Abstract

This study examined the relationship between philosophy and Freudian psychoanalysis. The motivation to conduct this study was based on Freud's motion that philosophical precepts could not be included in psychoanalysis. Freud emphasized that the development of psychoanalysis, was structured along natural scientific principles. This view was in direct opposition to the theory advanced by the psychology contained remnants of its philosophical heritage. ;The researcher at first investigated Freud's academic background beginning with his secondary education in the classical Gymnasium. The purpose here was to assess the degree to which Freud's curricular studies, provided him with ideas which might have been incorporated in the conception of his theory. Secondly, an evaluation was made of the impact of Romantic and Humanistic ideas and ideals on the development of Freud's thoughts. Following this, a more detailed investigation was made, concerning the extent of Freud's familiarity with the writings of three renowned German Romantic philosophers; Goethe, Nietzsche, and Schopenhaeur. Finally, Freud's Jewish origins were explored, in order to establish a relationship with psychoanalysis. The esoteric philosophies of the Bible and the Zohar were examined for possible links to psychoanalytic concepts. The researcher forced specifically on the nature of the dream function, in his examination. ;Results of the study seemed to indicate that Freud was not only familiar with the ideas of influential Humanistic and Romantic philosophers, but he utilized many of those ideas in structuring his psychoanalytic theory. In relation to Freud's link with Jewish esoteric philosophies, the study seemed to indicate that Freud was indeed knowledgeable about the teachings of the Zohar and the Bible, may have utilized their teachings on dreams to build his psychoanalytic theory of the dream process