Abstract
This paper examines the approaches to literary criticism of Saussure, a linguist, Freud, a psychoanalyst and Marx, an economist.

From the Paper
"Saussure defies the popular notion that language is a process of giving names to ideas we already have (963). In other words, there are no ideas without words. Many people believe that ideas came first, then the concept of language. However, how can an idea exist if there is no way for it to be expressed? It would not be an idea, but rather, a subconscious thought that would be meaningless. For example, a baby does not have the power of language nor can he express his thoughts. He can cry when he is hungry, but it does not necessarily result from his hunger. The baby cannot distinguish between hunger and any other feeling. "There are no pre-existing ideas, and nothing is distinct before the appearance of language" (Saussure 967). The baby cannot comprehend hunger, for he does not have a name to express it with. "

Tags:aesthetics, art, criticism, literary, semiology, criticism, learning, syntagmatic, words, roots, language, idea, linguistics

Abstract
Human Nature and Perfect Societies in the Theories of Plato, Marx, & Freud - Compare/Contrast the ideals, theories of each philosopher as well as discussing and comparing their beliefs to those of the other. This paper discusses the nature of human beings as well as the ideal for a perfect society and political system according to the principles put forth by Plato, Freud and Marx.

From the Paper
Human Nature and Perfect Societies in the Theories of Plato, Marx, & Freud Plato's Tripartite Theory of the Self/Soul Plato points out that man does not have a simple essence or form, but that he is made up of three separate elements having their own natural capacity and function. These three elements of the human nature include: Reason/Intellect ; Spirit and the Body. Man's ability to use language and to reason is the element that distinguishes man from other living creatures. The next element, his spirit commands his emotional drives such as anger, aggression, ambition, pride, honor, loyalty and courage, among others. The final element is his body and the appetites, desires, and

Tags:plato, freud, marx

From the Paper
" Differing views of human nature are found in the theories of Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud. The two writers address diverse aspects of human life, with Marx centering on the economic and political and Freud on the inner life of the mind and the ways in which that manifests itself in human behavior. The two men have as their starting point a conception of human nature which shows why human beings behave as they do, and for both men the reasons for human behavior are hidden from view, hidden from the understanding of the majority of people responding to them. For Marx, the hidden force is economic and involves the relationship of the human being to labor, while for Freud the hidden force is found in theoretical constructs of the mind which govern different aspects of thought and behavior and whose interaction produces the behavior we can see..."

Tags:SOCIOLOGY: MARX

Abstract
The following paper will argue that Freud's conclusion that people do not look at work as a pathway to happiness is something Marx can easily explain using his concept of "alienation"; that is to say, Marx believed to his dying day that the separation of the worker from the products of his labor, the relentless monotony of the shop floor, and the dehumanizing nature of being simply one more cog in a huge industrial machine producing mass-consumption goods at a break-neck pace all made "work" the last thing any laborer wanted to deal with; with their wages meager and with the opportunities for advancement slender (if not outright non-existent), being an every-day "worker" or "laborer" brought with it low-level desperation, frustration and unhappiness. Interestingly, as the first part of this paper will make abundantly clear, Freud does not seem to share the same convictions of Marx when it comes to the evils of the capitalist order - especially when the matter turns to whether or not private property should exist. In the end, Karl Marx would find it perfectly understandable why people hate work - and he would no doubt find it odd that Freud could not conceive of private property as being a major reason why this is so.

From the Paper
How Marx Would Explain Freud's Contention that People Do not Look at Work as a Pathway to Happiness The following paper will argue that Freud's conclusion that people do not look at work as a pathway to happiness is something Marx can easily explain using his concept of "alienation"; that is to say, Marx believed to his dying day that the separation of the worker from the products of his labor, the relentless monotony of the shop floor, and the dehumanizing nature of being simply one more cog in a huge industrial machine producing mass-consumption goods at a break-neck pace all made "work" the last thing any laborer wanted to deal with; with their wages meager and with the

Tags:marx, happiness, work

Abstract
This paper examines the complex relationships of Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud with their Jewish heritage. Both men, two of the greatest thinkers of the 19th century, struggled with their connection to their religion, yet on different levels and with different issues. Despite this, the paper cites how the some of the men's outlooks were influenced by Judaism. The paper shows how Marx was antagonistic toward Jewish rights in Germany because he felt all religion should be abolished. Marx's other outlooks on the Jewish situation in Germany are also examined. Unlike Marx, Freud was not an idealist or politically-oriented in his psychoanalytic philosophy. He saw religion as based on superstition, although unlike Marx, Freud never renounced his Judaism. The paper concludes that the similarity between Marx and Freud is that both thinkers see religion as a solution to human powerlessness, either powerlessness against class-based, historical forces, or the powerlessness that is inherent to the human condition regardless of class.

