What is your opinion on Sigmund Freud's take on homosexuality?
The following is a quote by Sigmund Freud in a letter in 1935. Freud basically believes that all human beings start out as bisexual and that we eventually develop to be either homosexual or heterosexual:
“Homosexuality is assuredly no advantage, but it is nothing to be ashamed of, no vice, no degradation, it cannot be classified as an illness; we consider it to be a variation of the sexual function produced by a certain arrest of sexual development. Many highly respectable individuals of ancient and modern times have been homosexuals, several of the greatest men among them (Plato, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, etc.). It is a great injustice to persecute homosexuality as a crime, and cruelty too….”
-Sigmund Freud
I personally find it amazing that a man of his time in the 1930’s could be so brave as to voice such a controversial viewpoint. Keep in mind this was the 1930’s. He clearly was a man ahead of his time (intellectually).
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Since homosexual behavior does not lead to the propagation of the species it can be considered something that exists solely for the gratification of it’s participants.
But we humans with our sophistication do this all the time:
Yes, a freshly cut hunk of raw skin (and fur) on venison will get us fed.
But only humans could conceive of Civet de Cerf.
I think it’s basically accurate, though I don’t have an informed opinion on “we consider it to be a variation of the sexual function produced by a certain arrest of sexual development” nor opinion or interest about the sexual orientations of Plato, Michelangelo, nor Leonardo da Vinci.
I also don’t know how homophobic intellectual Viennese culture was. Freud wasn’t afraid of writing all sorts of opinions on sexuality. Nor persecuting homosexuals seems actually pretty tame compared to many of the other suggestions he writes about with no air of apology, so I don’t find it surprising or amazing at all.
“Sometimes a 3 inch buttplug is just a 3 inch buttplug.”
Freud has his opinions.
Others have theirs.
The sun comes up tomorrow.
What is the big fucking deal?
Brave. But his theories are likely nonsense – Freud was known to have manipulated his results, and isn’t seen as a reliable scientist other than perhaps a philosopher.
I’m thinking maybe he was gay? Amazing that when I was a child homosexuality was considered an illness in the world of psychology. I’m not sure I agree all people are born bisexual, but certainly social
norms help shape our sexual attractions. I would say many people in both the gay and straight communities would not agree everyone is born bisexual.
I think we would have to know exactly how he is defining bisexual or homosexual. Among children it’s not uncommon for them to experiment with the same sex, but not so much because they are romantically interested, but more curiosity about sexually related things from kissing, touching, etc. This can have very little to do with what gender they are attracted to later for more permanent romantic relationships.
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