporated in George Orwell's 1984 as it shows that no freedom of thought can lead to aggression.

Discussion

Freud- Civilization and its Discontents

Id, ego and super ego are the three main elements of Freud's model of the psyche. It explains that one becomes dependent on it that makes civilization influence human development.

Freud initially tries to express the oceanic feeling highlighting the spiritual side, which gives immeasurable and identity between the ego and the world outside. It is pointing towards the sentiments that are found in human beings rather than any specific religion. Many religious institute such as churches channel these sentiments in some belief system (Berk, 2004, p.137). Freud as a researcher of human behavior stands out as he explains a number of different ways to avoid the pain that affects one's own body and mind. One of the issues discussed is the satisfaction of desire, which brings man happiness. Such acts are considered immoral and unethical in a civilized world and therefore prohibited.

Freud notes, however, that feeling of happiness due to meet the free and unrestrained by the ego is incomparably impulsive tendencies stronger than the feeling of happiness flowing from unmitigated satisfaction drives. Freud in civilization and discontent says “One thing only do I know for certain and that is that man's judgments of value follow directly his wishes for happiness-that, accordingly, they are an attempt to support his illusions with arguments.” 

The choice of these different types of implementation suggested by Freud, of the principle of pleasure is conditioned by the nature of the human being and his scale of values. It also includes avoiding suffering by neurosis and religion. The latter because it offers all the same way to obtain happiness and defend one from suffering. Freud concludes that this method is based on warping a true picture of the world, but many people manage to avoid personal neuroses.

The three sources of suffering are the power of nature, the fragility of the body and the failure of organizational structures governing human relations. However, the researchers included a definition of civilization is that is the sum of all the ...