discourse ({{Top}}[[discours) ]]{{Bottom}}
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, =====Discourse of the Other=====The term "[[discourse]]" is used by [[Lacan begins ]] to use emphasize the term 'discourse' in a slightly different way, though one that still carries with it the stress on [[intersubjectivity|transindividual]]'' [[nature]]. From this point on the term designates of '''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 fact that '''[[speech]]''four discourses' are the discourse of the masteralways implies [[another]] [[subject]], the discourse of the university, the discourse of the hysteric, and the discourse of the analystan interlocutor. 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 The '''[[unconscious]]''' is the positions "[[discourse|discourse of these four symbols. There are four positions in the algorithms of Other]]", the effect on the four discourses, each [[subject]] of which [[speech]] that is designated addressed to that [[subject]] from elsewhere, 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 workanother [[subject]] (who has been [[memory|forgotten]]), and this figure is taken from the 1972-3 seminarby an [[scene|other scene]] or [[scene|psychic locality]].<ref>S20, 21</ref>
the agent the other=====Social Bond=====truth productionFigure 2 The structure of In 1969, [[Lacan]] begins to use the four discoursesSource: Jacques Lacan, Le SÈminaire. Livre XX. Encore, ed. Jacques-Alain Miller, Paris: Seuilterm "[[discourse]]" to denote a "[[discourse|social bond]], 1975founded in [[language]]."
Each discourse is defined by writing the He [[identifies]] ''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 types of [[discourse. In addition to the |social bonds]], four symbols, each algorithm also contains an arrow going from articulations of the agent to the other.<ref>The four discourses are shown in Figure 3 (taken from Sl7, 31)[[symbolic order|symbolic network]] which regulates [[intersubjectivity|intersubjective relations]].</ref>
In 1971, Lacan proposes that the position of the agent is also the position of the =====Four Discourses=====These "[[semblancediscourse|four discourses]]. In 1972, Lacan inscribes two arrows in 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 'powerlessness') goes from production to truth.<ref>S20, 21</ref>" are
The * the [[discourse ]] of the '''[[master]] is ''',* the basic [[discourse from which ]] of the other three discourses are derived. The dominant position is occupied by the master signifier (Si)'''[[university]]''', 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'[[hysteric]]''', 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 [[discourse]] of this work is a surplus (a) that the master attempts to appropriate'''[[analyst]]'''.
Discourse of =====Four Algorithms=====[[Image:Letdis.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Algebra]]ic [[symbol]]s from the master Discourse of the university[[Four Discourses]]]]
SiaS2 S24aEach of the [[discourse|four discourses]] is represented by an [[matheme|algorithm]] which contains ''four'' [[algebraic]] [[symbol]]s.
The names of these ''four'' [[symbol]]s are shown to the [[right]].
The ''four'' [[symbol]]s correspond to ''four'' different [[discourse|positions]] in each [[matheme|algorithm]] of the [[discourse|four discourses]].
Each [[matheme|algorithm]] of the [[discourse|four discourses]] has ''four'' different [[discourse|positions]] with which the ''four'' [[symbol]]s correspond.
[[Image:Discourse-Structure.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The structure of the four discourses]]
The [[discourse|position]] of the ''four'' [[symbol]]s in each [[matheme|algorithm]] is what distinguishes the [[discourse|four discourses]] from one another.
The [[discourse|four discourses]] are distinguished from one another by the [[discourse|positions]] of these ''four'' [[symbol]]s in each [[matheme|algorithm]].
Discourse Each of the hysteric Discourse [[discourse|four discourses]] is defined by the [[discourse|position]] of the analyst''four'' [[symbol]]s in its [[matheme|algorithm]].
SMS, a-The names of the ''four'' [[discourse|positions]] are shown to the right.<ref>{{S20}} p. 21</ref>S
a S2 S2 Si=====Discourse of the Master=====[[Image:Madis.jpg|thumb|right|[[Discourse]] of the [[Master]]]]The [[discourse]] of the [[master]] is the basic [[discourse]] from which the other [[three]] [[discourse]]s are derived.
The '''dominant [[position]]''' is occupied by the [[master signifier]] ([[Image:SS1.gif]]), which represents the [[subject]] ('''S''') for another [[signifier]] or, more precisely, for all other [[signifiers]] ([[Image:SS2.gif]]); however, in this [[signification|signifying operation]] there is always a [[surplus]], namely, ''[[objet petit a]]''.
The point is that all attempts at totalization are doomed to failure.
