Om avsnittet
Last December, as I was working on a podcast documentary about Sigmund Freud, I had the chance to engage in a conversation with the psychologist and science historian, Frank Sulloway. Back in 1979, Sulloway released his well-known book ”Freud, Biologist of the Mind,” shedding light on the fact that much of Freud’s theoretical framework relied on biological theories that have since been proven incorrect. Listen to the full interview above or read my summary below. In the vast landscape of scientific history, few individuals have stirred both fascination and debate as much as Sigmund Freud. I had the honor of interviewing esteemed scholar Professor Frank Sulloway, whose research has challenged conventional notions about Freud and the development of psychoanalysis, offering valuable insights into the enigmatic figure and his enduring legacy. Sulloway’s insights painted a vivid picture of how Freud was perceived in the 1970s, the changing tides of opinion over time, and the fundamental flaws that undermined Freud’s credibility as a scientist. Clip: Frank Sulloway on how Freud’s work compares to that of Charles Darwin. From Icon to Pseudoscience The 1970s was a period when Freud’s influence seemed unassailable. It was during this time that Sulloway himself published his critical book on Freud, which aimed to revise our understanding of the psychoanalytic pioneer. ”Freud’s stock was very valuable back in those days,” Frank told me as we reflected upon that particular era, when the extensive discourse and exploration into Freud’s enigmas were still on the horizon. Prior to our interview, I had shared with him a quote from his own book, where he credited Freud’s writings as ”possibly the most important body of thought committed to paper in the twentieth century.” The quote left him slightly perplexed, and although he was, in fact, merely referencing the words of American sociologist and cultural critic Philip Rieff, he admitted that he wouldn’t express it in the same manner today: “I think that today, looking back, I would have not said ‘possibly’, I would have found some more critical way to say it. However, that quotation really sort of sum up how things were in the late 1970s with Freud riding quite high.” As the interview unfolds, Sulloway traces the changing perception of Freud and his work. He highlights a pivotal moment in the 1970s when Henri Ellenberger’s book, ”The Discovery of the Unconscious,” challenged Freud’s claim of being an outcast whose views were unrecognized. This wave of revisionism questioned Freud’s legend and set the stage for a critical reevaluation of his theories. Sulloway recognizes the significance of publishing his book during this transformative period: “Looking back I’m actually quite grateful that I got interested in Freud and wrote my book when I did, because in the next ten years the revision was sort of over.” The transformation of Sulloway’s own perception of Freud becomes evident as he discusses the current…
