From Civilization and Its Discontents to the Eclipse of Moral Consciousness

Abstract

This article aims to convey the importance of philosophical reflection for understanding today’s cultural, social and ethical context, whose crisis is lucidly highlighted by Freud’s Civilisation and its Discontents. What kind of culture expresses a civilisation that is based on the repression of individuals’ instincts and what kind of influence does it exert on the formation of their conscience? And secondly: what really is conscience and, in particular, moral conscience? After indicating in the interpretation of today’s cultural, ethical and social crisis, as offered by the Frankfurt School, in particular with reference to Horkheimer’s The Eclipse of Reason, the most relevant interpretation of the causes and motives of today’s crisis, the essay sets out to highlight the reasons why it becomes increasingly necessary, for an adequate formation of young people, to develop a through education in philosophical reflection.