Philosophy and Psychoanalysis: Freud and the Interpretation of Culture

More than a century after Sigmund Freud transformed--for better or worse-- our understanding of what it means to be human, Freudian psychoanalysis still exerts a profound influence in our cluture. This seminar course is an exploration of the philosophical issues raised by Freudian psychoanalysis as a theory of mind and culture. After a close reading of Freud's theoretical writings on the nature of the mind and human behavior, we will explore why Freud's theories--despite more than a century of criticism--remain highly influential as a framework for the interpretation of art, literature, religion, society, politics, and history. Readings from Freud's "meta-psychological", cultural, and social writings, Paul Ricoeur's Freud and Philosophy, and other contemporary authors in philosophy, psychoanalysis, and other fields. No previous knowledge of psychoanalysis, psychology, or philosophy required.