The first position (with which each [[discourse (discours]] starts) is called the [[discourse|agent]].
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 The second position is called 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 The third position is called the term 'discourse' in a slightly different way, though one that still carries with it the stress on [[intersubjectivitydiscourse|product]]. 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 the discourse of the master, the discourse of the university, the discourse of the hysteric, and the discourse of the analyst. Lacan represents each of the four discourses by an algorithm: each algorithm contains the following four algebraic symbols:Si = the master signifierS2 = knowledge (le savoir)S = the subjecta = surplus enjoyment
What distinguishes the four discourses from one another is the positions of these four symbols. There are four positions in the algorithms of the four discourses, each of which is designated by a 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 work, and this figure position is taken from called the 1972-3 seminar[[discourse|truth]].<ref>S20, 21</ref>
the agent the other
truth production
Figure 2 The structure of the four discourses
Source: Jacques Lacan, Le SÈminaire. Livre XX. Encore, ed. Jacques-Alain Miller, Paris: Seuil, 1975.
Each discourse is defined by writing the The ''four algebraic symbols in a different position. The symbols always remain in the same order, so each discourse is simply the result of rotating the symbols a quarter turn. The top-left position ('the agent') is the dominant position which defines the discourse. In addition [[symbol]]s correspond to the ''four symbols, '' different [[discourse|positions]] in each [[matheme|algorithm also contains an arrow going from ]] of the agent to the other.<ref>The [[discourse|four discourses are shown in Figure 3 (taken from Sl7, 31)]].</ref>
In 1971, Lacan proposes that the position of the agent is also the position Each [[matheme|algorithm]] of the [[semblancediscourse|four discourses]] has ''four'' different [[discourse|positions]]. In 1972, Lacan inscribes two arrows in with which the formulas instead of one; one arrow (which Lacan labels 'impossibility') goes from the agent to the other, and the other arrow (which is labelled four'powerlessness') goes from production to truth[[symbol]]s correspond.<ref>S20, 21</ref>
The discourse of the [[master]] is the basic discourse from which the other three discourses are derived. The dominant position is occupied by 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)Image:Lacan-structurefourdiscourses. jpg|thumb|250px|right|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.four discourses]]
Discourse The [[discourse|position]] of the master Discourse of ''four'' [[symbol]]s in each [[matheme|algorithm]] is what distinguishes the university[[discourse|four discourses]] from one another.
SiaS2 S24aThe [[discourse|four discourses]] are distinguished from one another by the [[discourse|positions]] of these ''four'' [[symbol]]s in each [[matheme|algorithm]].
Each of the [[discourse|four discourses]] is defined by the [[discourse|position]] of the ''four'' [[symbol]]s in its [[matheme|algorithm]].
The names of the ''four'' [[discourse|positions]] are shown to the right.<ref>{{S20}} p. 21</ref>
The [[symbol]]s always remain in the same order, so each [[discourse]] is simply the result of rotating the [[symbol]]s a quarter turn.
The top-left position ("[[discourse|the agent]]") is the dominant position which defines the [[discourse]].
Discourse of In addition to the hysteric Discourse of four [[symbol]]s, each [[matheme|algorithm]] also contains an arrow going from the analyst[[discourse|agent]] to the [[discourse|other]].
SMS, a->SThe [[four discourses]] are shown in the figure to the right.
a S2 S2 Si[[Image:Lacan-fourdiscourses.jpg|thumb|right|The four discourses]]
===Arrows===
In 1971, [[Lacan]] proposes that the position of the [[discourse|agent]] is also the position of the [[semblance]].
In 1972, [[Lacan]] inscribes two arrows in the [[matheme|formula]]s instead of one; one arrow (which [[Lacan]] labels "impossibility") goes from the [[discourse|agent]] to the [[discourse|other]], and the other arrow (which is labelled "powerlessness") goes from [[discourse|production]] to [[discourse|truth]].<ref>{{S20}} p.21</ref>
Figure 3 The four discourses
Source: Jacques Lacan, Le SÈminaire"[[Discourse]]" ([[Fr]]. Livre XVIL L'envers de la psychanalyse, ed. Jacques-Alain'[[discours]]'')
Miller==Jacques Lacan==Whenever [[Lacan]] uses the term "[[discourse]]" (rather than, Paris: Seuilsay, 1975"[[speech]]") it is in order to stress the transindividual nature of [[language]], the fact that [[speech]] always implies another [[subject]], an interlocutor.
