The Century of the self

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Reaction : The Century of the Self

The first part of the documentary , The Century of the self entitled Happiness Machines is a direct and straight forward attack to the rationality of the human beings . Its theme can be summarized by saying that deep within the the human brain is a programming that can control and influence our thoughts and actions . This programming is basically the pursuit of pleasure in the form of sexuality and violence . As the documentary had stated , this is rooted in Sigmund

Freud 's scholarship Seeing this documentary , it is very difficult to accept and believe that I do not control my thoughts and actions . To say that what I am pursuing in the short term and long term is not a product of my own rational thinking is a giant blow to my humanity

Freud 's theory regarding the influence of our primitive history can be true , however it does not automatically follow that we are ought to follow it just because the influence is there . Humans is not a simple animal that is driven by its innate desire and impulse . Despite our commonality to animals and other living creatures , something separate us from them and that is our rationality . This rationality is the one thing that can over ride our instincts for sexuality and violence . As our rationality determine that harm will be done due to our instinctive desire , it has the capability to take in charge and say , Stop...