Hume argues that no matter how chaotic and random our thoughts seem, there is a rhyme and reason to them
In An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Hume argues that no matter how chaotic and random our thoughts seem, there is a rhyme and reason to them because they are linked by relations of association. He says this is true even of our wildest dreams. Later, Freud will make good on Hume\’s claim, developing a technique of dream interpretation through what he calls \”free association\” to uncover the disguised, repressed, or hidden wishes behind dreams. For this essay, I would like you to use Hume\’s theory of association and Freud’s technique of dream interpretation to uncover the disguised, hidden, or repressed wish behind your dream. If you don\’t remember your dreams, simply make one up. I explain how to do this in Lecture 14. Your essay should be organized in the following way: First, you should briefly explain Hume\’s theory of association and Freud\’s technique of dream interpretation. Here you should be careful to define what associations are according to Hume and what the aim of Freudian dream interpretation is. If you quote from lecture or Hume, you must properly cite things. Quotations should look like this: According to Hume, \”life is a tale told by an idiot signifying nothing\” (Hume, pg. 7). Note the way the quote is introduced, and the position of the quotation marks, parentheses, and period. You then go on to explain the quote in your own words, perhaps giving an example to illustrate the concept. Quotation should be used sparingly and the majority of the essay should be in your own words. Second, once you have completed step 1, you should then recount the dream you will be analyzing. Here you will need a transitional sentence. Remember, the point of this essay is to show you have understood the theories of Hume and Freud. Don\’t just start discussing your dream out of nowhere. You need a sentence similar, but not identical, to the following: To illustrate Hume\’s theory of association and Freud\’s theory of dreams, consider the following dream that I had. You need to repeatedly tie what you\’re discussing back to Freud and Hume. Third, once you have recounted your dream, your essay should then use the technique of free association to uncover the disguised or repressed wishes behind the dream. For this person of your essay you will need to identify the type of association at work with each part of the dream (resemblance, cause and effect, connection in space, or connection in time). Simply put it in parentheses after you make the association. For example, \”when I think of the shoe in the dream, I think of running (association by connection in space or place)\”. Fourth, identify the disguised wish or desire behind the dream based on your associations. You need to be very clear here: a dream interpretation identifies wishes or desires, not meaning. You need to say \”the WISH behind the dream is x.\” If you say \”the MEANING of the dream is x\” you will lose points. To prepare for this essay you will carefully need to read Lecture 13 and especially Lecture 14, paying special attention to the examples of how dream interpretations work that I give. Your interpretation should be similar.IMPORTANT: This is an easy assignment if you carefully read Lecture 14 (Don\’t consult the internet!), but there are easy ways to mess it up. First, dream you analyze should not resemble any of the examples of dream interpretations I have provided in my lectures. If you change some small detail and do largely the same thing, you haven\’t really done the assignment. Be original! Second, the wish must be disguised. I shouldn\’t be able to tell what the wish behind your dream is simply from you telling me the dream. If you say \”I dreamt I ate a lobster dinner and it was delicious. My wish was therefore to eat delicious lobster!\” you will receive no credit. The whole point is that the wish is repressed, disguised, or hidden and can only be discovered by associating on each part of the dream. Don\’t make this mistake! Third, do NOT use this technique to analyze nightmares or repeating dreams. Generally they are not about repressed wishes, but about traumas, so this technique will not work.
Your essay should be 400 – 900 words long.
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