

Joel Whitebook, "Freud: An Intellectual Biography" (Cambridge UP, 2017)
Jan 7, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Dr. Joel Whitebook, a philosopher and psychoanalyst at Columbia University, discusses his book on Freud's complex life and work. He argues that Freud's insights remain relevant, revealing the interplay between his personal struggles and theoretical contributions. The dialogue highlights Freud's relationship with maternal absence, the evolution of psychoanalytic thought, and the shift from Oedipal to pre-Oedipal frameworks. Whitebook also examines Freud's hidden traumas and their impact on his theories, providing a nuanced portrait of the father of psychoanalysis.
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Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Intro
00:00 • 4min
Freud's Life and Theories Intertwined
04:16 • 12min
Exploring the Frankfurt School: Psychology and Marxism Converge
16:45 • 4min
Exploring the Shift from Oedipal to Pre-Oedipal Psychoanalysis
20:21 • 4min
Classical vs Unclassical Psychoanalysis
24:18 • 9min
Freud's Hidden Traumas
32:52 • 21min