Midterm: A note on the Unconscious

“The distinction between foreconscious and unconscious activity is not a primary one, but comes to be established after repulsion has sprung up. Only then the difference between foreconscious ideas, which can appear in consciousness and reappear at any moment, and unconsciousness which cannot do so, gains a theoretical as well as practical value.”


In order to understand the apocalyptic rhetoric found within Freud’s A Note on the Unconscious, it is important reference the meaning behind the terms unconscious, foreconscious and consciousness. On page 11, Freud defines the conscious as “the conception which is present to our consciousness and of which we are aware, and let this be the only meaning of the term ‘conscious’.” According to Freud’s analysis, the unconscious is filled with memories and desire that remain hidden within the human mind, yet often affect conscious thoughts or behaviors. On the other hand, the foreconscious contains thoughts, feelings and impulses that can be brought into the consciousness at any moment.

In the above passage, Freud discusses that while the foreconscious and unconscious may seem different, it only different once repulsion has occurred. The repulsion of our thoughts or desires is what becomes the major difference between the unconscious and foreconscious. However, it is not to say that the ideas that our mind willingly repulses does not affect our behavior in some shape or form. With that being said, Freud’s analysis suggests that despite our ability to conceal certain wills and desires from our consciousness, they still affect our consciousness indirectly. This is an example of the apocalyptic rhetoric found within Freud’s Psychoanalysis, as it suggests that the unconscious still lurks in the mind without our knowing.
This leads me to question, on the nature of my actions and thoughts. I believe that I act a certain way because of my allowance of myself to do so. However, if Freud’s analysis suggests that the unconscious still can affect the conscious, then do I act a certain way because I have allowed my desires to brought into consciousness or have they been influenced through my unconscious desires?

This, at least in my opinion, forces me to question the nature of my behavior and where my thoughts are derived from. The process seems trivial, as one does not give much thought to their thoughts and how the mind works, but in actuality Freud’s analysis of the unconscious, foreconscious and conscious opens a new series of discussions on what affects our way of thinking. Like many of the other theories discussed in class, Freud’s analysis draws attention to something that seems so mundane and natural to man, and makes it foreign, calling for the re-examination of things that once seemed known.