According to Sigmund Freud, civilisation is to some extent the cumulative product of our psychology. Choose the correct option(s):
(A) The purpose of human life is the pursuit of happiness.
(B) Man is wholly good.
(C) Abolition of private property will remove ill-will and hostility among men.
(D) Creative art reflects the purpose of human life.
(E) Civilisation is analogous with the human psyche.

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

Explanation:

(A) In his work "Civilization and Its Discontents" (1930), Sigmund Freud states that the pursuit of happiness is the primary aim of human life, but he also explains that this pursuit is constantly thwarted by the constraints of civilization. He views happiness largely as a reduction of suffering rather than a purely positive state.

(D) Freud acknowledged artistic creativity as one of the sublimations of human instinctual drives. Creative endeavors are a form of channeling repressed energies into socially acceptable outlets and serve as a means of attaining pleasure and emotional expression, thus linking it to human purpose.

(E) Freud draws a parallel between the structure of civilization and the structure of the psyche. In his model, just as the psyche consists of Id (instincts), Ego (rational control), and Superego (moral conscience), civilization too consists of instinctual energies, social controls, and moral codes. Civilization, in Freud's view, is a result of psychological mechanisms, especially the repression of instinctual drives for the sake of communal living.

Information Booster:

Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) was the founder of psychoanalysis, a theory of the unconscious mind and a clinical method for treating psychopathology. His work has had immense influence on literature, culture, psychology, and philosophy.

"Civilization and Its Discontents" (1930) is one of Freud’s most influential texts. In it, he explores the tensions between individual desires and the demands of society. Freud argues that civilization is built by repressing human instincts, especially those related to aggression and sexuality, and this repression leads to neurosis and discontent.

Freud’s Central Arguments in the Text:

- Civilization is necessary but causes suffering because it restrains human instincts.
- Human beings desire pleasure and freedom, but civilization imposes restrictions in order to ensure order.
- Cultural achievements like art, religion, and morality are sublimated expressions of repressed desires.
- The structure of civilization mirrors the psyche: constant conflict between instinctual drives (Id) and cultural norms (Superego), mediated by the Ego.

Freud explores the paradox that the more civilized society becomes, the more discontented its members feel. While civilization protects us from danger and enables progress, it demands repression of desires, especially aggression and sexual impulses, leading to psychological conflict and dissatisfaction. Freud also explores guilt as a major source of human suffering in civilized societies.

Additional Knowledge:

(B) Man is wholly good – This is incorrect. Freud had a pessimistic view of human nature. He believed that human beings possess innate aggressive and destructive instincts, and civilization’s main task is to curb these instincts. Hence, he did not view man as inherently good, but rather as a being whose destructive impulses must be repressed for the sake of social order.

(C) Abolition of private property will remove ill-will and hostility among men – This is incorrect in Freud's view. While this idea aligns more with Marxist philosophy, Freud explicitly rejected such claims. He argued that hostility among men stems not just from economic structures, but from deep-seated instinctual drives, especially aggression, which cannot be eliminated simply by changing material conditions like private property.