The Death Instinct and the Future of Humans

Freud’s notion of the “death instinct” has been conceived of by many subsequent authors in many ways. One of the misuses of it is as an excuse for passivity in the face of the current crisis in human affairs. This paper reviews the “death instinct” concept and attempts to understand the disavowal of the dangers to our species and our planet on the basis of our current narcissistic cultural orientation. It examines the use of praxis by a variety of continental thinkers to counter this disavowal and emphasizes the obligation of all mental health professionals to participate, through direct action and through educational contributions, in the elimination of these evils.