As we are brought close to an end, it becomes easy to understand that man's difficulties in any age are his unbridled striving for cultural ideals that are more harmful than good. A perfect example is the fact that what we call morality which denotes distinguishing between right and wrong is a socially constructed thing. Created from a childhood authority or culture to our eventual internalization combined with our innate personality.
A thing that doesn't escape Sigmund Freud as he notes that due to the difficult rules held by society, this invariably causes quite the stress for its citizens especially as for even in those called normal control of themselves can only be reached to an extent. Any more and civilization risks causing nervous disturbances, rebellion, or unhappiness.
And finally, somehow still close to the end Sigmund Freud brings up a smaller discourse on what he calls the nervous disorder which he seems to have become interested in. The nervous disorder that he believes is plaguing modern society arises from an attainment of higher progress in the face of growing new technologies and competition causing people to seek out heavy enjoyments in life from modern literature, nosy obtrusive music, and other arts. All to combat their exhausted nerves. Of course, these as Sigmund Freud points out are the symptoms of the nervous disorder that have a far reaching cause.
And while he sees civilized sexual morality as the main culprit due to its double standards on the sexuality of both men and women: like for example men would be seen as fine if they had many sex partners, while for women that would be seen as wrong and slutty.
I have to bring up that while I believe Sigmund Freud is correct about civilized sexual morality I also believe this is only one of the causes and not all of them. That said, this detour was quite interesting to read. I couldn't recommend Civilization and Its Discontents enough!
A thing that doesn't escape Sigmund Freud as he notes that due to the difficult rules held by society, this invariably causes quite the stress for its citizens especially as for even in those called normal control of themselves can only be reached to an extent. Any more and civilization risks causing nervous disturbances, rebellion, or unhappiness.
And finally, somehow still close to the end Sigmund Freud brings up a smaller discourse on what he calls the nervous disorder which he seems to have become interested in. The nervous disorder that he believes is plaguing modern society arises from an attainment of higher progress in the face of growing new technologies and competition causing people to seek out heavy enjoyments in life from modern literature, nosy obtrusive music, and other arts. All to combat their exhausted nerves. Of course, these as Sigmund Freud points out are the symptoms of the nervous disorder that have a far reaching cause.
And while he sees civilized sexual morality as the main culprit due to its double standards on the sexuality of both men and women: like for example men would be seen as fine if they had many sex partners, while for women that would be seen as wrong and slutty.
I have to bring up that while I believe Sigmund Freud is correct about civilized sexual morality I also believe this is only one of the causes and not all of them. That said, this detour was quite interesting to read. I couldn't recommend Civilization and Its Discontents enough!
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