An Exclusive Interview with Sigmund Freud

          Sigmund Freud, physiologist, medical doctor, psychologist and father of psychoanalysis, is generally recognized as one of the most influential and authoritative thinkers of the twentieth century. Though dead, “Necessary Therapy” was able to catch up with him to conduct this exclusive interview.

NT: Dr. Freud, thank you for speaking with us.

SF: Time spent with cats is never wasted.

NT: We’ll take that as a compliment. First, Dr. Freud, I want to ask you about the Internet. What do you think of the current state of electronic communication?

SF: Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces.

NT: So what is the result of obsessive blogging, let’s say…

SF: We have long observed that every neurosis has the result, and therefore probably the purpose, of forcing the patient out of real life, of alienating him from actuality.

NT: So, is there any good in this?

SF: I have found little that is “good” about human beings on the whole. In my experience most of them are trash, no matter whether they publicly subscribe to this or that ethical doctrine or to none at all. That is something that you cannot say aloud, or perhaps even think.

NT: We’ll move on then. What was one major thing you learned in the field of psychoanalysis?

SF: The psychoanalysis of neurotics has taught us to recognize the intimate connection between wetting the bed and the character trait of ambition.

NT: Did you have many successes in your practice?

SF: Neurotics complain of their illness, but they make the most of it, and when it comes to taking it away from them they will defend it like a lioness her young.

NT: This doesn’t sound very empathetic. Couldn’t you identify with your clients?

SF: A certain degree of neurosis is of inestimable value as a drive, especially to a psychologist.

NT: Well, thank you Dr. Freud, I’ll let you get back to wherever it is you’ve come from. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with our readers.

SF: Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.

(continued in “My Dinner with Dr. Freud”)

 

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