Einstein-Freud exchange on the problem of war
by Dr. Sorin ~ September 5th, 2010. Filed under: Reasons for war.Why do you believe that Einstein picked Freud as an interlocutor on the matter of war?
Is there a scientist, writer/artist or intellectual living today that you would question about the persistence of war in modern civilization? Please explain your reasoning in one paragraph.
P.S. This is a short Youtube clip, in which we hear Freud speak about himself:
September 5th, 2010 at 8:27 pm
The brilliant mind of Albert Einstein enabled him to produce discoveries that revolutionized physics. His knowledge in his field was unrivaled at the time. However, when it came to finding a way of “delivering mankind from the menace of war?”, even Einstein was stumped. I believe he chose Sigmund Freud as his correspondence because Freud’s understanding of the human mind was an invaluable asset. His knowledge of innate human emotions and instincts allowed him to see war/human aggression from a perspective Einstein was unfamiliar with.
I would discuss the persistence of war in modern civilization with Malcolm Gladwell, author of “Tipping Point” and “Blink.” I have read his books before and find his theories of human behavior very interesting. He spoke of the Milgram Shock Experiments, studies conducted in 1961 where 65% of the participants were willing to shock another human being at maximum voltage simply because they were ordered to do so by a figure of authority. This relates to what Einstein spoke of in “Why War?”, in the part where he blames the “ruling class at present” for being able to “sway emotions of the masses” into war. Einstein believed that “man has within him a lust for hatred and destruction,” rendering him easily roused to aggressive states. Does war persist in modern civilization because we are instinctively aggressive or because we have a tendency to follow orders of the ones in command who “stand to lose and suffer by a state of war?” Gladwell’s insight on human behavior will give me a better grasp on the reasons why people act a certain way and this in case, why people continue to wage war.
September 6th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
I must agree with Andy in regards to why Einstein chose to ask Freud’s opinion on the matter of war. Both men were at the fore front of their respective fields and had insights which other people would not have had. Einstein could not have chosen a better person to discuss the matter of war with. While Einstein’s knowledge was more scientific/fact based and Freud’s was more psychological/thought based, they both seemed to have the same ideas on war. They both felt that war could be stopped if there was a ‘central authority’ and both realized/felt that men are violent in nature and war just brings out instincts that are already there.
If I was to chose someone to discuss the persistence of war with, I would have to say that I would not choose anyone who was a scientist, writer/artist or intellectual. I know that is part of the question but I feel that they would not be able to really give me a true insight into war. Einstein said that “the intellectual has no direct contact with life in the raw, but encounters it in its easiest synthetic form — upon the printed page” and I feel that asking anyone else about war, rather than a soldier would not give me a just/true answer about war. I feel that the only people capable of doing this would be soldiers that have actually been on the war fronts; soldiers that have been directly affected by war themselves. The affected soldier, be it affected physically or mentally would be able to truly give me an insight as to what being at war is all about. The horrors which (s)he has seen and emotions which are tied into being in dangerous situations. If I was to ask anyone else other than a soldier for their insights to war I would probably not see war for the horrific act that it is.
September 7th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I liked where Freud, being a psychologist, brings forth a crucial point derived from the works of yet another physicist, Professor G. C. Lichtenberg. To cite Freud, “So that when human beings are incited to war they may have a whole number of motives for assenting—some noble and some base, some which are openly declared and others which are never mentioned,” thus fairly suggesting that motives for wars are numerous, and for any given “warrior” the reason for war can be combination of many motives whether they fall under “death instinct” or “erotic instinct”. Surely the arguments presented by both Einstein and Freud are most fascinating and interesting to read, yet they all eventually lead to the same point – wars are inevitable for as long as there are different cultures, subcultures, societies, mentalities, and beliefs. After reading the text, I’ve come to a conclusion that both Einstein and Freud pose and discuss some amazing points only to realize that there is no clear answer to “Why War?” for as long as humanity is not unified by a single, common idea, or a goal, of emotional nature. Alas, the only time I can think of human race being unified is when the entire earth is in obvious and tangible danger of being destroyed by giant asteroid.
September 9th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
I enjoyed reading your comments about Freud and Einstien, however fall in disagreement when you said there is’nt clarity to “Why War?” Both men give ample reasons to why there is war. You justified that by stating different cultures and beliefs that clash with one another. I think Einstein came to Freud a psychologist not really asking why war? But trying to find a way to prevent it. Einstein made a great point that some people look at war for economic reasons. That people are just out there to make money by selling weapons and artillery to different countries only for self gain. If we look at that nowadays, I find that staement to be true. So many “one time” third world countries were being sold weaponry and now are using these weapons agaisnt the larger market countries.
I agree with you that as long as there is no unity in this world, war will be continous….unless a a world threat undeclared by humans brings us together.
September 13th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Thanks Mike, and yes you have a valid point – sometimes its quite obvious why some particular wars happen, oil for example. Nonetheless, the clarity I am referring to is more on individual level. Meaning if we both decide to register for Army tomorrow, why would we do that? And while our motives can range from “doing something with my life” to “defending our country from terrorism”, given Jarhead as an example, we might simply end up babysitting oilfields.
September 14th, 2010 at 9:51 am
I agree with Mike and Manuk that as long as there is no threat to human kind there will always be a cause for war amongst one another. From what i see there is emotion tied to war which is what Freud brings up when mentioning the “Animal Instinct” and it is breeded within all of us. i also see that war is now viewed as a job to many soldiers as if they want there to be war. the one time that i have witnessed Unity amongst the United States of America was during 9/11 and even then we united for Hate against a specific terrorist group.
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