Changes

discourse "[[Discourse]]" ([[Fr]]. ''[[discours]]'')

==Jacques Lacan==Whenever [[Lacan ]] uses the term '"[[discourse' (''discours'') ]]" (rather than, say, '"[[speech']]") it is in order to stress the transindividual nature of [[language]], the fact that [[speech ]] always implies another [[subject]], an interlocutor. Thus the famous Lacanian formula, 'the unconscious is the discourse of the other' (which first appears in 1953, and later becomes 'the unconscious is the discourse of the Other') designates the unconscious as the effects on the subject of speech that is addressed to him from elsewhere; by another subject who has been forgotten, by another psychic locality (the other scene).

In 1969, Lacan begins to use Thus the term 'discourse' in a slightly different way, though one that still carries with it the stress on famous [[intersubjectivityLacan|Lacanian formula]]. From this point on the term designates 'a social bond, founded in language' (S20, 21). Lacan identifies four possible types of social bond, four possible articulations of "the symbolic network which regulates intersubjective relations. These 'four discourses' are unconscious is the discourse of the master, Other" designates the discourse of [[unconscious]] as the university, effects on the discourse [[subject]] of the hysteric[[speech]] that is addressed to him from elsewhere; by another [[subject]] who has been forgotten, and the discourse of the analyst. Lacan represents each of the four discourses by an algorithm: each algorithm contains another psychic locality (the following four algebraic symbols:Si = the master signifierS2 = knowledge (le savoirother [[scene]])S = the subjecta = surplus enjoyment.

What distinguishes the four discourses from one another is ===Four Discourses===In 1969, [[Lacan]] begins to use the positions of these four symbols. There are four positions term "[[discourse]]" in the algorithms of the four discourses, each of which is designated by a slightly different name. The names of the four positions are shown in Figure 2; Lacan gives different names to these positions at different points in his workway, and this figure is taken from though one that still carries with it the 1972-3 seminarstress on [[intersubjectivity]].<ref>S20, 21</ref>

From this point on the agent the othertruth productionFigure 2 The structure of the four discoursesSource: Jacques Lacanterm designates "a social bond, Le SÈminaire. Livre XXfounded in language. Encore, ed. Jacques-Alain Miller, Paris: Seuil, 1975"<ref>{{S20}} p.21</ref>

Each discourse is defined by writing the [[Lacan]] identifies four algebraic symbols in a different position. The symbols always remain in the same orderpossible types of social bond, so each discourse is simply the result four possible articulations of rotating the symbols a quarter turn. The top-left position ('the agent') is the dominant position [[symbolic order|symbolic network]] which defines the discourse. In addition to the four symbols, each algorithm also contains an arrow going from the agent to the other.<ref>The four discourses are shown in Figure 3 (taken from Sl7, 31)regulates [[intersubjectivity|intersubjective relations]].</ref>

In 1971, Lacan proposes that These "[[four discourses]]" are the position [[discourse|discourse of the agent is also master]], the position [[discourse|discourse of the [[semblanceuniversity]]. In 1972, Lacan inscribes two arrows in the formulas instead [[discourse|discourse of one; one arrow (which Lacan labels 'impossibility') goes from the agent to the otherhysteric]], and the other arrow (which is labelled 'powerlessness') goes from production to truth[[discourse|discourse of the analyst]].<ref>S20, 21</ref>

The discourse [[Lacan]] represents each of the [[masterfour discourses]] is the basic discourse from which the other three discourses are derived. The dominant position is occupied by an algorithm: each algorithm contains the master signifier (Si), which represents the subject (S) for another signifier or, more precisely, for all other signifiers (S2); however, in this signifying operation there is always a surplus, namely, objet petit a. The point is that all attempts at totalisation are doomed to failure. The discourse of the master 'masks the division of the subject' (Sl7, 118). The discourse also illustrates clearly the structure of the dialectic of the master and the slave. The master (S,) is the agent who puts the slave (S2) (O WOrk; the result of this work is a surplus (a) that the master attempts to appropriate.following four [[algebraic]] [[symbol]]s:

Discourse of In addition to the hysteric Discourse of four [[symbol]]s, each algorithm also contains an arrow going from the analystagent to the other.

