TITLE:
Is FEMICIDE Optional? —Breuer’s “Momentous Discovery” Explains All
AUTHORS:
Bob Johnson
KEYWORDS:
Reasoning, Breuer’s “Momentous Discovery”, Irrationality, Freud’s Early Enthusiasm, Freud’s Later Non-Thinking, Violence, Delight, Revenge, Retribution, War
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Philosophy,
Vol.15 No.3,
August
6,
2025
ABSTRACT: VIOLENCE DEFIES LOGIC, as philosophy can readily show. From which it follows that brutality, being intrinsically illogical, cannot escape also being self-contradictory and therefore self-defeating. Worse, as Breuer showed, we shun painful truths—which leads to our active neglect of abundant evidence that violence itself can be eliminated 100%—an omission as perverse and illogic (and as unhealthy) on our part, as is violence itself. This paper explores both themes—firstly, where’s the logic in killing? And secondly, why suppress evidence that violence can be cured? Starting with: 1) Breuer’s insight into how human reasoning comes to be blocked, the discussion then proceeds to 2) how clarity of itself, enables healthier thinking. This is something which Freud initially championed enthusiastically, before falling victim to his own paternal trauma. The next section 3) outlines good news, i.e. practical evidence in support of this philosophy. The role Breuer’s insight plays in suppressing 4) painful truths is then emphasised. In particular, the childhood root of 5) revenge is exposed, by reference to the insight offered by a “cured” serial-killer. The counter-cultural notion is then presented that—6) delight is not only every human’s birthright, without exception—but that empowering it, defeats social harman outcome which, necessarily, benefits us all. In 7) conclusion, the paper asks the reader whether she or he personally believes that FEMICIDE is optional—and if it is, what policies does every alert citizen need to promote, vigorously and in person, in order to eliminate it 100%, along with all other domestic and communal violence, including war.