100 must-read books for college students

Chapter 93 A Textbook for the Generation Youth Movement

The Textbook of the Chapter 92 Generation Youth Movement: "Eros and Civilization"

After the 20s, Marcuse's thought took a new turn from the Western Marxist trend of thought, that is, using Freud

Morality

theory to supplement Marx's thought, and from this "supplement" and "combination" found the criticism and exposure of the developed capitalist society.
The theoretical weapon of the meeting.The subtitle used when the book was published was "A Philosophical Discussion on Freud's Theory".by author

In his own words: "This book aims to make a contribution to the philosophy of psychoanalysis rather than to psychoanalysis itself."

not to correct or improve the interpretation of Freud's concepts, but to restore their philosophical and sociological
A critical theory of civilization.

Love liberates civilization and sublimates

Herbert Marcuse is a famous Western thinker in the 20th century, an outstanding representative of the Frankfurt School, and a Western Marxist

famous representatives.

马尔库塞于1989年7月19日出生于德国柏林。1916年到1918年在军队服役
During the same period, he was studying for a doctorate at the University of Berlin. In 1919, Marcuse studied at the University of Freiburg, under the existentialism master Heide

Under the tutelage of Geer, he received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1922.In 1928 after working for a time in a publishing house in Berlin
Nian returned to Heidegger and served as his assistant.Then work in the institute. Died in 1979.

His major works include "Eros and Civilization" (1955), "One-faced Man" (1964), "On Liberation" (1968), etc.

Marcuse pointed out in Chapter 1 of "Eros and Civilization" that the concept of man in Freud's theory is the most irrelevant to Western civilization.

A defensible accusation, and at the same time its staunchest defense.This can be said to be a contradiction of Freud's entire theory.

According to Freud, the history of man is the history of his repression.Culture not only suppresses man's social existence, but also
biological existence; not only the general aspects of man are suppressed, but also the instinctive structure of man.But such repression is precisely progress
premise.It is this perception, Marcuse argues, that effectively justifies repression.he
argues that a characteristic of Freudian studies is the unrelenting effort to reveal the highest values ​​and highest

Repressive content in achievements.

In Chapter 2, Marcuse pointed out that, in the earliest stages of its development, at the heart of Freud's theory was the sexual instinct (libido)
against the ego (self-preservation) instinct; and in the final stage of its development, between the life instinct (eros) and the death instinct
conflict between the faculties, so far as it assumes, in the brief middle phase of its development, an all-pervasive (narcissistic) libido, and

Not some kind of dualistic view.In all these reformed theories of Freud, sexual desire has always occupied the
According to dominance.This dominance of sexuality is rooted in what Freud called the nature of the psychic mechanism, because if the main

If psychic processes are governed by the pleasure principle, then the life-sustaining instinct itself, operating according to this principle, must be the only life-supporting instinct.
life instinct.

Marcuse introduced the concepts of additional repression and the operating principle from Freud's works, and made a reference to these two concepts
state.He said that behind the reality principle, there is a basic fact, which is lack (deficiency).This means that survival
strife takes place in a world so poor that human needs cannot be found here without restriction, restraint, and delay.
be satisfied.

Marcuse pointed out that any attempt to account for the scope and limits of major repressions in modern civilization must be done in terms of the
The specific principles of reality that arise and develop are described.This specific reality principle is known as the operating principle.in operation

Under the rule of law, society is divided into classes according to the operating activities of the competing economies of its members.The operating principle is also

The principle of an ever-evolving, aggressively antagonistic society presupposes that, in the long run, domination will become increasingly

more and more plausible because the control of social labor is now reproducing society on a larger scale and under better conditions.After a long time
In the long history of development, the interests of government and the interests of the whole converge, because the rational use of production facilities meets the needs of individuals

and function.

According to Marcuse, it is only meaningful to speak of the extent and intensity of instinctive repression in relation to the historically attainable levels of freedom.

But, for Freud, is the progress of civilization the progress of freedom?Marcuse pointed out that Freud's
The core of the theory is the cyclical cycle of "rule-resistance-rule".

but the second reign is not the first
Simply repeat.This circular movement is the forward movement of domination.The development of social labor hierarchies not only rationalized the rule of

, and "contained" resistance to rule.On the individual side, primordial rebellion is within the bounds of normal Oedipal conflict
Contained.On the social side, revolts and revolutions are always accompanied by counter-revolutions and restorations.

Every revolution seems to provide a historical opportunity for the victory of the struggle against the rule, but this opportunity
The machine was eventually lost.In this sense, every revolution is also a betrayed revolution.Marcuse has repeatedly

It emphasizes the alienation phenomenon in the late industrial civilization and the one-sidedness of the late industrial society.

Marcuse pointed out in Chapter 5 that Freud's theory of civilization arose from his theory of psychology.Freud's theory reveals

There is also a kind of biological deindividualization behind the deindividualization of sociology.

But the metapsychological significance of Freud's theory is not even limited to the realm of sociology.His meta-psychology attempts to

Essence is defined as Eros, which coincides with the traditional definition of the essence of existence as Logos
in contrast.

In the book, Marcuse also argues that the problem of the historical character and historical limits of the operating principle is, for Freudian theory,
of extreme importance.Freud actually equated the existing reality principle (i.e., the operative principle) with the reality principle itself
Come.Marcuse also pointed out that Freud's theory excludes the possibility of constructing any psychoanalytic utopia.

