[lbo-talk] Post Marxist Era

[Miles Jackson]

Carrol Cox wrote:
> 
> Rakesh Bhandari wrote:
>> the forming of an unconscious in terms of what can only be the
>> most inchoate understanding of the conflict between parents'
>> expectations and society's, a child's happiness, enthusiasm and
>> flourishing.
> 
> There is no question that most brain functioning, most thinking, goes on
> unconsciously. I have never seen any even mildly interesting evidence
> tha "An Unconscious" as an entity that can be formed, can determine, etc
> exists.
> 
> Carrol

Carrol's perspective reflects the mainstream view among psychologists 
today.  We have plenty of research that supports the claim that 
unconscious cognitive processes do occur, but no credible research 
that supports Freud's claims about a coherent psychological entity 
called the "unconscious".

(As an aside, it's interesting to me how popular Freud is outside of 
the field of psychology--e.g., among lit crit profs, left-wing 
economists, cult studies mavens--when most psychologists today 
consider his ideas the equivalent of phlogiston theory.  --Another 
testament to the insularity of the academic disciplines!)

Miles