How to be happy though human / by W. Béran Wolfe.
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CHAPTER TWO Of Materials The Inferiority Complex Universality of the Inferiority Feeling—Social Life as a Compensation— Isolation : The Basis of the Inferiority Complex—Symptoms of the Inferiority Complex—The “ Organ Jargon ” of the Inferiority Complex—Sex and the Inferiority Complex—Negative Patterns of Life. OUR first chapter has led to the conclusion that human happiness is attainable only when we scrap the philosophy of the turnip and the business man, and approach life as artists, with the motto, “ What can we put into living ? ” In outlining the basic principles under¬ lying the fine art of living the good life, and in the state¬ ment of the twelve psychological principles that govern human conduct, we build the structural framework of the art of creative self-sculpture. We are now prepared to examine the material which is available for use in the process of making something of ourselves. It must be apparent to the reader that this knowledge is of prime importance, because without a full awareness of the unique data of human life and living, the most perfect craftsmanship and the most exquisite conceptions of design would be futile. Because of the limitations of the scope of this book the present chapter must be limited to the discussion of purely psychological data. An encyclopaedia of anatomy and physiology, of anthropology and ethnology, of history, sociology, economics, medicine, art, politics, religion, literature, and logic would really be in place as the second chapter of this book. We are aware of the manifest defects that result from this artificial limitation of scope, and submit only a pragmatic sanction as an excuse. Those readers who wish to pursue their self- sculpture will, it is hoped, be stimulated by their insight into the purely psychological problems outlined here,