Psychoanalysis, Politics, and Utopia: Five Lectures

This often overlooked but prescient collection of Marcuse's lectures makes an impassioned plea for the overthrow of capitalism, analysing the work of Freud and Marx and offering a blueprint for the emancipation of humanity from the toils of capitalism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 09 August 2022
Publisher: Watkins Media Limited

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Back in print after fifty years, and with a new introduction by Ray Brassier, this often overlooked but prophetic collection of Marcuse's lectures makes an impassioned plea for the overthrow of capitalism.

Analysing the work of Freud and Marx, and taking in topics like automation, work, postcapitalism, utopia, and technology, Psychoanalysis, Politics, and Utopia excavates the psychic roots of the current crisis of capitalist civilisation and gives us a blueprint for the emancipation of humanity from the toils of capitalism.

In a world reeling from the ongoing collapse of the neoliberal consensus, coupled with the accelerating pace of catastrophic climate change wrought by capitalism, Marcuses radical insights in Psychoanalysis, Politics, and Utopia are as urgently relevant today as they were in 1970.

The book is a powerful indictment of the capitalist system and its destructive effects on human life. It argues that capitalism is based on the exploitation of labour and that this exploitation leads to inequality, poverty, and social unrest. Marcuse also criticises the political and economic institutions of capitalism, such as democracy, the market, and the state, for perpetuating these inequalities and for failing to provide a way out of the crisis.

One of the key themes of the book is the idea of "repressive tolerance". Marcuse argues that the capitalist system requires a certain level of social conformity and obedience, and that this conformity is enforced through the repression of certain ideas and behaviours. For example, the capitalist system tolerates inequality and poverty, but it represses any attempts to challenge these conditions, such as socialist or communist ideology.

Another important theme of the book is the idea of "false consciousness". Marcuse argues that the working class is often unaware of the true nature of the capitalist system and its effects on their lives. This false consciousness is created by the capitalist media, which promotes consumerism, materialism, and the idea that individual success is the only measure of worth.

Despite its criticisms of capitalism, Psychoanalysis, Politics, and Utopia is not a pessimistic book. Marcuse argues that there is a way out of the crisis of capitalist civilisation, but it requires a collective effort to overthrow the system and create a new social order. He calls for a socialist or communist revolution that will bring about the emancipation of humanity from the toils of capitalism.

The book has had a significant impact on the political and social movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. It has inspired many activists and thinkers who have been working to create a more just and equitable society. For example, the book has been a major influence on the feminist, anti-racist, and environmental movements.

In conclusion, Psychoanalysis, Politics, and Utopia is a vital and important work of political philosophy that offers a powerful critique of capitalism and a vision for a better future. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in understanding the current crisis of capitalist civilisation and in working towards a more just and equitable society.

Weight: 156g
Dimension: 132 x 196 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914420405
Edition number: New ed