Difference between revisions of "Existence"
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| − | + | {{Top}}exist|existence{{Bottom}} | |
| − | + | ==Jacques Lacan== | |
| + | The term "[[existence]]" is employed by [[Lacan]] in various ways: | ||
| + | ==Symbolic== | ||
| + | This [[sense]] of [[existence]] is to be [[understood]] in the context of [[Freud]]'s [[discussion]] of the "judgement of existence," by which the [[existence]] of an entity is affirmed prior to attributing any quality to it. | ||
| + | Only what is integrated in the [[symbolic]] [[order]] fully "[[exist]]s", since "there is no such thing as a prediscursive [[reality]]."<ref>{{S20}} p. 33</ref> | ||
| − | + | ==="Woman Does Not Exist"=== | |
| + | It is in this sense that [[Lacan]] argues that "[[woman|woman does not exist]];"<ref>{{TV}} p. 60</ref> the [[symbolic order]] contains no [[signifier]] for [[femininity]], and hence the [[feminine position]] cannot be fully [[symbolize]]d. | ||
| − | + | ===Non-Existence=== | |
| + | It is important to note that, in the [[symbolic order]], "[[nothing]] exists except on an assumed foundation of [[absence]]. Nothing exists except insofar as it does not exist."<ref>{{Ec}} p.392</ref> | ||
| − | + | In other [[words]], everything that exists in the [[symbolic order]] only exists by virtue of its [[difference]] to everything else. | |
| − | + | It was [[Saussure]] who first pointed this out when he argued that in [[language]] there are no positive [[terms]], only differences.<ref>[[Saussure|Saussure, Ferdinand de]]. (1916) ''[[Saussure|Course in General Linguistics]]'', ed. Charles Bally and Albert Sechehaye, trans. Wade Baskin, Glasgow: Collins Fontana.</ref> | |
| − | + | ==Real== | |
| + | In this sense, it is only that which is [[impossible]] to [[symbolize]] that [[exists]]: the [[impossible]] [[Thing]] at the heart of the [[subject]]. | ||
| − | + | <blockquote>"There is in effect something radically unassimilable to the signifier. It's quite simply the subject's [[singular]] existence."<ref>{{S3}} p.179</ref></blockquote> | |
| − | + | ===Subject of the Unconscious=== | |
| + | This is the [[existence]] of the [[subject]] of the [[unconscious]], '''S''', which [[Lacan]] describes as an "ineffable, stupid [[existence]]."<ref>{{E}} p.194</ref> | ||
| − | + | ===Being=== | |
| + | This second sense of the term [[existence]] is exactly the opposite of [[existence]] in the first sense. | ||
| − | + | Whereas [[existence]] in the first sense is synonymous with [[Lacan]]'s use of the term [[being]], [[existence]] in the second sense is opposed to [[being]]. | |
| − | + | ===''Ex-sistence''=== | |
| + | [[Lacan]] coins the neologism ''[[existence|ex-sistence]]'' to express the [[idea]] that the heart of our [[being]] (''Kern unseres Wesen'') is also radically [[Other]], strange, [[outside]];<ref>{{Ec}} p.11</ref> the [[subject]] is decentered, his center is [[outside]] of himself, he is [[extimacy|ex-centric]]. | ||
| − | + | [[Lacan]] also speaks of the "[[existence|ex-sistence]] (''[[existence|Entstellung]]'') of desire in the dream,"<ref>{{E}} p.264</ref> since the [[dream]] cannot [[represent]] [[desire]] except by distorting it. | |
| − | + | ==See Also== | |
| + | {{See}} | ||
| + | * [[Absence]] | ||
| + | * [[Being]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * ''[[Extimacy]]'' | ||
| + | * [[Language]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Real]] | ||
| + | * [[Signifier]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Subject]] | ||
| + | * [[Symbolic]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Unconscious]] | ||
| + | * [[Woman]] | ||
| + | {{Also}} | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | <div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small"> | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| − | + | [[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | |
| + | [[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Linguistics]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Dictionary]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Language]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Symbolic]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Concepts]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Terms]] | ||
| + | [[Category:OK]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 06:59, 24 May 2019
| French: existence |
Jacques Lacan
The term "existence" is employed by Lacan in various ways:
Symbolic
This sense of existence is to be understood in the context of Freud's discussion of the "judgement of existence," by which the existence of an entity is affirmed prior to attributing any quality to it.
Only what is integrated in the symbolic order fully "exists", since "there is no such thing as a prediscursive reality."[1]
"Woman Does Not Exist"
It is in this sense that Lacan argues that "woman does not exist;"[2] the symbolic order contains no signifier for femininity, and hence the feminine position cannot be fully symbolized.
Non-Existence
It is important to note that, in the symbolic order, "nothing exists except on an assumed foundation of absence. Nothing exists except insofar as it does not exist."[3]
In other words, everything that exists in the symbolic order only exists by virtue of its difference to everything else.
It was Saussure who first pointed this out when he argued that in language there are no positive terms, only differences.[4]
Real
In this sense, it is only that which is impossible to symbolize that exists: the impossible Thing at the heart of the subject.
"There is in effect something radically unassimilable to the signifier. It's quite simply the subject's singular existence."[5]
Subject of the Unconscious
This is the existence of the subject of the unconscious, S, which Lacan describes as an "ineffable, stupid existence."[6]
Being
This second sense of the term existence is exactly the opposite of existence in the first sense.
Whereas existence in the first sense is synonymous with Lacan's use of the term being, existence in the second sense is opposed to being.
Ex-sistence
Lacan coins the neologism ex-sistence to express the idea that the heart of our being (Kern unseres Wesen) is also radically Other, strange, outside;[7] the subject is decentered, his center is outside of himself, he is ex-centric.
Lacan also speaks of the "ex-sistence (Entstellung) of desire in the dream,"[8] since the dream cannot represent desire except by distorting it.
See Also
References
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre XX. Encore, 1972-73. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1975. p. 33
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Télévision, Paris: Seuil, 1973. Television: A Challenge to the Psychoanalytic Establishment, ed. Joan Copjec, trans. Denis Hollier, Rosalind Krauss and Annette Michelson, New York: Norton, 1990]. p. 60
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.392
- ↑ Saussure, Ferdinand de. (1916) Course in General Linguistics, ed. Charles Bally and Albert Sechehaye, trans. Wade Baskin, Glasgow: Collins Fontana.
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p.179
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.194
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.11
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.264
