The Freud Encyclopedia: Theory, Therapy, and Culture - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415936772 ISBN 13: 9780415936774

Publisher: Routledge, 2001

Synopsis

The first in-depth Encyclopedia on the life, work, and theories of Sigmund Freud, this A-Z reference includes the most recent debates on such topics as the theory of dreams and the Oedipus complex, as well as biographical sketches of leading figures in the Freudian movement. Coverage also includes philosophers who anticipated or influenced Freud, such as Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, and the many movements influenced by his work, from the early twentieth-century Surrealists to the present day.

About this title

About the Author:

Edward Erwin is professor of philosophy at the University of Miami at Coral Gables. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from The Johns Hopkins University in 1968. Professor Erwin is the author of The Concept of Meaninglessness (John Hopkins Press, 1970); Behavior Therapy: Scientific, Philosophical and Moral Foundations (Cambridge University Press, 1978); A Final Accounting: Philosophical and Empirical Issues in Freudian Psychology (M.I.T. Press, 1996); and Philosophy and Psychotherapy: Razing the Troubles of the Brain (Sage, 1997). He is also the co-editor (with Sidney Gendin and Lowell Kleiman) of Garland's Ethical Issues in Scientific Research (1994).

From Library Journal:

For this far-reaching reference, nine years in the making, Erwin (philosophy, Miami Univ.) assembled some 200 contributors to produce about 250 articles on Sigmund Freud's ideas, life, and influence. He seeks a balance between advocates and critics, justifying the effort by citing Freud's singular impact on the 20th century. Contributors include many well-known writers in the field but tip toward acolytes, and missing among the critics are some of the sharpest, e.g., Frederick Crews, Alan Stone, and Peter Swales. Inexplicably, Charles Socarides was chosen to write the essay on homosexuality, which he regards as a treatable "perversion." He omits alternative views, as well as the American Psychiatric Association's having removed homosexuality from its list of pathological conditions and Freud's belief that homosexuals could be qualified psychoanalysts. Other, more enlightened articles point out that Freud was wrong to call masturbation unhealthy and to disparage clitoral orgasm. Biographical articles go beyond Freud's intimates and major dissidents to include the likes of Lou Andreas-Salome and Harry Stack Sullivan. The psychoanalytic movement in general, its presence in countries ranging from Peru to China, its overall influence on the humanities, its antecedents (from Arthur Schopenhauer to lesser-known forebears like Franz Brentano), and its evolution are generally well covered. Many of the entries, e.g., Mark Poster's "Georg Groddeck" and Allan Compton's "Structural Theory," reward browsing. Nevertheless, there are some real problems with coverage and ease of use. The treatment of topics can be arbitrary; for instance, "suggestion" has an article but not hypnosis, which must be found via several index mentions. Most articles have references, but there is no standard, so some have too many and others too few. The same Freud citations are seen repeatedly, but, surprisingly, there is no complete Freud bibliography. Furthermore, the index and some arbitrary cross references could be improved. To find David Rapaport, we get See Ego Psychology, but why not also "Metapsychology," where he is also featured? Similarly, for Heinz Kohut, See Narcissism is fine, but the article "Self Psychology," his forte, is not linked to his name. It is a shame to find so much good work compromised by a few bad choices. Socarides holding forth on homosexuality in the 21st century is like Carl Jung touting Aryan over Jewish psychology in the Nazi era. Librarians should wait for an improved edition of this volume, making sure, meanwhile, that they have Paul Roazen's Freud and His Followers (LJ 9/15/74), Louis Breger's Freud (LJ 9/1/00), and Malcolm Macmillan's Freud Evaluated (MIT, 1996). E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0415936772
• ISBN 13: 9780415936774
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 670
• Editor: Erwin Edward