Figure 3 The four discourses[[discourse]] of the [[master]] "masks the [[division]] of the [[subject]]."<ref>{{S17}} p. 118</ref>
Source: Jacques Lacan, Le SÈminaireThe [[discourse]] also illustrates clearly the [[structure]] of the [[dialectic]] of the [[master]] and the [[master|slave]]. Livre XVIL L'envers de la psychanalyse, ed. Jacques-Alain
Miller, ParisThe [[master]] ([[Image: Seuil, 1975SS1.gif]]) is the [[discourse|agent]] who puts the [[slave]] ([[Image:SS2.gif]]) to [[work]]; the result of this work is a [[surplus]] (''[[objet (petit) a|a]]'') that the [[master]] attempts to appropriate.
The discourse of On the university gif the right-side S barré is produced by a quarter turn of the discourse of the master (anticlockwise)typo. The dominant position is occupied by knowledge (savoir). This illustrates the fact that behind all attempts It must be changed to impart an apparently 'neutral' knowledge to the other can always be located an attempt at mastery [[objet]] [[petit a]] (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 scienceas rightly described.
=====Discourse of the University=====[[Image:Unidis.jpg|thumb|right|[[Discourse]] of the [[University]]]]The [[discourse ]] of the hysteric [[university]] 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>$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<]] (anticlockwise).ref>
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 dominant 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[[knowledge]] (''[[savoir]]''s desire).<ref>Sl7, 41</ref>
The This illustrates the fact that this discourse is behind all attempts to impart an apparently "neutral" [[knowledge]] to the inverse [[other]] can always be located an attempt at [[master]]y ([[master]]y of the discourse [[knowledge]], and domination of the master emphasises that, for Lacan, psychoanalysis [[other]] to whom this [[knowledge]] 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., 1994imparted).</ref>
The [[discourse]] of the [[university]] represents the [[hegemony]] of [[knowledge]], particularly [[visible]] in [[modernity]] in the [[form]] of the hegemony of [[science]].
=====Discourse of the Hysteric=====
[[Image:Hysdis.jpg|thumb|right|[[Discourse]] of the [[Hysteria|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 [[discourse|social bond]] in which any [[subject]] may be inscribed. The dominant position is occupied by the [[split|divided]] [[subject]], the [[symptom]]. This [[discourse]] is that which points the way towards [[knowledge]].<ref>{{S17}} p. 23</ref> [[Psychoanalytic treatment]] involves "the [[structural]] introduction of the [[discourse]] of the '''[[hysteric]]''' by means of artificial [[conditions]]"; in other [[words]], the [[analyst]] "[[hysteria|hystericises]]" the [[patient]]'s [[discourse]].<ref>{{S17}} p. 35</ref> =====Discourse of the Analyst==References===[[Image:Anadis.jpg|thumb|right|[[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 [[interpretation|interpretative]] turn to the [[discourse]] of his [[hysterical]] [[patient]]s). The position of the [[discourse|agent]], which is the position occupied by the [[analyst]] in the [[treatment]], is occupied by ''[[objet (petit) a|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>{{S17}} p. 41<references/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 [[master]]y.
=====Discourse of the Capitalist=====
In a few parts of his teaching (notably in his discourse in Milano), Lacan talked [[about]] a new kind of discourse which caracterizes our post-modern [[society]]: the discourse of the [[capitalist]]. The position of the [[agent]], is occupied by the [[subject]] ('''S'''), who does not address the other, but the [[truth]] (this position is now occupied by the [[master signifier]] ([[Image:SS1.gif]]), the [[Market]]). Through the Market, the [[subject]] ('''S''') can ask the [[knowledge]] (''[[savoir]]''), ([[Image:SS2.gif]]), Science and [[Technology]] to produce [[objects]] to be consumed (''[[objet petit a]]''). This objects are made to never feed completely the [[subject's desire]].
This discourse is not part of the [[social]] bond [[theory]]. We notice that, in this discourse (contrary to the [[four discourses]]), an arrow hits the position of the truth. With the Discourse of the Capitalist, Lacan tried to account for a new kind of social bonds in which [[The Subject|the subject]] become more and more individualistic, egoistic. The Market is here the new Truth which cannot be contradicted.
==See Also==
{{See}}
* [[Algebra]]
* [[Analyst]]
* [[Communication]]
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* [[Hysteria]]
* [[Intersubjectivity]]
* [[Knowledge]]
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* [[Language]]
* [[Master]]
* [[Matheme]]
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* [[Science]]
* [[Speech]]
* [[Subject]]
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* [[Symbol]]
* [[Symptom]]
* [[Unconscious]]
{{Also}}
==References==
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