Source: Jacques Lacan, Le SÈminaire===The Discourse of the Master===The discourse of the master is the basic discourse from which the other three discourses are derived. Livre XVIL L'envers de la psychanalyse, ed. Jacques-Alain

MillerThe dominant position is occupied by the master signifier (Si), Paris: Seuilwhich represents the subject (S) for another signifier or, 1975more precisely, for all other signifiers (S2); however, in this signifying operation there is always a surplus, namely, objet petit a.

The discourse of the university point is produced by a quarter turn of the discourse of the master (anticlockwise). The dominant position is occupied by knowledge (savoir). This illustrates the fact that behind all attempts to impart an apparently 'neutral' knowledge to the other can always be located an attempt at mastery (mastery of knowledge, and domination of the other totalisation are doomed to whom this knowledge is imparted). The discourse of the university represents the hegemony of knowledge, particularly visible in modernity in the form of the hegemony of sciencefailure.

The discourse of the hysteric is also produced by a quarter turn of master "masks the discourse division of the master, but in a clockwise direction. It is not simply 'that which is uttered by a hysteric', but a certain kind of social bond in which any subject may be inscribed. The dominant position is occupied by the divided subject, the symptom. This discourse is that which points the way towards knowledge."<ref>$17, 23{{S17}} p.118</ref>.Psychoanalytic treatment involves 'the structural intro- duction of the discourse of the hysteric by means of artificial conditions'; in other words, the analyst 'hystericises' the patient's discourse.<ref>Sl7, 35<.ref>

The discourse of also illustrates clearly the analyst is produced by a quarter turn structure of the discourse dialectic of the hysteric (in master and the same way as Freud developed psychoanalysis by giving an interpretative turn to the discourse of his hysterical patients)slave. The position of master (S1) is the agent, which is who puts the position occupied by slave (S2) (O WOrk; the analyst in the treatment, result of this work is occupied by objet petit a; this illustrates the fact surplus (a) that the analyst must, in the course of the treatment, become the cause of the analysand's desiremaster attempts to appropriate.<ref>Sl7, 41</ref>

[[Image:Lacan-fourdiscourses.jpg|thumb|right|The four discourses]]  ===The Discourse of the University===The discourse of the university is produced by a quarter turn of the discourse of the master (anticlockwise).  The dominant position is occupied by knowledge (savoir).  This illustrates the fact that behind all attempts to impart an apparently 'neutral' knowledge to the other can always be located an attempt at mastery (mastery of knowledge, and domination of the other to whom this knowledge is imparted).  The discourse of the university represents the hegemony of knowledge, particularly visible in modernity in the form of the hegemony of science. ===The Discourse of the Hysteric===The discourse of the hysteric is also produced by a quarter turn of the discourse of the master, but in a clockwise direction.  It is not simply 'that which is uttered by a hysteric', but a certain kind of social bond in which any subject may be inscribed.  The dominant position is occupied by the divided subject, the symptom.  This discourse is that which points the way towards knowledge.<ref>{{S17}} p.23</ref>. Psychoanalytic treatment involves 'the structural intro- duction of the discourse of the hysteric by means of artificial conditions'; in other words, the analyst 'hystericises' the patient's discourse.<ref>{{S17}} p.35<.ref> ===The Discourse of the Analyst===The discourse of the analyst is produced by a quarter turn of the discourse of the hysteric (in the same way as Freud developed psychoanalysis by giving an interpretative turn to the discourse of his hysterical patients).  The position of the agent, which is the position occupied by the analyst in the treatment, is occupied by objet petit a; this illustrates the fact that the analyst must, in the course of the treatment, become the cause of the analysand's desire.<ref>Sl7, 41</ref> The fact that this discourse is the inverse of the discourse of the master emphasises that, for Lacan, psychoanalysis is an essentially subversive practice which undermines all attempts at domination and mastery.<ref> For further information on the four discourses, see Bracher et al., 1994.</ref>  ==See Also==* [[Speech]] ==References==<references/> [[Category:Terms]][[Category:Concepts]][[Category:Psychoanalysis]][[Category:Jacques Lacan]][[Category:Dictionary]]