HIST 20 ECC The Tension Between Individuals and Civilization Discusion

I’m working on a history writing question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

Who is the author?

What is their intent?

1. Who is their intended audience?
2. What is their main argument?
3. How do they use evidence?
4. What are their unarticulated assumptions?
5. How does this document help us understand the specific historical time and place in which it was written?
6. In answering these questions please discuss Freud’s chapters 2, 5, and 8 from Civilization and Its Discontents.

In Civilization and Its Discontents excerpts written by Sigmund Freud, the author strongly voices his views and opinions on civilization, as well as the effect it has on human beings. Freud defines civilization in relation to instincts as a restrictive boundary which forces human beings to act a certain way. More specifically, Freud discussed how civilization is the main cause of our unhappiness, as it prevents us from living in our own natural element. Freud goes on and talks about how civilization has become a source of protection since it enables people to gain control over the unknown in the world. “Civilized man has exchanged a portion of his possi­bilities of happiness for a portion of security” (Freud 12). His main focus in the excerpt argued that civilization restricts us human beings from our natural instincts, specifically our aggressive impulses. From Freud’s written perspectives, we can gather that he may be suggesting that society during this historical period of time forced their people to act a certain way, as civilization would essentially control humans’ individual freedom.