Inevitably the cost to the individual is expressed in neurosis.” Read more. He means that in order to be civilised we have to repress certain sexual and destructive desires and the very powerful forms of rivalry that are inherent in all of us – for the group to function together. He writes: ‘We have taken care not to concur with the prejudice that civilisation is synonymous with a trend towards perfection.’ This laconic style is typical of the way Freud writes. He takes a long look at civilisation, embracing within that the cost to the individual, a cost we continue to pay. I don’t mean cold and indifferent but it is a psychological achievement to take in as much as he can in as unbiased a way as possible. It is partly Freud’s attitude that makes him so remarkable – his capacity for detached observation. “It is relatively easy to read as a stand-alone text and it addresses what we mean by civilisation and what the cost to us is of being civilised. Foreign Policy & International Relations.
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