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In recent years, it’s often been said that [[psychoanalysis]] is dead. New advances in the brain sciences have finally put it where it belongs, alongside [[religion|religious]] [[confession|confessors]] and [[dream|dream-readers]] in the lumber-room of pre-scientific obscurantist searches for hidden [[meaning]]. As [[Todd Dufresne]] put it, no figure in the history of [[human]] thought was more wrong about all the fundamentals – with the exception of [[Marx]], some would add. ''[[The Black Book of Communism]]'' was followed last year by the ''[[Black Book of Psychoanalysis]]'', which listed all the theoretical mistakes and instances of [[clinical]] fraud perpetrated {{Title}}by [[Freud]] and his followers. In this way, at least, the profound [[solidarity]] of [[MarxismSlavoj Žižek]] and psychoanalysis is now there for all to see.{{Author}}

A century ago, In [[Freudrecent]] included years, it’s often been said that [[psychoanalysis]] as one of what he described as the three 'is [[narcissistic illnessesdead]]'. First, New advances in the brain [[Copernicussciences]] demonstrated that the have finally put it where it belongs, alongside [[Earthreligion|religious]] moves around the [[Sunconfession|confessors]], thereby depriving and [[humandream|dream-readers]]s of their central place in the lumber-room of pre-[[universescientific]]. Then obscurantist searches for hidden [[Darwinmeaning]] demonstrated that we are the product of . As [[evolutionTodd Dufresne]]put it, thereby depriving us of our privileged place among living no [[beingfigure]]s. Finally, by making clear the predominant role of in the [[unconscioushistory]] in of [[psyche|psychichuman]] [[processthought]]es, Freud showed that the was more wrong [[egoabout]] is not all the fundamentals – with the exception of [[masterMarx]] even in its own house, some would add. Today, ''[[science|scientificThe Black Book of Communism]] breakthroughs seem to bring further '' was followed last year by the ''[[humiliationBlack Book of Psychoanalysis]]: '', which listed all the [[mindtheoretical]] is merely a mistakes and instances of [[machineclinical]] for data-processing, our sense of fraud perpetrated by [[freedomFreud]] and [[autonomy]] merely a 'user’s illusion'his followers. In comparisonthis way, at least, the conclusions profound [[solidarity]] of psychoanalysis seem rather [[conservativeMarxism]]and psychoanalysis is now there for all to see.

Is A century ago, [[Freud]] included [[psychoanalysis outdated? It certainly appears to be]] as one of what he described as the [[three]] '[[narcissistic illnesses]]'. It is outdated scientificallyFirst, in [[Copernicus]] demonstrated that the [[cognitivism|cognitivistEarth]] moves around the [[Sun]]-, thereby depriving [[neurobiology|neurobiologisthuman]] model s of their central [[place]] in the [[humanuniverse]] . Then [[mindDarwin]] has superseded demonstrated that we are the Freudian product of [[evolution]], thereby depriving us of our privileged place among [[living]] [[modelbeing]]; it is outdated in s. Finally, by making clear the predominant [[psychiatry|psychiatricrole]] of the [[clinicunconscious]], where in [[treatmentpsyche|psychoanalytic treatmentpsychic]] is losing ground to [[drug treatmentprocess]] and es, Freud showed that the [[behavioural therapyego]]; and it is outdated in not [[societymaster]] more broadlyeven in its own house. Today, where the notion of [[social normsscience|scientific]] which breakthroughs seem to bring further [[repression|represshumiliation]] : the [[individualmind]]’s is merely a [[sexuality|sexualmachine]] for data-processing, our [[drivesense]]s doesn’t hold up in the face of today’s [[hedonismfreedom]]and [[autonomy]] merely a 'user’s [[illusion]]'. But we should not be too hasty. Perhaps we should instead insist that In comparison, the time conclusions of psychoanalysis has only just arrivedseem rather [[conservative]].

