Wilhelm Reich
Wilhelm Reich: A Pioneering Life of Controversy and Innovation
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Wilhelm Reich was born on March 24, 1897, in Dobzau, Austria-Hungary. He is commonly known as Willy among friends and acquaintances.
#### Birth and Death Dates
Reich's life was marked by both remarkable achievements and untimely demise. He passed away on November 3, 1957, while imprisoned at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Pennsylvania, USA.
#### Nationality and Profession(s)
Wilhelm Reich was an Austrian-American psychoanalyst, biologist, philosopher, and social scientist. His pioneering work in the fields of psychoanalysis, sexology, and bioenergy earned him international recognition.
#### Early Life and Background
Growing up in a middle-class Jewish family, Reich's early life was marked by a strong interest in science and philosophy. He developed a passion for botany at an early age and went on to study medicine at the University of Vienna. During his medical studies, he became fascinated with Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theories, which would later influence his work.
#### Major Accomplishments
Reich made significant contributions to various fields:
Discovery of the Orgone: Reich proposed the concept of "orgone energy," a hypothetical form of bioenergy that he believed permeated all living matter. This idea was central to his work on psychotherapy, biology, and social reform.
Character Analysis: Reich developed the technique of character analysis, which aimed to diagnose an individual's underlying character structure through free association, dreams, and other techniques.
Sex-Economic Theory: Reich introduced the concept of sex-economic theory, which posited that human behavior is shaped by economic factors, including access to sexual gratification.
#### Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works and actions include:
"Character Analysis" (1933): This book outlined Reich's approach to character analysis, a technique he believed could help individuals overcome their psychological blockages.
"The Function of the Orgasm" (1942): In this work, Reich discussed his concept of orgone energy and its relationship to human sexuality.
Founding of the Orgonon: Reich established the Orgonon, a research center in Maine dedicated to studying bioenergy and its applications.
#### Impact and Legacy
Wilhelm Reich's ideas have had a lasting impact on various fields:
Psychoanalysis: Reich's character analysis technique has influenced subsequent psychoanalytic theories.
Sexology: His work on human sexuality helped shape the field of sexology.
Bioenergy: The concept of orgone energy, although disputed by many, remains a topic of interest in fields like bioenergy and holistic health.
#### Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Reich's quotes and writings continue to inspire controversy and debate. His ideas on psychoanalysis, sexology, and bioenergy have been influential, but his legacy is also marked by criticism and scandal:
Critique of Mainstream Psychoanalysis: Reich's critiques of Freudian psychoanalysis led to a significant falling out with the Freudian establishment.
Sexual Politics: Reich's views on human sexuality were considered radical for his time, leading some to label him as a "sexologist."
Persecution and Controversy: Reich faced intense criticism and persecution in the United States, culminating in his imprisonment on charges of "obstruction of justice."
Quotes by Wilhelm Reich
Wilhelm Reich's insights on:
Because I’m a man who works, who knows what a human being is like inside, who knows that every human being has his worth, and who wants the world to be governed by work and not by opinions about work.
It is above all man’s social position that decides whether he will sublimate his sadism as a butcher, surgeon, or policeman.
We live in a community of people not so that we can suppress and dominate eachother or make each other miserable but so that we can better and more reliably satisfy all life’s healthy needs.
Apartment houses, public transportation, and schools tell us something about the technical development of a society. They do not tell us whether the members of that society are suppressed subjects or free workers, whether they are rational or irrational men and women.
Power, no matter what kind of power it is, without a foundation in truth, is a dictatorship, more or less and in one way or another, for it is always based on man’s fear of the social responsibility and personal burden that “freedom” entails.
How, then,′ I hear you ask, ‘shall I attain my end, whether it be Christian love, socialism, or American democracy?’ Your Christian love and your socialism and your American democracy are what you do each day, your manner of thinking each hour, of embracing your life companion and loving your child; they are your attitude of social responsibility towards your work, and your determination not to become like the crushers of life you so hate.
Because you have no memory for things that happened ten or twenty years ago, you’re still mouthing the same nonsense as two thousand years ago. Worse, you cling with might and main to such absurdities as ‘race,’ ‘class,’ ‘nation,’ and the obligation to observe a religion and repress your love.
I’m afraid of you, little man, very much afraid, because the future of mankind depends on you. I’m afraid of you because your main aim in life is to escape – from yourself.