by W. Diane Van Zwol

Created on: January 18, 2012   Last Updated: January 20, 2012

Is this only a question of relevancy?

Are the theories of Sigmund Freud, (May 6, 1856 - Sept. 23, 1939), still relevant today, or is there an element of timelessness in his writing akin to any kind of contemporary thought throughout the ages?

Perhaps both statements are true. 

SigmundFreud.biography.com suggests that

“Despite the relentless and often compelling challenges mounted against virtually all of his ideas, both in his lifetime and after, Freud has remained one of the most influential figures in contemporary thought.”

Is this going to change? Perhaps time-dating Freud will help to put this question in proper perspective. Remember that human consciousness was in an early state of growing awareness, during his era.  

With the introduction of psychoanalytic theory and psychoanalysis pertaining to the human psyche or the self, Freud expanded the horizon of human thought in terms of culture and society, beyond the “political, religious, or economic man as the 20th century’s dominant self-image.”        

Until his work was expounded, revealed and published, those horizons appeared to have been relatively limited. Freud’s work was not without a great deal of controversy, but appeared to be something that was difficult for anyone to refute. It is not that many academics did not try.

Publication merely reinforced the desire for further inquiry into his theories.        

“Freud’s article on psychoanalysis appeared in the 13th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica.”

Part of the difficulty with any contemporary thought has to do with the reality that scholastic work is invariably new and different, during each era.

Freud’s work was definitely that. It touched upon aspects of human life and behavior that many scholars had regarded as forbidden to discuss. Thus, it also remained an unexplored, dark or hidden realm of inquiry, until his time.

That is also part of the nature of contemporary thought, just as gemstones lie hidden in the depths of the earth. While digging through the earth, sand, gravel etc., one has the potential of uncovering treasures, but it is not always a pleasurable experience trying to unearth them. 

It is the nature of academic inquiry to continue to expand horizons of contemporary thought. This kind of thinking does not necessarily always reach a conclusion, even though there may be new discoveries along the way. If anything, academic contemporary thought continues to raise more questions that lead to ongoing inquiries.

Thus, what one might suggest is that further inquiry into the work of Sigmund Freud will continue indefinitely. Each inquiry leads to further inquiry. This is a good thing, as it keeps man thinking and expanding his own horizon with respect to understanding human consciousness. 

In “The Future of an Illusion", Sigmund Freud stated, "The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing."

In the year 2012, Sigmund Freud still has a ‘hearing’. In other words, there are those who are still ‘listening’ to his voice, which still has relevancy for those willing and able to comprehend the depth of thought in his writings. Perhaps one might argue that human consciousness is continually expanding its horizons too and Freud just opened a door of inquiry that is timeless in nature, as well as relevant in every era.     

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