Difference between revisions of "Aphanisis"
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| − | == | + | ==Disappearance of Desire== |
The literal meaning of this Greek term is '''disappearance'''. | The literal meaning of this Greek term is '''disappearance'''. | ||
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For Jones, the [[fear]] of [[aphanisis]] exists in both [[sex]]es, giving rise to the [[castration complex]] in [[male|boys]] and to [[penis envy]] in [[female|girls]]. | For Jones, the [[fear]] of [[aphanisis]] exists in both [[sex]]es, giving rise to the [[castration complex]] in [[male|boys]] and to [[penis envy]] in [[female|girls]]. | ||
| − | + | ==Disappearance of the Subject== | |
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[[Lacan]] takes up Jones's term, but modifies it substantially. | [[Lacan]] takes up Jones's term, but modifies it substantially. | ||
| − | For [[Lacan]], [[aphanisis]] does not mean the [[disappearance]] of [[desire]], but the [[disappearance]] of the [[subject]].<ref>{{S11}} 208</ref> | + | For [[Lacan]], ''[[aphanisis]]'' does not mean the [[disappearance]] of [[desire]], but the [[disappearance]] of the [[subject]].<ref>{{S11}} p. 208</ref> |
| − | The [[aphanisis]] of the [[subject]] is the [[fading]] of the [[subject]], the fundamental [[division]] - or [[split]] - of the subject which institutes the [[dialectic]] of [[desire]].<ref>{{S11}} p.221</ref> | + | The ''[[aphanisis]]'' of the [[subject]] is the [[fading]] of the [[subject]], the fundamental [[division]] -- or [[split]] -- of the [[subject]] which institutes the [[dialectic]] of [[desire]].<ref>{{S11}} p. 221</ref> |
| − | Far from the [[disappearance]] of [[desire]] being the [[object]] of [[fear]], it is precisely what the [[neurotic]] aims at; the [[neurotic]] attempts to shield himself from his [[desire]], to put it aside.<ref>{{S8}} p.271</ref> | + | ==Neurosis== |
| + | Far from the [[disappearance]] of [[desire]] being the [[object]] of [[fear]], it is precisely what the [[neurotic]] aims at; the [[neurotic]] attempts to shield himself from his [[desire]], to put it aside.<ref>{{S8}} p. 271</ref> | ||
| + | ==Fading== | ||
[[Lacan]] also uses another term, "[[fading]]," in a way that makes it synonymous with the term ''[[aphanisis]]''. | [[Lacan]] also uses another term, "[[fading]]," in a way that makes it synonymous with the term ''[[aphanisis]]''. | ||
[[Fading]] (a term which [[Lacan]] uses directly in [[English]]) refers to the [[disappearance]] of the [[subject]] in the process of [[alienation]]. | [[Fading]] (a term which [[Lacan]] uses directly in [[English]]) refers to the [[disappearance]] of the [[subject]] in the process of [[alienation]]. | ||
| − | The term is used by [[Lacan]] when describing the [[mathemes]] of the [[drive]] and of [[fantasy]]: the [[subject]] | + | ==Mathemes== |
| + | The term is used by [[Lacan]] when describing the [[mathemes]] of the [[drive]] and of [[fantasy]]: the [[subject]] "[[fades]]" or "[[disappears]]" in the face of [[demand]] and in the face of the [[object]], as is shown by the fact that the [[subject]] is [[bar]]red in these [[matheme]]s. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | {{See}} | ||
| + | * [[Alienation]] | ||
| + | * [[Bar]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Castration complex|Castration]] | ||
| + | * [[Demand]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Desire]] | ||
| + | * [[Dialectic]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Matheme]] | ||
| + | * [[Neurosis]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Split]] | ||
| + | * [[Subject]] | ||
| + | {{Also}} | ||
Revision as of 08:09, 24 August 2006
Contents
Disappearance of Desire
The literal meaning of this Greek term is disappearance.
It was first introduced into psychoanalysis by Ernest Jones, who uses it to mean "the disappearance of sexual desire."[1]
For Jones, the fear of aphanisis exists in both sexes, giving rise to the castration complex in boys and to penis envy in girls.
Disappearance of the Subject
Lacan takes up Jones's term, but modifies it substantially.
For Lacan, aphanisis does not mean the disappearance of desire, but the disappearance of the subject.[2]
The aphanisis of the subject is the fading of the subject, the fundamental division -- or split -- of the subject which institutes the dialectic of desire.[3]
Neurosis
Far from the disappearance of desire being the object of fear, it is precisely what the neurotic aims at; the neurotic attempts to shield himself from his desire, to put it aside.[4]
Fading
Lacan also uses another term, "fading," in a way that makes it synonymous with the term aphanisis.
Fading (a term which Lacan uses directly in English) refers to the disappearance of the subject in the process of alienation.
Mathemes
The term is used by Lacan when describing the mathemes of the drive and of fantasy: the subject "fades" or "disappears" in the face of demand and in the face of the object, as is shown by the fact that the subject is barred in these mathemes.
See Also
References
- ↑ Jones, Ernest. 1927. "Early Development of Female Sexuality" in Papers on Psychoanalysis (5th edn), Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1948.
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book XI. The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, 1964. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1977. p. 208
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book XI. The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, 1964. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1977. p. 221
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre VIII. Le transfert, 1960-61. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p. 271
