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{{Les termesTop}} The term 'exist|existence' is employed by Lacan in various ways (see éiûek, 1991: 136-7):{{Bottom}}

==Existence in the symbolicJacques Lacan==This sense of The term "[[existence ]]" is to be understood in the context of Freud's discussion of the 'judgement of existence', employed by which the existence of an entity is affirmed prior to attributing any quality to it (see Freud, 1925h; see BEJAHUNG). Only what is integrated in the symbolic order fully 'exists' in this sense, since 'there is no such thing as a prediscursive reality' (S20, 33). It is [[Lacan]] in this sense that Lacan argues that 'woman does not exist' (Lacan, 1973avarious ways: 60); the symbolic order contains no signifier for femininity, and hence the feminine position cannot be fully symbolised.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' (Ec, 392). 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 (Saussure, 1916).

== 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 real [[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 symbolise [[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[[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, l1); }} p.11</ref> the [[subject ]] is decentreddecentered, his centre 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]] __NOTOC__