In this classic work, Herbert Marcuse takes as his starting point Freud's statement that civilization is based on the permanent subjugation of the human instincts, his reconstruction of the prehistory of mankind - to an interpretation of the basic trends of western civilization, stressing the philosophical and sociological implications.

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Conceptions of life. Chinese, Greeks, and Christians.--Conceptions of life. Modern rationalism and science.--The rights of human beings. Food; work; knowledge.--The rights of human beings. Sex and parenthood.--The rights of children.--Modern civilization.