The discourse of Thus the famous [[Lacan|Lacanian formula]], "the university unconscious is produced by a quarter turn of the discourse of the master (anticlockwise). The dominant position is occupied by knowledge (savoir). This illustrates Other" designates the [[unconscious]] as the effects on the fact [[subject]] of [[speech]] that behind all attempts is addressed to impart an apparently 'neutral' knowledge to the other can always be located an attempt at mastery him from elsewhere; by another [[subject]] who has been forgotten, by another psychic locality (mastery of knowledge, and domination of the other to whom this knowledge is imparted[[scene]]). 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 is also produced by a quarter turn of ===Four Discourses===In 1969, [[Lacan]] begins to use the term "[[discourse of the master, but ]]" in a clockwise direction. It is not simply 'that which is uttered by a hysteric'slightly different way, 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 though one that which points still carries with it the way towards knowledge.<ref>$17, 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>Sl7, 35<stress on [[intersubjectivity]].ref>
The discourse of From this point on the analyst is produced by term designates "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 agentsocial bond, which is the position occupied by the analyst founded 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 desirelanguage."<ref>Sl7, 41{{S20}} p.21</ref>
The fact that this discourse is the inverse [[Lacan]] identifies four possible types of the discourse social bond, four possible articulations of the master emphasises that, for Lacan, psychoanalysis is an essentially subversive practice [[symbolic order|symbolic network]] which undermines all attempts at domination and mastery.<ref>For further information on the four discourses, see Bracher et al., 1994regulates [[intersubjectivity|intersubjective relations]].</ref>
These "[[four discourses]]" are the [[discourse|discourse of the master]], the [[discourse|discourse of the university]], the [[discourse|discourse of the hysteric]], and the [[discourse|discourse of the analyst]].
[[Lacan]] represents each of the [[four discourses]] by an algorithm: each algorithm contains the following four [[algebraic]] [[symbol]]s:
==References==<references/>[[Image:Lacan-fourdiscourseletters.jpg|right]]
What distinguishes the [[four discourses]] from one another is the positions of these four symbols.
There are four positions in the algorithms of the [[four discourses]], each of which is designated by a different name.
==See Also==The names of the four positions are shown below; [[Lacan]] gives different names to these positions at different points in his work, and this figure is taken from the 1972-3 seminar.<ref>{{S20}} p.21</ref>
[[Image:Lacan-structurefourdiscourses.jpg|thumb|right|The structure of the four discourses]]
Each [[discourse]] is defined by writing the four [[algebraic]] [[symbol]]s in a different position.
The [[Categorysymbol]]s always remain in the same order, so each [[discourse]] is simply the result of rotating the [[symbol]]s a quarter turn. The top-left position ("the agent") is the dominant position which defines the [[discourse]]. In addition to the four [[symbol]]s, each algorithm also contains an arrow going from the agent to the other. The [[four discourses]] are shown in the figure below. --- In 1971, [[Lacan]] proposes that the position of the agent is also the position of the [[semblance]]. In 1972, [[Lacan]] inscribes two arrows in the formulas isntead of one; one arrows (which [[Lacan]] labels "impossibility") goes from the agent to the other, and the other arrow (which is labelled "powerlessness") goes from production to truth.<ref>{{S20}} p.21</ref> ===The Discourse of the Master===The discourse of the master is the basic discourse from which the other three discourses are derived. The dominant position is occupied by 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."<ref>{{S17}} p.118</ref> The discourse also illustrates clearly the structure of the dialectic of the master and the slave. The master (S1) 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. [[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> ------- {{Encore}}* [[Discourses|Discourse]], 26, 37, 44, 114 :: [[analytic]], 2, 3, 6-7, 9-11, 12-13, 14, 16-17, 21, 2629, 30, 32, 34-37, 39, 41, 42-44, 48, 50, 68, 83, 88, 91, 95, 108, 116-17, 126, 131, 137, 139, 144 :: change in, 54-55, 58-60, 65 :: four types, 16-17, 78 ::Terms[[hysteric]]'s, 16-17, 41 :: [[Categorylove]] and, 12, 16-17, 39-40, 66-68, 83 :Concepts: [[master]]'s, 16-17, 29, 31-32, 39, 69 :: [[Categoryscience]] and, 29, 33, 36, 81-82, 83, 86, 88, 117, 137, 138-39, 141-42 :Psychoanalysis: [[subject]]in, ] 6-17 :: [[Categoryuniversity]] (academic), 16-17, 48:Jacques Lacan: ''See also'' [[Language]]
