Freud's View On Human Nature Essay
Freud held a very pessimistic view on human nature, as stated, “I have found little that is good about human beings on the whole. In my experience most of them are trash, no matter whether they publicly subscribe to this or that ethical doctrine or to none at all”. Freud controversially believed that humans are unworthy, rotten creatures that are driven by greed and self-indulgence, whether they admit to it or not. Since the dawn of civilization, there have been many scenarios of men in societies without ethical laws. There also had been an abundance of societies that allowed men to have extreme power and control over others. Both these types of societies show humans under conditions which oppose today’s societal norms and how we would possibly
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Just eighty years ago, the Nazi Party emerged and committed a genocide amongst Jews, as well as other people deemed inferior to the Aryans. They treated these “lesser” groups of people with extreme cruelty and humiliation, in fact, it was almost their societal norm to. Also, the Nazis were not just a group of men, nor a just tribe of killers, but an established nation with millions of followers and supporters, who were aware of the horrible actions promoted by their country. Like the Mongols, the Nazis were not literal monsters - but human, no different than us. The Nazis are an example of human hubris, and how some act and will act when they are given extreme power over …show more content…
In my experience most of them are trash, no matter whether they publicly subscribe to this or that ethical doctrine or to none at all”. His view is supported by many examples of the past and still holds true today in modern society. Humans often try to hide their greed and selfish tendencies from society to appear principled. Whether they accept it or not, people carry characteristics that can be seen as “trash” to Freud. Modern society deviates from brutal empires because we have adapted to civilized ethical norms. With this, I believe Freud was right in his controversial opinion and overall
Just eighty years ago, the Nazi Party emerged and committed a genocide amongst Jews, as well as other people deemed inferior to the Aryans. They treated these “lesser” groups of people with extreme cruelty and humiliation, in fact, it was almost their societal norm to. Also, the Nazis were not just a group of men, nor a just tribe of killers, but an established nation with millions of followers and supporters, who were aware of the horrible actions promoted by their country. Like the Mongols, the Nazis were not literal monsters - but human, no different than us. The Nazis are an example of human hubris, and how some act and will act when they are given extreme power over …show more content…
In my experience most of them are trash, no matter whether they publicly subscribe to this or that ethical doctrine or to none at all”. His view is supported by many examples of the past and still holds true today in modern society. Humans often try to hide their greed and selfish tendencies from society to appear principled. Whether they accept it or not, people carry characteristics that can be seen as “trash” to Freud. Modern society deviates from brutal empires because we have adapted to civilized ethical norms. With this, I believe Freud was right in his controversial opinion and overall