Does society improve or corrupt human beings?
The two great thinkers Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud wrote extensively on the individual. As part of that writing, both spoke of how civilization affects and shapes everyone. While both authors saw the necessity of society, it is a certainty that they valued its importance differently. Freud believed in the benefits of its restraint, Marx believing while necessary for organization, society did not promote the best interest of the individual. Sigmund Freud in his book Civilization and its Discontents details the need for the limiting force of society when he states, "Perhaps we may begin by explaining that the element of civilization enters on the scene with the first attempt to regulate these social relationships. If the attempt were not made, the relationships would be subject to the arbitrary will of the individual: that is to say, the physically stronger man would decide them in the sense of his own interests and instinctual impulses. (48)" It is Freud's belief the without the restraining benefit of society that the stronger will dominate the weaker. He continues that if the stronger runs up against someone yet stronger still, then the stronger become part of the weaker class, and become dominated. When people band tog
Marx' vision of society is one of that has no classes and individuals live in community with each other. Marx says, "In place of the old bourgeois society, with its classes and class antagonisms, we shall have an association which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all." (53) Marx not only envisions a classless society, but one transformed by new institutions. Regarding education Marx stated, "The Communists have not intended the intervention of society in education; they do but seek to alter the character of that intervention, and to rescue education from the influence of the ruling class."(59) Reworking the message taught by schools is a priority of the Communist. Marriage does not exist as Marx states, "Abolition of the family!" (51) The State owns all property as Marx writes, "Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes." (53) Education controlled by the state, marriage gone and free love the order of the day, and property rights abolished. These institutions are pillars what hold society together and they are either radically change or abolished under Marx plan. Karl Marx in his book Manifesto of the Communist Party concludes the book by saying, "Proletar
Some common words found in the essay are:
Civilization Discontents, Communist Party, Marx Abolition, Freud Marx, Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, marx believed, Communist Marriage, freud wrote, , karl marx, marx writes, people band, society classes, freud's view, free development, power germany, sigmund freud,
Approximate Word count = 849
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
