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The Historical Thought Of Norman Brown

  • 중앙사론
  • 2015, (42), pp.353-369
  • Publisher : Institute for Historical Studies at Chung-Ang University
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Cho,Han-Ook 1

1한국교원대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This article tries to shed some light on the life of Norman Brown, an American scholar, writer and social philosopher, and his major work Life Against Death: The Psychological Meaning of History. Originally he was a classical scholar, but in later life delved into the works of Sigmund Freud, producing Life Against Death. In it he showed the ways in which psychoanalysis could be used to elucidate the course of human history. What is more, he tried to explain that there could be a world where there would be no repression. This is why the revolution-oriented youth groups known collectively as the New Left gathered around him, despite his avoidance of the fame. Life Against Death is certainly inspired by Freud, but at some point Norman Brown goes further than Freud, to make his point. He made use of the theories of Marx, Freud, Herbert Marcuse, Max Weber, and so on, but the outcome is his own original analysis of capitalism.

Citation status

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