The Future of an Illusion (Paperback)

by Sigmund Freud (Author), James Strachey (Editor), Peter Gay (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Of the various English translations of Freud's major works to appear in his lifetime, only one was authorized by Freud himself: The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud under the general editorship of James Strachey. Freud approved the overall editorial plan, specific renderings of key words and phrases, and the addition of valuable notes, from bibliographical and explanatory. Many of the translations were done by Strachey himself; the rest were prepared under his supervision. The result was to place the Standard Edition in a position of unquestioned supremacy over all other existing versions.

Newly designed in a uniform format, each new paperback in the Standard Edition opens with a biographical essay on Freud's life and work—along with a note on the individual volume—by Peter Gay, Sterling Professor of History at Yale.

Language Notes
Text: English, German (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co. (September 17, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393008312
• ISBN-13: 978-0393008319
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,662 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #29 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Behavioral Sciences > Behavioral Psychology
  #76 in	Books > Science > Behavioral Sciences > Behavioral Psychology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Freud on Religion, January 21, 2003

By	Christopher Hefele (Lawrenceville, NJ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Reading Freud is always refreshing -- not only is he a good writer, but he also has many deep psychological insights. In his 71 page text, "The Future of an Illusion," he tackles the subject of religion. A livelong atheist, Freud argues that religion is derived from a child-like sense of helplessness in the world. Its purpose, he says, is to explain the sometimes-unfathomable world, to provide societal order, and to give comfort and happiness (particularly for the "the masses" and the poor, uneducated and oppressed). Although Freud wants to reshape civilization's relationship with religion, he also recognizes that widespread atheism could undermine societal stability. Overall, this is a good, quick read -- perfect for those interested in religion/atheism, psychology and the intersection between the two.

33 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scientifc Analysis of Religion, October 3, 2003

By	R. Schwartz (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

.
This is Freud's scientific analysis of religion. Religion, along with government and social, moral and ethical codes, or, civilization act as removing man from his true instinctal and destructive nature into a civil society. Religion is a neccessary illusion derived from men's wishes.

Freud can be applauded and admired as a great thinker and psychoanalyst. This is an essential book to read. Yet Freud misses out on the mystical experience, the religious or psychal ability to perceive the irrational, the awe of the numenous, the perceived knowledge apart from rational thinking and intellectual analysis. Or in Rudolph Otto's title, "the idea of the holy."

Freud ends his book, on page 71 with:

"No, our science is no illusion. But an illusion
it would be to suppose that what science
cannot give us we can get elsewhere."

So Freud was amazingly accurate on one religious foundation: human ability to create wishes and to civilize himself and in contrast Freud was missing a great deal in the mystical, the non-rational element, thus he discarded all religion as a universally accepted solution to the conflicts that arise in childhood relation to the father. While this may have some validity, it misses completely the symbolic mythological teachings that attempt to convey what is claimed universal to be real religious experience. This is where Freud leaves off and Carl Jung continues.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How Freud viewed religion, May 4, 2005

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

The common perception of Sigmund Freud is that he was a pioneering psychiatrist with too much focus on the sexual aspects of human existence. However, he was very much a product of the European culture of the last decades of the nineteenth century. In this book, his focus is on religion and its role in civilization.
Freud considers religion to be an illusion, but one that is necessary. He argues that without some form of moralistic rudder, humans would be in a death struggle for resources until eventually nearly all would be killed. Therefore, in order for civilization to be possible, a code of behavior must exist, which generates the necessary order and cooperation. This requisite behavior was codified in formal religions, where people are taught to suppress their animal desires for goods, sex and sustenance, so that all will get a share and conflict is avoided. The payback for your deeds takes place after you die, where good deeds are rewarded with a place in heaven and evil deeds by a place of punishment. Freud notes that delaying the reward until after death then guarantees that the social behavior will last throughout ones life.
I recently read the book "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins. In that book, Dawkins argues that much of our altruistic behavior can be explained by simple formulas whereby the behavior leads to the presence of more copies of our genes. If this is combined with the valid points that Freud makes in this book, then it is possible that religious belief is coded in our genes. It is an interesting proposition and Freud's arguments are strong. I enjoyed reading this book and came away with a new appreciation for the quality of Freud's intellect.