Freud for the Twenty-First Century : The Science of Everyday Life

"With this nimble volume, Samuels emerges as a peerless Freudian life coach. Without ever abandoning Freud's own belief in the value of science, and engaging with key contemporary advocates of the enlightenment doctrine, he articulates the so desperately needed, poetic wisdom for our times. This is a book to be read and re-read, ad infinitum." --Dany Nobus, Professor of Psychology at Brunel University, and Chair of the Freud Museum London, UK This book places Freud's theory of the reality principle in relation to both everyday experience and global issues of the 21st century and illustrates how it may be practically applied. Arguing against more critical recent accounts of Freud's science, the author seeks to show how one might apply the scientific method to everyday life. It demonstrates how Freud contributes to a better understanding of reason and how this in turn can be used to unravel the role of unreason in both politics and personal relationships. Including critical examinations of topics such as Narcissism, Victimhood and Empathy, this engaging reappraisal of Freud's relevance to contemporary life offers fresh insights for psychology, psychoanalysis and cultural theory; as well as practical guidance for a general reader. Robert Samuels is Lecturer in advanced writing at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. He holds doctorates in Psychoanalysis and English. He is the author of 11 books, including Psychoanalyzing the Politics of the New Brain Sciences (2017) Contents 5 Chapter 1 Introduction: The Science of Everyday Life 6 Abstract 6 Chapter 2 Science and the Reality Principle 9 Abstract 9 The Reality Principle and Global Progress 10 Freud, Science, and the Reality Principle 12 The Method of Analysis 12 Why There Is No Self-Analysis 13 Truth and Analysis 14 Science vs. Scientism 16 Chapter 3 The Pleasure Principle and the Death Drive 21 Abstract 21 Understanding Pleasure 22 The Pleasure Principle in Our Daily Lives 23 Virtual Pleasure 24 Misunderstanding Pleasure 25 The Bribe of Enjoyment 26 Liberal Racism 27 Chapter 4 The Unconscious and the Primary Processes 30 Abstract 30 The Primary Processes in the Unconscious 31 Emotions and Neurosis 35 The Mental Network 37 Repression in the Network 39 A Case of Hysteria 40 Affect vs. Thought 42 Chapter 5 Transference and Narcissism 46 Abstract 46 Transference 47 Liberal Narcissism 50 Return to Reality 51 The Language Problem 53 Chapter 6 The Resistances to Psychoanalysis and Global Progress 55 Abstract 55 Trump and Transference 56 The Culture of Conflict 60 Zizek and the Repression of Psychoanalysis 61 From the Personal to the Global 64 Social Practice 66 Chapter 7 Conclusion: Progress and Its Discontents 70 Abstract 70 The Future of Progress 78 Index 80 Front Matter ....Pages i-v Introduction: The Science of Everyday Life (Robert Samuels)....Pages 1-3 Science and the Reality Principle (Robert Samuels)....Pages 5-16 The Pleasure Principle and the Death Drive (Robert Samuels)....Pages 17-25 The Unconscious and the Primary Processes (Robert Samuels)....Pages 27-42 Transference and Narcissism (Robert Samuels)....Pages 43-51 The Resistances to Psychoanalysis and Global Progress (Robert Samuels)....Pages 53-67 Conclusion: Progress and Its Discontents (Robert Samuels)....Pages 69-78 Back Matter ....Pages 79-82