O’Brien, civilisation and aggression

Abstract

Civilisation is not possible unless aggression can be brought under control. It is armed aggression – aggression by governments and by groups that hope to become governments – that most strongly threatens human survival. About this, Freud’s theorizing most strongly captures the imagination. Professor O’Brien begins with a persuasive account of this theory, brings out its importance, and suggests lines of exploration. There are four problems with Freudian explanation: Freud’s theories explain too much and therefore explain nothing; the logic of claims about unconscious motives poses difficulties; Freud uses tautologies as explanations; Freud stretches concepts like that of desire. This paper explores these problems and then takes up O’Brien’s other suggestive analyses.

Citation

Armour, L. (2001), "O’Brien, civilisation and aggression", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 28 No. 5/6/7, pp. 430-438. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068290110360777