Adler the heretic

Abstract

The article presents a passionate and lucid portrait of Alfred Adler, Viennese psychologist and founder of Individual Psychology, described as a “heretical” figure with respect to Freudian orthodoxy. In contrast to Freud's emphasis on sexuality, Adler proposed a broader view of the human psyche, centered on the concept of the “will to power” and the individual's “lifestyle.” According to Adler, neuroses stem from feelings of inferiority, often originating from organic defects, but transformable into compensatory stimuli towards self-realization. His theory attaches great importance to the social, cultural, and educational environment, arguing that education in the early years of life is crucial for personality development. Influenced by Vaihinger's neo-Kantian thinking, Adler considered ideals to be “fictions” useful for guiding human action. While Freud depicts man as a prisoner of the unconscious and the past, Adler offers a more optimistic image, capable of self-determination and looking to the future. His pedagogical thinking, based on cooperation and social responsibility, is close to the active school and humanitarian socialism