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Doctor Freud not only used cocaine himself, but he also prescribed it to his patients. And then he drew his generalizations. Cocaine is a strong sexual arouser. That's why everything Freud invented - all those oedipuses, sphinxes and sphincters - is relevant only to a mental dimension of a patient, whose brain is turned to fried-eggs by cocaine. In such a state, one really has only one problem left - what to do first, to screw his mother or to do away with his father. Of course, until his cocaine runs out. And in those times, there were no problems with supplies. But so long as your daily dose is less than three grams, you don't have to fear either the Oedipus complex, nor other things discovered by Freud.

Sigmund Freud#61

PsychologyFreudCriticismTheorySubstance use

About this quote

What does it mean?
This text argues Freud's work was shaped by cocaine use rather than objective science.
In plain terms
Freud's ideas came from drugs not real study.
What can you take from it?
Question theories based on the author's substance use.

Where it applies

  • academic critique
  • history of science
  • psychology

Putting it to work

  • researching historical context
  • evaluating medical claims

Questions to consider

  • How does substance use affect scientific work?
  • Can theory ever be truly objective?

Another view

Even under influence some observations may still hold merit.

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  3. He had a sharp vision; no illusions lulled him to sleep except for an often exaggerated faith in his own ideas.

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