death-instinct

Freud's concept of an innate drive toward destruction and a return to an inorganic state, opposing the life instincts.

1 chapter across 1 book

Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis (2009)Jeremy Rifkin

PART I

This chapter explores historical and psychological perspectives on human nature, focusing on the materialist view that humans are fundamentally driven by self-interest, aggression, and sexual desire. It critically examines Freud's theory of human nature, emphasizing his concept of the death instinct and the eroticization of material self-interest, while highlighting Freud's neglect of the role of love and attachment in human development. The chapter situates Freud's pessimistic view within broader philosophical and scientific debates about human nature and civilization.