J. D. Unwin: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Irreversible
mNo edit summary |
(Irreversible) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{person|name=J. D. Unwin|occupation=ethnologist/anthropologist|birthday=December 6, 1895|ethnicity=English|image=File:Jdunwlin.png}} | {{person|name=J. D. Unwin|occupation=ethnologist/anthropologist|birthday=December 6, 1895|ethnicity=English|image=File:Jdunwlin.png}} | ||
'''J. D. Unwin''' was a 20th century English ethnologist who is famous for creating a concept of historical analysis based on Sigmund Freud's theory of {{W|Sublimation (psychology)|sexual sublimation}}. Unwin, similar to {{W|Oswald Spengler|Oswald Spengler}}, argued that history was cyclical, being characterized by the rise and fall of great nations, republics and empires. Through his research, Unwin came to the conclusion that sexual license (widespread pre-marital sex) and the decline of monogamy (as often promoted by feminism and liberalism in general) leads to | '''J. D. Unwin''' was a 20th century English ethnologist who is famous for creating a concept of historical analysis based on Sigmund Freud's theory of {{W|Sublimation (psychology)|sexual sublimation}}. Unwin, similar to {{W|Oswald Spengler|Oswald Spengler}}, argued that history was cyclical, being characterized by the rise and fall of great nations, republics and empires. Through his research, Unwin came to the conclusion that sexual license (widespread pre-marital sex) and the decline of monogamy (as often promoted by feminism and liberalism in general) leads to irreversible societal collapse, based on his exhaustive analysis of the history of several ancient empires and civilizations along with numerous semi-civilized or uncivilized tribes. He argued that this was likely the result of a general cultural enervation caused by a dissipation of 'sexual energy', though he was somewhat equivocal with this explanation. | ||
Unwin argued that [[monogamy]] was a pre-requisite for civilization to exist, stating: "The whole of human history does not contain a single instance of a group becoming civilized unless it has been absolutely monogamous, nor is there any example of a group retaining its culture after it has adopted less rigorous customs." | Unwin argued that [[monogamy]] was a pre-requisite for civilization to exist, stating: "The whole of human history does not contain a single instance of a group becoming civilized unless it has been absolutely monogamous, nor is there any example of a group retaining its culture after it has adopted less rigorous customs." | ||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
Similar to [[Charles Fourier]] (though diametrically the opposite of Fourier in regards to his opinion of the social effects of promiscuity), he advocated an utopian society that separated people into distinct 'castes' based on their preference for monogamy or non-monogamy. | Similar to [[Charles Fourier]] (though diametrically the opposite of Fourier in regards to his opinion of the social effects of promiscuity), he advocated an utopian society that separated people into distinct 'castes' based on their preference for monogamy or non-monogamy. | ||
==Sex and Culture== | ==Sex and Culture== | ||
The famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud had previously argued that sexual repression was correlated with civilization. Setting out to examine to validity of this claim, Unwin conducted an analysis of 86 cultures (80 primitive tribes and the Roman, Greek, Sumerian, Arabian, Babylonian, and Anglo-Saxon civilizations), publishing his findings in 1934, in a book entitled '''Sex and Culture'''. | The famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud had previously argued that sexual repression was correlated with civilization. Setting out to examine to validity of this claim, Unwin conducted an analysis of 86 cultures (80 primitive tribes and the Roman, Greek, Sumerian, Arabian, Babylonian, and Anglo-Saxon civilizations), publishing his findings in 1934, in a book entitled '''Sex and Culture'''. | ||