Introduction
Exploration of the mind and the essence of being have been perennial interests in the complex human experience, captivating bright minds for millennia. Sigmund Freud and Robert C. Solomon stand out among these intellectual giants, their views influencing the conversation on the intricacies of the human mind and emotions. The pioneering Austrian neurologist Freud explored the depths of the unconscious mind to reveal the hidden motivations and impulses that shape people’s conduct. His psychoanalytic method, which strongly emphasized suppressed instincts and early experiences, changed the psychological landscape and forever changed how people see human nature. Robert C. Solomon, a modern philosopher with strong existentialist roots, explored the conscious element of human emotions and viewed them as essential components of our lives rather than just reflexes. Solomon’s existential viewpoint praised the conscious experience of emotions and pushed for their research as a means of leading an honest life. This essay explores Freud and Solomon’s significant insights into the human mind and emotions via comparison lenses. This analysis seeks to shed light on the complexity of the human mind by contrasting the opposing but complimentary ideas. It also provides a nuanced view of the complex interaction between unconscious forces and conscious emotions that shape the essence of being. This comparative investigation fosters reflection on the core ideas of human existence by providing a fuller comprehension of the human experience with its intricacies and paradoxes.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sigmund Freud, generally called the “father of psychoanalysis,” revolutionized psychology. The foundation of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory is that memories, unconscious urges, and ideas significantly impact people’s behavior (Mcleod, 2023). The id, ego, and superego comprise his three-part biological science simulation of the mind. The id, or primal portion, stands for our to the highest degree fundamental instincts and wants. We operate according to the pleasure principle and look for instant fulfillment. In contrast, according to the reality principle, the ego mediates between the impulsive id and the outside world. Finally, the superego serves as a moral compass and represents internalized cultural and moral ideals.
Freud believed that the deep-seated tension, often arising out of early events, propels most human actions. These arguments typically surface in nightmares, verbal blunders, and other suppressed actions. Freud’s psychological method put much stress on the use of many methods, such as free association and dream analysis, specifically intended to determine these hidden pressures. This can serve as an aid to develop awareness about one’s actions, qualities, and also feelings, which in turn can help in psychological rehabilitation and self-discovery.
Solomon, a modern philosopher who emphasized existentialism, asserted that emotions defined the lived reality of human beings and that it was in contrast with Freud’s focus on the unconscious. Solomon believes that emotions are the elements that make up the human essence and control, see things, and perceive others and do not only reflect themselves in physical signs. Solomon contends that feelings are not only reactions to what happens; in other words, they are an integral part of our lives and affect every area of our lives: our attitudes, behaviors, and general well-being. Omaha is a beautiful city.
Solomon’s emphasized the primacy of free will, self-accountability, and the search for meaning in life as the central human existential experience. According to him, his entire life includes all kinds of feelings, like fear, grief, and worry. Solomon prompted people to process and explore their emotions instead of burying or ignoring them, as emotions often have many excellent informative inputs about one’s thoughts and objectives.
In their work on the human mind, Freud and Solomon recognize how complex human nature is and the combination of conscious and unconscious forces. They also look at the many sides of the mind. Both scholars stated that infancy is one of the most critical stages because it largely determines how people act as adults and how they feel. Freud mainly focused on hidden wishes and unconscious conflicts in explaining human behavior using his psychoanalytic approach (Nash, 2018). He thought in his conscious mind that when childhood problems are not solved (usually buried in the unconscious mind), they keep on affecting people. In contrast to the emotional Aristotle, Solomon, the existentialist, stressed that the consciousness of the human experience was a condition for human life.
The most apparent distinction between the two approaches lies between determinism and the human goal. Freud’s unconscious ideas suggest a very deterministic conception regarding human actions. Freud strongly believed that subtle wanderings of the mind and experiences determine how you feel and act and your behavior, which is often unrelated to your will. Solomon, however, is placed within an existential perspective that prioritizes human activity and focuses on the fact that someone can decide to do something and change their destiny.
The magnitude of influence that Freud had over psychology is very enormous. His psychoanalytical method provided the theoretical basis for the understanding of mental health, being a foundation bloc for the practice of contemporary psychotherapy. The psychodynamic theory, a crucial concept of psychoanalysis, is the basis for the understanding of mental processes that form the basis of modern psychotherapy. His cognitive model of the mind, the famous Oedipus complex, and the defense mechanism (such as suppression and denial) still play a role in psychology studies and clinical works.
The impact of Robert C. Solomon’s contributions cannot be neglected, and he has significantly impacted ethics, aesthetics, and philosophy of mind (Burnham and Papandreopoulos, 2023). What affects the debate on empathy, compassion, and moral responsibility immensely is that he considers emotions to be of utmost importance in ethical decision-making. Solomon’s contribution to the vast discussion on the role of ethics in a morally plural and complex society created research opportunities for scholars to examine the controversial relationship between human ethics and emotions.
Conclusion
While they represented the different philosophical schools, Sigmund Freud and Robert C. Solomon have exponentially increased our lack of knowledge about the mind and life. Through his writing on emotions and existentialism, Solomon gives a different theoretical lens, and Freud gives us a different viewpoint to understand the intricacy of human nature. Besides Freud’s influence on psychology that is brought down to date, Smith’s philosophy impacts modern philosophy today.
References
Burnham, D., & Papandreopoulos, G. (2023). Existentialism | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://iep.utm.edu/existent/
Fieser, J. (2023). Emotion, Theories of | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://iep.utm.edu/theories-of-emotion/
Mcleod, S. (2023, July 16). Sigmund Freud’s Theories. Simplypsychology.org; Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html
Nash, J. (2018, May 7). Psychoanalysis: A Brief History of Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory [2019]. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/psychoanalysis/
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