 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
Freud has popularized the theory that dreams give expression to our wishes. No doubt this is true of a percentage of dreams, but I think dreams are just as apt to give expression to our fears. Freud avoids this conclusion by reflexions which seem to me unduly cynical. He thinks that if you dream that your dearest friend is dead, that shows that you really hate him and would like him to be dead. This seems to me nonsense, and I think it is even more obviously absurd to suppose that wishes inspire dreams in which oneself is subjected to torture.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954, part II: The Conflict of Passions, chapter 4: Myth and Magic, n.3
More info.： https://russell-j.com/cool/47T-2_0403.htm
* a brief comment
When one is in good health and has few worries, unpleasant dreams are less likely to occur. Conversely, when one’s health is poor or worries abound, unpleasant dreams seem more common. Freud is rarely mentioned these days, but during the time when Hakusuisha published the Freud Collected Works, he was frequently referenced.
In Freud’s era, neuroscience was not well developed, and from today’s perspective, many of his claims could be considered abstract and unscientific. Nowadays, with advancements in neuroscience and the application of AI technologies, numerous discoveries that appear scientific are being published. NHK often airs programs introducing the latest scientific achievements (frontiers of science), which I enjoy watching. These developments give me a strong sense of how much times have changed.
* Amazon Gift Card
