Freud and Culture (The International Psychoanalytical Association Psychoanalytic Ideas and Applications Series)

This book explores the representations of society and culture that Freud elaborated in the course of his work. His profound interest in these areas led to his construction of a personal socio-anthropology, one which was virulently criticized by the social sciences of the day as it challenged many contemporary sociological and anthropological conceptions. Freud's view of culture and society encompassed both his Viennese and wider Western society and civilization and also historical and so-called "primitive" societies, which he viewed from the evolutionist perspective of the British anthropologists of his time. When Freud writes about society, culture, civilization, the masses, or the community, it is therefore necessary to take into consideration the interrelationship between these various perspectives -- both contemporary Viennese and Western, historical and primitive. By exploring these subjects the book also raises a number of compelling questions: What constitutes a culture? What are its essential traits, its functions, its relationships with society and with nature, and with other aspects of “reality” or of the “external world”. What account of it did Freud seek to reconstruct (phylogenesis), and what role does it play in the development of each individual (ontogenesis) through the construction and functioning of his or her psyche? This book provides some fascinating answers and skilfully elaborates the distinctively Freudian notion of "Kulturarbeit", an idea that played a central role in his work but which, rather curiously, he never defined. The author compellingly reconstructs this concept from a strictly Freudian perspective by drawing on both his socio-anthropological writings and also those of others outside the field. In This Book Eric Smadja Explores The Representations Of Society And Culture That Freud Developed In The Course Of His Work. Distinct From Contemporary Sociological And Anthropological Conceptions, They Led To His Construction Of A Personal Socio-anthropology That Was Virulently Criticised By The Social Sciences. But What Exactly Is Meant Here By ‘culture’ And ‘society’? Do We Mean Freud’s Own Viennese Society Or Western, ‘civilised’ Society In General? In Addition, Freud Was Interested In Historical And ‘primitive' Societies From The Evolutionist Perspective Of The British Anthropologists Of His Time. This Book Considers The Interrelationship Between These Different Societies And Cultures, And Raises Many Questions. What Constitutes A Culture? What Are Its Essential Traits, Its Functions, Its Relationships With Society, With Nature, And With Other Aspects Of ‘reality’ Or Of The ‘external World’? How Did Freud Construct The Idea Of Culture? What Roles Does Culture Play In The Development Of The Individual, In The Construction And Functioning Of His Or Her Psyche? This Book Offers Some Answers And Presents The Freudian Central Notion Of Kulturarbeit, Which Is Constructed From A Strictly Freudian Perspective. In this book Eric Smadja explores the representations of society and culture that Freud developed in the course of his work. Distinct from contemporary sociological and anthropological conceptions, they led to his construction of a personal socio-anthropology that was virulently criticized by the social sciences. But what exactly is meant here by "culture" and "society"? Do we mean Freud's own Viennese society or Western, "civilized"' society in general? In addition, Freud was interested in historical and "'primitive" societies from the evolutionist perspective of the British anthropologists of his time. This book considers the interrelationship between these different societies and cultures, and raises many questions. What constitutes a culture? What are its essential traits, its functions, its relationships with society, with nature, and with other aspects of reality or of the external world? How did Freud construct the idea of culture? What roles does culture play in the development of the individual, in the construction and functioning of his or her psyche? This book offers some answers and presents the Freudian central notion of Kulturarbeit, which is constructed from a strictly Freudian perspective.