The Problems
- Human nature seems to depend upon a “system of doctrines” to be able to function
- A replacement of this system, would still include a “prohibition to thought”
- The fragility of society (5 reasons(Diamond)) causes a development of some system to strengthen society
The Solutions
- Replace the system of doctrines with the ‘promise of the future’
- Prohibition of thought would be replaced by this promise, and thereby a motivation to reach the ‘promise of the future’
- The fragility of society can also be strengthened by this ‘promise of the future’, a societal focus not on the present (as during the enlightenment) but on the future can fix the “conflict of interests” (Diamond). Cohesion on long term development, (not just through the ‘promise of the future’ , but also through the lengthening of life), will strengthen society.
Religion can only be replaced “by means of another system of doctrines” (Freud 65) and that this system, because it is merely a replacement, would still have the “same prohibition of thought” (Freud 66). Freud is wrong in that he, on a basis of practicality, wants to “[retain] the religious doctrinal system as the basis of education and of man’s communal life.”(Freud 66). Freud did not live in a period in which by 2012 – 2015 we will have nanobots in our bodies, and by 2030-2050, as Aubrey De Grey has postulated, that we will live for quite a long time (MFoundation). Freud is wrong because the problems that he observes in society that would block the evolution of human thought and progress are breaking down because of the influence of technology and hope for the future.
There are two fundamental problems within society that would stop the attainment of the “desired primacy of the intelligence over the life of the instincts.” (Freud 65). Freud first postulates that the only way to “expel religion” would be to replace it with another “system of doctrines” (Freud 65). This is most likely true because of how this system, religion, continues from one generation to the next, and how education and government are still in the womb of religion (Freud 58-64). The second problem is that the replacement system still would contain the “prohibition of thought,” the same “sanctity, rigidity and intolerance” (Freud 66). The third problem is not part of Freud’s argument against trying to fix the human mind, but fixing human society. The fundamental problem of society is that it is intimately connected to its environment, be that resources or other societies (Diamond). These problems seemed to be unsurmountable in the early 20th century, and some still seem to mountainous today, but based on the current technological and educational advancement of societies around the world, these problems are surmountable and will be conquered.
The first part of the solution is to obviously replace the current “system of doctrines” (Freud 65). Gentlemen, my solution is to replace the current system with a system that encourages thought and refutes “intolerance” (Freud 66). I have termed this modern system, The Promise of the Future. Our current system, our current society is based upon the past; religion is based off of tradition, no matter how ‘current’. Our society has a greater nostalgia for the past, than it has a hope for the future. Just a few days ago, (whether for the wrong or the betterment of America), citizens of America elected a leader for change, change for the future, hope in the future. This desire for the future can be fueled even more through a system of the future. A religion based on what can come, what can happen, will refocus human thought not on the past, but on what can be done now to affect the future. Because my system replaces the old traditional values, and is based on thought, on the future, it immediately avoids the “prohibition of thought”(Freud 66).
The second part of my solution is to strengthen society. Through the spread of my system, humanity will be focused on the hopes in the future, an optimistic and always changing society for the betterment of human kind in the long run. The “conflict of interests” (Diamond) between the rich and the poor however is a more complex problem. The solution of course is to lengthen life, by which people will no longer need to focus on the short term material goals, but on great long term goals.
Through The Promise of the Future and the lengthening of human life, humanity will change from an
animalistic species, to a transcendent race focused purely on the temple of the future.
Works Cited
Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion. Standard. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1961.
Diamond, Jared. “TED Talkes.” TED. 07 11 2008. TED. 7 Nov 2008 <http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jared_diamond_on_why_societies_collapse.html>.
MFoundation. “The Methuselah Foundation.” Methuselah Foundation. 07 11 2008. Methuselah Foundation. 7 Nov 2008 <http://www.mfoundation.org/>.
