know; but there is no doubt about the accuracy of this conclusion.[12]
Now, we have seen that order and cleanliness are essentially
cultural demands, although the necessity of them for survival is not
particularly apparent, any more than their suitability as sources of
pleasure. At this point we must be struck for the first time with the
similarity between the process of cultural development and that of
the libidinal development in an individual. Other instincts have to
be induced to change the conditions of their gratification, to find
it along other paths, a process which is usually identical with what
we know so well as sublimation (of the aim of an instinct), but which
can sometimes be differentiated from this. Sublimation of instinct is
an especially conspicuous feature of cultural evolution; this it is
that makes it possible for the higher mental operations, scientific,
artistic, ideological activities, to play such an important part in
civilized life. If one were to yield to a first impression, one would
be tempted to say that sublimation is a fate which has been forced
upon instincts by culture alone. But it is better to reflect over this
a while longer. Thirdly and lastly, and this seems most important of
all, it is impossible to ignore the extent to which civilization is
built up on renunciation of instinctual gratifications, the degree to
which the existence of civilization presupposes the non-gratification
(suppression, repression or something else?) of powerful instinctual
urgencies. This ‘cultural privation’ dominates the whole field of
social relations between human beings; we know already that it is the
cause of the antagonism against which all civilization has to fight.
It sets hard tasks for our scientific work, too; we have a great deal
to explain here. It is not easy to understand how it can become
possible to withhold satisfaction from an instinct. Nor is it by any
means without risk to do so; if the deprivation is not made good
economically, one may be certain of producing serious disorders.
But now, if we wish to know what use it is to us to have recognized
the evolution of culture as a special process, comparable to the
normal growth of an individual to maturity, we must clearly attack
another problem and put the question: what are the influences to which
the evolution of culture owes its origin, how did it arise and what
determined its course?
FOOTNOTES:
[10] Cf. _The Future of an Illusion_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account