From the Paper
"Marx saw all states based in religion as inherently exclusive, and therefore rotten to the core: "In wanting to be emancipated from the Christian state, the Jew is demanding that the Christian state should give up its religious prejudice. Does he, the Jew, give up his religious prejudice? Has he, then, the right to demand that someone else should renounce his religion?" Marx ironically sneers that it is 'necessary' for a Christian to be prejudiced against Jewish people, as a condition of Christianity. In other words, all religions, Marx believed, were inherently alienating and exclusionary towards other groups, and to attempt to be inclusive is a denial of religion. The solution to the oppression of the Jews, wrote Marx, was not liberation, but a casting-off of the mass delusion of religion in general by all of society, both Jews and gentiles."

Tags:Communism, psychoanalytic theory, myth, primal beliefs, Torah

Abstract
From ancient times, man has persistently asked questions about the meaning and purpose of life. In particular, this paper examines how Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud were among the most influential of modern philosophers and provides an overview of their philosophies, as elucidated in Roger Trigg's book, "Ideas of Human Nature". It discusses how Marx maintained that the realization of this perfect society would come about only if the social condition changed while in comparison, Nietzsche's philosophical view is imbued with radical subjectivity. He was set on the idea that everything was constantly changing. The paper also looks at how Freud asserted the good of instinct and implied that reason unfortunately controlled instinct out of necessity, not because of the moral good.

From the Paper
"Karl Marx was the earliest philosopher of this set. He was deeply interested in the social context of man (124) which, at that time was highly affected by new economic structures. His early work tells of his concern for the working class. He believed that work distinguished man from the animals and ought to be a "free creative expression of individuality" (128) however, he felt that the onset of industry created a dehumanizing situation where the worker became "alienated from the product of his labour" (127). He asserts that in this situation man loses his freedom, becomes exploited, and the product of his labor becomes more central to his life than himself or others in his community. Moreover, Marx believed that the social structures of work led to further alienation which could be clearly distinguished in the class structure, ownership of private property and overt patriotism. In response, Marx had vision of the "perfect society" in which a person could find his "true self" (130) free of these divisions. The true self is one that is unconcerned with private interests, is altruistic, and cooperates freely with others (131). "

Tags:moral, social, condition, labour, religion

Abstract
This paper examines Freud's book, "Civilization and its Discontents," and shows how Freud's theories of man's inherent aggressiveness agree with Karl Marx's philosophy. The author discusses Freud's beliefs about the psyche and the mind, and the polarities of Eros and the "Death Drive" in the history of civilization. The author finds that Freud's hypothesis of the cause of revolution in society can be seen in action today, and discusses the near prophetic nature of some of his writing.

From the Paper
"Freud also uses the book as a pulpit, if you will, for his own views on organized religion, which he considers the "future of an illusion," an essay he refers to often in the book. He believes that religion can help relieve individual neuroses, but in the end, there are better ways to find happiness in life. Thus, the book is his critique on society but also expresses his feelings about some elements of society and how they influence our lives, thoughts, and actions. The book is somewhat a look inside Freud as well as a look at the contemporary society of his time."

Tags:guilt, super-ego, childhood, psychoanalysis, behavior

From the Paper
"The ideas of Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud had such influence on the Twentieth Century that it is hard to find any other figure to compare them with. Both were born Jews, became atheists, and criticized their societies as few before or since have done. Each was endowed with a brilliant mind, and followed the logic of their thinking to conclusions that brought them widespread derision and opposition, as well as zealousadherents. The political world has never been the same since Marx. And it's fair to say we human beings will never see the immense and unexplored jungle in our own psyches the same way after Freud.
Many people are awed by the work of great intellectuals, thinking their thought will be beyond comprehension. But the..."

From the Paper
"Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud have different conceptions of human nature and different conceptions of how history develops from human actions and human nature. Marx considers human beings primarily as members of economic groups, while Freud considers human beings in terms of individual psychology and broader behaviors and psychological manifestations across populations. History for Marx is also an issue of economics, while for Freud history is shaped by the way the individual relates to his or her society. Marx centers on the economic and political and Freud on the inner life of the mind and the ways in which that manifests itself in human behavior. The two men have as their starting point a conception of human nature which shows why human beings behave as they do, and for both men the reasons for human behavior are hidden from view, hidden from the understanding of..."

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine selected works of Marx and Freud on various issues relating to their assessment of the human condition in the modern period, i.e., the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the implications flowing therefrom for the postmodern and current period. The plan of the research will be to set forth in general terms the context in which the thought of Marx and Freud achieved preeminence in western culture, and then to discuss the views of each with reference to certain fundamental questions that their analyses of culture raise.
The history of western culture in the twentieth century cannot be understood apart from the work of Marx and Freud. It is perhaps not too much to say that, taken together, Marx's analysis of culture and society as fundamentally social processes that imply..."