God, Reason, and Evil (RS 3D03)
Winter 2003

 

TAKE-HOME QUIZ 1 - Assignment due in class on January 13

Please read Sigmund Freud, The Future of an Illusion (1927) [book available for purchase/on reserve], I, II, III, VI, VII, VIII 

and address the following question in 2-5 well-written paragraphs. Since this is your first reading of this text, and since we have not yet discussed it fully in class, you needn't aim for definitive answers but preliminary, thoughtful responses based on close attention to the text. Your answers may also include 1-2 important questions raised by your reading for further discussion.

What is an "illusion" for Freud?  (If you find that his understanding of this concept relies on other ideas in the text, be sure to point out these connections.)  In what sense can we think of the idea of divine providence as an "illusion"?  Make sure to support your answer with quotations and citations.

Please type and double-space your answer, and number and staple the pages you hand in. 

Please keep a copy of your quiz to refer to in our class discussions of Freud over the next couple of sessions.