ABSTRACT
In the model of the self that features the ego, id, and superego, Freud attempts to picture in the most economical yet powerful fashion the kind of creatures humans really are. He starts from the premise that we are many rather than one—despite the difficulties such an understanding presents. He also aims to subvert human being’s false picture of themselves as usually being conscious decision makers who apply sensible rules, pursue productive ideals, and adjudicate sensibly among conflicting demands. These ideas are a key part of the legacy on the subject of the self we must both accept and develop as we aim to understand Freud and China more fully.
