Caroline Rogers
Contemporary Civilization
Professor Kitcher
May 9, 2000
Religion and History
Sigmund Freud and Friedrich Nietzsche both develop the idea that history is important to the understanding of human nature through their examinations of modern civilization and religion’s fundamental role in it. Though the term “history” is somewhat vague with many possible connotations, Freud and Nietzsche both attempt to discuss the notion as it applies to their conceptions of present-day society. Nietzsche feels very strongly about the fact that opinions are simply individual perspectives; this immediately foreshadows the great ambiguity in his work, The Genealogy of Morals. He thoroughly examines the development of mankind throughout history and seems to believe that it plays an important part in understanding people as they exist today – especially in the realm of religion. For Nietzsche, civilization’s downfalls appear to be largely due to the dissolution of mankind’s ability to act according to his natural characteristics and instincts. “This instinct for freedom forcibly made latent – we have seen it already – this instinct for freedom pushed back and repressed, incarcerated within and finally able to discharge and vent itself only on itself: that, and that alone, is what the bad conscience is in its beginnings.” (523) These restrictions were primarily upheld by religious forces.
Freud spends the majority of his writings exploring mankind’s natural or original state and how the creation of modern society has limited people from being able to express their inherent desires and wishes, which has resulted in the unfortunate discontents he feels people now have with civilization. Like Nietzsche, Fr ...