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This course is an examination of the life and work of Sigmund Freud. Specifically, the course attempts to answer some of the following questions in the light of contemporary historical, biological, and psychological research:
| FREUD THE MAN: Freud was a Viennese physician with a wife and six children who both shocked and inspired many of his contemporaries. QUESTIONS: Was Freud a family man, dedicated physician, gentle father to his followers, and seeker of the soul? Or was Freud a womanizer, cocaine user, demanding tyrant, and prophet of the sexual revolution? |
| FREUD’S WORK: For better or for worse, the thinking of Sigmund Freud has been a major force in shaping the way Western humankind views itself. His intellectual legacy is so vast, so much a part of the way we think about ourselves that it is not possible to “accept” or “reject” his ideas categorically. QUESTIONS: What has been Freud’s influence? Which of his ideas merit incorporation into contemporary intellectual life? |
| FREUD’S TIMES: On the shoulders of Darwin, to whom he often compared himself, Freud toppled the last vestiges of the Victorian Era. Freud was trained in 19th century science, schooled in the classics, and addicted to collecting archaeological artifacts. QUESTIONS: Where did his ideas really come from? Was he a serious scientist, or a master of fabricating intriguing but misleading metaphors for the mind? Was he the last great Victorian voyeur, or the master archaeologist of human thought? |
Course Format
The format the course will be lecture and discussion.For the most part we will move through Freud’s life chronologically, pairing his biography with original readings. The lectures and discussions will be complemented by videos, internet visits, and one or more guest speakers.
Course Requirements
1. Examinations. The two examinations will each take about an hour. They will be made up of the following types of items: multiple choice; identify and define; fill-ins; short essays.
2. Student Journal. Each student will maintain a personal journal of thoughts and feelings generated by the course. It should be typewritten and kept privately and securely on a disc or your personal computer. You will turn in a printed copy of the journal, and it will be returned to you with comments. The journal may focus on a specific topic. For example, it may be a dream journal complete with Freudian interpretations. In other cases, it may touch upon a variety of topics that are part of Freud’s thinking. In all cases, the journal should relate to the student’s experiences with Freud’s ideas. The professor will read the journal recognizing its highly confidential nature. The journal should begin January 25th and end April 11th. IT IS DUE ON APRIL 11th.
3. Paper. Each student will complete
a paper on a topic previously approved by the professor. The paper
should be between 8 and 12 pages.
4. Class Participation. This is an important part of the course. First, you have much to contribute. The students in this course typically have plenty of relevant knowledge from their studies in history, literature, science, etc. Share the wealth! Second, much of the material on Freud, psychology, and psychiatry will be new. That should generate questions. There are no dumb questions. (I sometimes give dumb answers, however.)
Required Reading
The students will read articles from the popular and professional press, visit various internet sites, and read the following required texts:
Gay, P. (1988). Freud: A life for our
times. New York: Norton.
Gay, P. (1989). The Freud reader. New York: Norton.
The Professor
Office: The Gate House on the Belfield Estate
Office Telephone & Voice Mail: 215-951-1956
Home Telephone: 215-424-4032 (before 9:30 PM)
E-MAIL: burke@lasalle.edu