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Anti-Freud: Karl Kraus's Criticism of Psychoanalysis and Psychiatry

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Freud tried to cozy up to him (and was rejected); his work was fundamental to Wittgenstein's philosophico-linguistic theories, and three times he was nominated for the Nobel prize in literature by French academicians; yet he remains essentially unknown in this country, despite this marvelous exegesis of his work by Thomas Szasz, which was published in 1976.

Karl Kraus (1874-1936) was, and continues to be, an embarrassment to many intellectuals. His punishment has been to have his work misread, misinterpreted, untranslated, and finally ignored. He has been attacked as being antisemitic ("self-hating Jew"), mentally disturbed, and (symbolically) envious of his father's penis.

Kraus's commentaries and aphorisms concerning psychiatry and psychoanalysis are delightful, powerful, and as accurate today as when he uttered them. Szasz, who has been fighting the good battle against psychiatric abuses and pretensions all of his career, is the ideal person to introduce Americans to Kraus and his work. A short, well indexed book. Worth having to keep and to read over from time to time.

The most telling line against Freudianism: "Psycho-analysts are the disease posing as the cure". Kraus had a real nose for blather and imposture, and dissected the Vienna circle around Freud as Mencken did the fundementalists. An exposure to Kraus is a sure and certain innoculation of the psychobabble that passes nowdays as charcter analysis. Take two hours to slowly devour, digest, and delight in this tasty intellectual treat.

What a combination: Kraus, the man who first denuded the emperor Freud, and Szasz, the man who methodically stripped psychiatry/psychotherapy of any scientific pretensions. Aside from a lesson in history, a major debunking of psychiatric fraud, and an interesting biography, this book is a lot of fun. Kraus ranks with Twain and Mencken as an aphorist, and Szasz's translations of the original German make the quotes ring clear and powerful.

Karl Kraus (1874-1936) was an Austrian writer and journalist, known as a satirist, essayist, aphorist, playwright and poet. Thomas Szasz (born 1920) is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at the State University of New York Health Science Center. He is a well-known critic of psychiatry, of the social role of medicine in modern society, and is a social libertarian.

Szasz states in the Preface to the First (1976) Edition of this book, "I have a twofold aim in offering this book to the contemporary English-speaking reader. I want to introduce Kraus to this public. And I want to add a chapter to the history of psychiatry and psychoanalysis---not as such history is usually presented, through the hagiographies of 'great' psychiatrists, but as it emerges from the work of a contemporary critic of such a great man---in this case Freud---and of his unworthy followers."

Here are some representative quotations from the book:

TS: "Psychoanalysis was born of a basic lie: There was no therapy, only an intimate conversation between two persons."
TS: "Kraus was opposed to involuntary mental hospitalization, at least in some instances. Freud remained silent on the subject, even in his lengthy analysis of the Schreber case."
KK: "What particular impressions and inclinations of Wagner and of Wagner alone have led to the creation of 'The Flying Dutchman'? After all, of all the males in the world, only one, namely Wagner, has created this piece of work. Most of the others have become, out of their desire to be like their fathers, stockbrokers or lawyers, tram-conductors or music critics. Those, of course, who dreamt of becoming heroes became psychologists."
KK: "If I tell the analysts to kiss my (posterior), they tell me that I have an anal fixation."

This was originally published in 1976 titled Karl Kraus and the Soul-Doctors. The new title does have a new preface. I foolishly bought both titles. I'm half-way through. So far, fascinationg book; well-written.