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Objet (petit) a

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This term has sometimes been translated into [[English]] as "[[Objet petit a|object (little) a]]", but [[Lacan]] insisted that it should remain untranslated, "thus acquiring, as it were, the status of an algebraic sign."<ref>[[Ecrits|Sheridan, Alan]]. "Translator's note." {{E}} p.vii-xii</ref>
===Algebraic SignLacanian Algebra===The symbol ''<b>a</b>'' (the first letter of the word ''[[other|autre]]'', or '"[[other']]") is one of the first [[algebraic]] [[sign]] which appears in [[Lacan]]'s [[Works of Jacques Lacan|work]], and is first introduced in 1955 in connection with [[schema L]].
It is always lower case and italicized to show that it denotes the [[little other]], in opposition to the capital '<b>A</b>' of the [[big Other]].
Unlike the [[big Other]], which represents a radical and irreducible [[big Other|alterity]], the [[little other ]] is "the other which isn't another at all, since it is essentially coupled with the ego, in a relationship which is always reflexive, interchangeable."<ref>{{S2}} p.321</ref>
In [[schema L]], then, ''a'' and ''a''' designate indiscriminately the [[ego]] and the [[counterpart]]/[[specular image]], and clearly belong to the [[imaginary order]].
--===Object of Desire===In 1957, when [[Lacan]] introduces the [[matheme]] of [[fantasy]] ('''$ <> <i>a</i>'''), ''a'' begins to be conceived as the [[object]] of [[desire]].
In 1957, when [[Lacan]] introduces This is the [[mathemeimaginary]] of [[fantasypart-object]] ($ <> ''a''), ''a'' begins to be conceived an element which is imagined as separable from the [[object]] rest of the [[desirebody]].
THis is Lacan now begins to distinguish between ''a'', the [[imaginaryobject]] of [[part-objectdesire]], and the [[specular image]], an element which is imagined as separable from the rest of the bodyhe now symbolizes ''i(a)''.
===Agalma===In the seminar of 1960-1, [[Lacan now begins to distinguish between ]] articulates the ''[[objet (petit) a|objet petit a]]'', the object of desire, and with the term ''[[specular imageagalma]]'' (a Greek term meaning glory, an ornament, an offering ot the gods, or a little statue of a god) which he now symbolizes extracts from [[Plato]]'s ''i(a)[[Plato|Symposium]]''.
--Just as the ''[[agalma]]'' is a precious [[object]] hidden inside a relatively worthless box, so the ''[[objet (petit) a|objet petit a]]'' is the [[object]] of [[desire]] which we seek in the [[other]].<ref>{{S8}} p.177</ref>
In the seminar ===Object-Cause of 1960-1Desire===From 1963 onwards, Lacan articulates the objet petit '''<i>a with the term </i>'''comes increasingly to acquire connotations of the [[agalmareal]]'' (a greek term meaning glory, an orgnament, an offering ot the gods, or a little statue of a god) which he extracts from Plato's ''Symposium''although it never loses its [[imaginary]] status; in 1973 [[Lacan]] can still say that it is [[imaginary]].<ref>{{S20}} p.77</ref>
Just as the ''agalma'' is a precious object hidden inside a relatively worthless boxFrom this point on, so the ''[[objet (petit ) a|a]]'' denotes the [[object]] which can never be attained, which is really the object [[cause]] of [[desire ]] rather than that towards which we seek in [[desire]] tends; this is why [[Lacan]] now calls it the other.<ref>{{S8}} p"[[objet (petit) a|object-cause]]" of [[desire]].177</ref>
--===Object of Drive===''[[objet (petit) a|Objet petit a]]'' is any [[object]] which sets [[desire]] in motion, especially the [[partial object]]s which define the [[drive]]s.
From 1963 onwards, 'The [[drive]]s do not seek to attain the 'a'' comes increasingly to acquire connotations of the [[realobjet (petit) a|objet petit a]]'', although it never loses its imaginary status; in 1973 Lacan can still say that but rather circle round it is imaginary.<ref>{{S20S11}} p.77179</ref>
From this point on===Object of Anxiety, Libido===''[[Objet petit a]]'' denotes is both the object which can never be attained, which is really the of [[causeanxiety]] , and the final irreducible reserve of [[desirelibido]] rather than that towards which .<ref>{{S10}} [[desireSeminar]] tends; this is why Lacan now calls it "the object-cause" of desire16 January 1963.</ref>
''[[Objet petit a]]'' is any object which sets desire in motion, especially the [[partial object]]s which define the drives. The drives do not seek to attain the ''objet petit a'', but rather circle round it.<ref>{{S11}} p.179</ref> ''[[Objet petit a]]'' is both the object ===Position of anxiety, and the final irreducible reserve of libido.<ref>Lacan. 1962-3. Seminar of 16 January 1963.</ref>Analyst===It plays an increasingly important part in [[Lacan]]'s concept of the [[treatment]], in which the [[analyst ]] must siutate situate himself as the [[semblance ]] of ''[[objet (petit ) a|objet petit a]]'', the [[cause ]] of the [[analysand]]'s [[desire]].
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