Political Society
In his famous 1944 study of political society, The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness, Christian theologian and political theorist Reinhold Niebuhr suggested that “[humanity’s] capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but [humanity’s] inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.” In Civilization and Its Discontents, Sigmund Freud offers a similarly paradoxical summary of the possibility and necessity of civilization.In your short write, please discuss the following questions:According to Freud, why do we live in community?According to Freud, what is it about human nature that makes civilization possible, and what is it about human nature that makes civilization necessaryAccording to Freud, what do we gain by living in community, and what do we lose?In your estimation, are the benefits of community worth the costs?How do you propose to maximize the benefits of living in community while minimizing the costs?Please refer to specific passages of Civilization and Its Discontents in your paper. Your paper should be free of mechanical errors.N.B. You may not use the first person in this paper.