Marcuse then argues that the prevailing repression is derived from a particular organization of social labor exercised by the ruling interests, that is,
Repression is basically extra repression.Therefore, the elimination of additional repression itself will lead to a better social organization of human existence,
rather than lead to the elimination of labor.If so, the emergence of a non-repressive reality principle would change the

Not the social organization that destroys labor, because the liberation of eros can create new, lasting working relationships.

Afterwards, Marcuse discusses the implications of the concept of sexual self-sublimation.The term, he said, means that, under certain conditions,
Sexuality can create highly civilized human relationships without succumbing to the repressive organization of instincts of existing civilization.such self
The premise of sublimation is that the progress of history breaks through the mechanism of operating principles, and this progress in turn leads to the regression of instinct.At once
In terms of the development of instinct, this regression means from sexual desire for reproductive purposes to "taking pleasure from certain parts of the body".
Regression of the libido of "pleasure". With the restoration of this primitive sexual structure, the sensuality of the genital functions, together with the accompanying flesh

together with the desexualization of the body is broken.The whole organism becomes the basis of sexual desire, while the goals of the instinct are no longer fully integrated.
Now in a special function, namely "contact with the opposite sex".By thus enlarging the sphere and objects of instinct,
It becomes the life of the organism itself.This process, by virtue of its inherent logic, conceptually transforms sexuality into eros.

Marcuse also emphasizes that non-repressive sublimation is diametrically opposed to the principle of operation, because it
It is the denial of the latter.This paradox is increasingly important because post-Freudian psychoanalytic theory itself expresses

There is a clear tendency to eliminate this contradiction and to glorify repression as human self-realization.marcou
According to Se, this revision of Freud's theory is a regression, which makes the whole of the "psychological mechanism" established by Freud
The driving force of the structure is destroyed.

In Chapter 11, Marcuse argues that all technological progress, the conquest of nature and the rationalization of man and society,

can and cannot eradicate the necessity of estranged labor, that is, mechanically, unhappily, in a self-actualizing
The necessity of working in a way.

Marcuse pointed out that there may be a "natural" self-limitation in eroticism, but they are not caused by repressive phenomena.

Imposed from without by the principle of reality, but established and accepted by the instinct itself, these obstacles and limitations have an intrinsic libidinal value

.Freud actually alludes to this view: "unrestricted sexual freedom" does not lead to complete satisfaction in the first place.horse
Ercuse said that according to Freud's theory, it can be considered that the "natural obstacle" in the instinct will not deny pleasure, on the contrary
If you get rid of ancient taboos and external suppression, it may also help to form happiness.Happiness involves a self-determined
Composition, it is a symbol of the human inevitability of conquering blindness.From this, the author infers that the difference between pleasure and the blind satisfaction of desires lies in

Since, in the former case, the instinct refuses to spend its life in pursuit of immediate gratification, it is able to establish and exercise obstacles

to be satisfied.

The purpose of the book "Erotic and Civilization" is to make a new interpretation of some concepts and thoughts of Freud, so

, he analyzed and criticized the neo-Freudian understanding of Freudian theory.

Marcuse pointed out that although neo-Freudianism emphasizes the role of social reality in the formation of personality
Influence, but the actual situation is just the opposite: the influence of society on the spirit and personality is weakened.Freud noticed that the main
He discovers society in that layer of the most hidden individual.

The inner direction of Freud's theory is the transition from the conscious to the unconscious, from the personality to childhood, from the individual to the human
process.His theory digs the surface to the inside, the conditioned man to the depths of his heart and subconscious to unearth the answers to social problems.

source.This is the core of Freud's critique of civilization.

However, the book "Eros and Civilization" reinterprets Freud's thought and finally draws his own conclusions.horse
Arcuse

This book affirms the proposition in Marx's early thoughts that the essence of man is labor, and the liberation of man is the liberation of his essence.
, and made a further play.He agrees with Freud's view that the essence of man is eros, so man's liberation becomes
Eros liberation.On this basis, Marcuse further proposed that the premise of the liberation of love is the liberation of labor.

Civilization Theory Criticism Spiritual Philosophy Storm

The book "Eros and Civilization" discusses Freud's repressive view of civilization and puts forward the concept of non-repressive way of life

, and painted a blueprint for future civilization.The new civilization marks the transition from sexuality to eroticism, symbolizing slave labor, production and
The Cultural Heroes of Repressive Progress——The Transformation of Prometheus to the Images of Orpheus and Narcissus Symbolizing Pleasure and Fulfillment

.The author pointed out in the preface of this book that the title of "Eros and Civilization" expresses an optimistic, euphemistic and even

Positive thinking: The achievements of a developed society can make people reverse the direction of progress and break the destiny between construction and destruction, freedom and oppression.

The conflicts of fate can lead to the development of a science worth enjoying, so that in the constant struggle against the threat of death, man can learn to act according to his own will.
own life instinct, using social wealth to shape oneself.According to Marcuse, the affluent society itself also requires people to pursue perfection.

Beauty, harmony, restoring the unity of nature and man, enriching the soul and praising creation for creation's sake.However, within the existing system

, these expectations were transformed into a manipulative cultural activity sponsored by the government and big business, and became their appeal to the hearts and minds of the masses.
Extended ruling arm.In such expectations one cannot find any erotic expectations, no erotic contribution to the repressive environment.

and any transformation of repressive existence.Only a severe crisis and sweeping economic and political changes will reverse this situation.

Therefore, Marcuse pointed out that today, fighting for life and fighting for love is also fighting for politics.according to the book
It can be said that Marcuse's goal has been achieved to some extent. "like
Desire and Civilization had a major impact on the student rebellion movements in Western Europe and North America in the late 20s, and was called the "Youth Movement Education".
textbook".

(End of this chapter)