Freud and His CriticsWars against Freud have been waged along virtually every front during the past decade. Now Paul Robinson takes on three of Freud's most formidable critics, mounting a thoughtful, witty, and ultimately devastating critique of the historian of science Frank Sulloway, the psychoanalyst Jeffrey Masson, and the philosopher Adolf Grnbaum. Frank Sulloway contends that Freud took most of his ideas from Darwin and other contemporary thinkers--that he was something of a closet biologist. Jeffrey Masson charges that Freud caved in to peer pressure when he abandoned his early seduction theory (which Masson believes was correct) in favor of the theory of infantile sexuality. Adolf Grnbaum impugns Freud's claim to have grounded his ideas--especially the idea of the unconscious--on solid empirical foundations. Under Robinson's rigorous cross-examination, the evidence of these three accusers proves ambiguous and their arguments biased by underlying assumptions and ideological commitments. Robinson concludes that the anti-Freudian writings of Sulloway, Masson, and Grnbaum reveal more about their authors' prejudices--and about the Zeitgeist of the past decade--than they do about Freud. Beautifully crafted and full of surprises, Robinson's work is a compelling defense of one of history's most original and powerful minds. Freud and His Critics will earn an enduring place in the raging Freudian debate. Wars against Freud have been waged along virtually every front during the past decade. Now Paul Robinson takes on three of Freud's most formidable critics, mounting a thoughtful, witty, and ultimately devastating critique of the historian of science Frank Sulloway, the psychoanalyst Jeffrey Masson, and the philosopher Adolf Grnbaum. Frank Sulloway contends that Freud took most of his ideas from Darwin and other contemporary thinkers--that he was something of a closet biologist. Jeffrey Masson charges that Freud caved in to peer pressure when he abandoned his early seduction theory (which Masson believes was correct) in favor of the theory of infantile sexuality. Adolf Grnbaum impugns Freud's claim to have grounded his ideas--especially the idea of the unconscious--on solid empirical foundations. Under Robinson's rigorous cross-examination, the evidence of these three accusers proves ambiguous and their arguments biased by underlying assumptions and ideological commitments. Robinson concludes that the anti-Freudian writings of Sulloway, Masson, and Grnbaum reveal more about their authors' prejudices--and about the Zeitgeist of the past decade--than they do about Freud. Beautifully crafted and full of surprises, Robinson's work is a compelling defense of one of history's most original and powerful minds. Freud and His Critics will earn an enduring place in the raging Freudian debate. |
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Freud and his critics
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictIn recent years, a number of charges have been leveled at the character and ideas of Sigmund Freud. In this book, Robinson addresses the concerns of three of the leading critics: Frank Sulloway, who ... Read full review
Contents
The AntiFreudian Mood | 1 |
Freud as Closet Sociobiologist | 18 |
Freud Seduction and the New Puritanism | 101 |
Freud and Intellectual History | 267 |
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Common terms and phrases
abandonment abuse actually analysis analytic argues Assault assertion associations become believed biological Breuer called causal cause central child childhood claim clinical conception concludes confidence course critics cures Darwin defense doubt dreams Edition effect effort empirical entire evidence evolutionary experience explain fact fails fantasy father figure final Fliess Freud Freudian give Grünbaum human hypothesis hysteria ideas important infantile sexuality influence insight insists intellectual interpretation later less letter logic Masson matter means mental mind natural neuroses never notion object original particular passage patient perhaps philosophical precisely present psychoanalysis psychological reading reality reason recent remarkable repression result role scientific seduction theory seems sense sexual shows significant slips Standard story studies suggests Sulloway Sulloway's symptoms Tally Argument therapeutic therapy thinking thought tion traditional treatment truth turn ultimately unconscious writes
Bibliographic information
| Title | Freud and His Critics Online access: California Digital Library UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004 |
| Authors | Paul A. Robinson, Paul W. Robinson |
| Contributor | Sigmund Freud |
| Publisher | University of California Press, 1993 |
| ISBN | 0520080297, 9780520080294 |
| Length | 281 pages |
| Subjects | › Biography & Autobiography / General History / Historiography |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |