The Situation of Violence, Human Development and Destruction: a Philosophical Aspect

Abstract

The article integrates a sociological and psychoanalytic approach to understanding the phenomenon of violence in human life. The sociological approach in the ideas of R. Collins makes it possible to see how the destructive nature of man is realized in an act of violence, the role of the situation: space and time, confrontation and tension, fear, panic and dominance as elements of violent action. Psychoanalytic understanding of the phenomenon of violence is connected with the psychological deep nature of destructive drives and desires of a person (Thanatos, hatred, death drive, destructive aggression, the desire to kill and be killed, narcissism of death, pleasure from sadism). There are quite a lot of opportunities to realize the destructive potential of a person. Referring to R. Collins, we are talking about sanctioned and unauthorized violence, symbolic and real violence, violence in entertainment. In any case, as the author notes, it is difficult to commit real violence, since it contradicts such human properties as the desire for solidity with the group, emotional involvement, exchange of emotional energy, support of social and emotional ties.