Copernicus, Darwin,.... Freud?
Freud said that these three thinkers - he astonishlingly included himself - were the three most important deflators of human vanity in all time.
Since each one had supposedly given (European) humanity a very big blow to its grand view of itself. Each one had given humanity a historic humiliation. Firstly, Copernicus's discovery that the Earth was not the centre of the universe. Secondly, Darwin's discovery that humankind was just another member of the animal kingdom, and thirdly Freud's discovery of... nothing whatsoever.
Er.
If you ask me, I personally think that Copernicus and Darwin did indeed discovere things that humiliated humanity and changed its view of itself, and they both stand the test of time as well.
But Freud was something quite different.
Freud discovered nothing whatsoever. So struck no blow to human vanity at all.
Freud had nothing to say.
And what is perhaps worse, he believed with some intensity that he had a lot to say.
The only way that Freud struck a view to human vanity was by prooving how easily humanity can be misled!
For an interesting discussion of this point, please see:
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/copernicus-darwin-and-freud-a-tale-of-science-and-narcissism/
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If anything I would replace Freud with Szasz in this three-part sequence of thinkers who deflated human vanity - because Szasz pointed out the obvious truth that should today be more acknowledged - calling other people "mad" is nothing but bullying. That is a genuine blow to human vanity that is sorely needed.
Freud said that these three thinkers - he astonishlingly included himself - were the three most important deflators of human vanity in all time.
Since each one had supposedly given (European) humanity a very big blow to its grand view of itself. Each one had given humanity a historic humiliation. Firstly, Copernicus's discovery that the Earth was not the centre of the universe. Secondly, Darwin's discovery that humankind was just another member of the animal kingdom, and thirdly Freud's discovery of... nothing whatsoever.
Er.
If you ask me, I personally think that Copernicus and Darwin did indeed discovere things that humiliated humanity and changed its view of itself, and they both stand the test of time as well.
But Freud was something quite different.
Freud discovered nothing whatsoever. So struck no blow to human vanity at all.
Freud had nothing to say.
And what is perhaps worse, he believed with some intensity that he had a lot to say.
The only way that Freud struck a view to human vanity was by prooving how easily humanity can be misled!
For an interesting discussion of this point, please see:
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/copernicus-darwin-and-freud-a-tale-of-science-and-narcissism/
-----------------------------------------------------
If anything I would replace Freud with Szasz in this three-part sequence of thinkers who deflated human vanity - because Szasz pointed out the obvious truth that should today be more acknowledged - calling other people "mad" is nothing but bullying. That is a genuine blow to human vanity that is sorely needed.