One of the consistent themes of today’s [[conservative]] [[cultural critique]] Is psychoanalysis outdated? It certainly appears to be. It is thatoutdated scientifically, in our that the [[permissivenesscognitivism|permissivecognitivist]] era, -[[childrenneurobiology|neurobiologist]] lack firm model of the [[limithuman]]s and [[prohibitionmind]]s. This has superseded the [[frustration|frustratesFreudian]] them, driving them from one [[excessmodel]] to another. Only a firm boundary set up by some ; it is outdated in the [[symbolicpsychiatry|psychiatric]] [[authorityclinic]] can , where [[guaranteetreatment|psychoanalytic treatment]] is losing ground to [[stabilitydrug treatment]] and [[satisfactionbehavioural therapy]] – the satisfaction that comes of ; and it is outdated in [[transgression|violatingsociety]] more broadly, where the [[prohibitionnotion]]. In order to make clear the way [[negation]] functions in the of [[unconscioussocial norms]], which [[Freudrepression|repress]] cited the comment one of his [[patientindividual]]s made after recounting a ’s [[dreamsexuality|sexual]] about an unknown [[womandrive]]: "Whoever this woman s doesn’t hold up in my dream is, I know she is not my mother." A clear proof, for Freud, that the woman was his face of today’s [[motherhedonism]]. What better way to characterise But we should not be too hasty. Perhaps we should instead insist that the typical [[patienttime]] of today than to imagine his reaction to the same dream: "Whoever this woman in my dream is, I’m sure she psychoanalysis has something to do with my mother!"only just arrived.

TraditionallyOne of the consistent themes of today’s [[conservative]] [[cultural critique]] is that, in our [[permissiveness|permissive]] era, [[psychoanalysischildren]] has been expected to enable the patient to overcome the obstacles preventing his or her access to [[norality|normallack]] firm [[limit]]s and [[prohibition]] s. This [[sexualityfrustration|sexualfrustrates]] [[satisfactionthem]]: if you are not able to get it, visit an driving them from one [[analystexcess]] and he will help you to lose your [[inhibitionanother]]s. Now Only a firm boundary set up by some [[symbolic]] [[authority]] can [[guarantee]] [[stability]] and [[satisfaction]] – the satisfaction that we are bombarded from all sides by comes of [[transgression|violating]] the [[injunction prohibition]]. In [[order]] to Enjoymake clear the way [[negation]] functions in the [[unconscious]]!, psychoanalysis should perhaps be regarded differently, as [[Freud]] cited the only comment one of his [[patient]]s made after recounting a [[dream]] about an unknown [[discoursewoman]] : "Whoever this woman in which you are allowed ''my dream is, I [[know]] she is not'' my mother." A clear proof, for Freud, that the woman was his [[mother]]. What better way to enjoycharacterise the typical [[patient]] of today than to imagine his reaction to the same dream: not ‘not allowed to enjoy’"Whoever this woman in my dream is, but relieved of the pressure I’m sure she has something to enjoy.do with my mother!"

Nowhere is this Traditionally, [[paradoxpsychoanalysis]]ical change in has been expected to enable the patient to overcome the role of psychoanalytic obstacles preventing his or her access to [[interpretationnorality|normal]] clearer than in the case of dreams. The conventional understanding of Freud’s theory of dreams is that a dream is the [[fantasysexuality|phantasmicsexual]] realisation of some [[censorsatisfaction]]ed : if you are not able to get it, visit an [[unconsciousanalyst]] and he will [[desirehelp]], which is as a rule of a you to lose your [[sexuality|sexualinhibition]] natures. At Now that we are bombarded from all sides by the beginning of ''[[The Interpretation of Dreamsinjunction to Enjoy]]''!, psychoanalysis should perhaps be regarded differently, Freud provides a detailed interpretation of his own dream about "as the only [[Irma’s injection]]." The interpretation is surprisingly reminiscent of an old [[Soviet Union|Sovietdiscourse]] in which you are allowed ''not'' to [[jokeenjoy]]: "Did [[Rabinovitch]] win a new car on the state lottery?" "In principle, yes, he did. Only it was not a car but a bicycle‘not allowed to enjoy’, it was not new but old, and he did not win it, it was stolen from him!" Is a dream the [[manifest]]ation relieved of the dreamer’s unconscious sexual desire? In principle, yes. Yet in the dream Freud chose pressure to demonstrate his theory of dreams, his desire is neither sexual nor unconscious, and, moreover, it's not his ownenjoy.

The dream begins with a conversation between Freud and his Nowhere is this [[patientparadox]] ical [[Irmachange]] about in the failure role of her [[treatmentpsychoanalytic]] [[interpretation]] clearer than in the [[case]] because of an infection caused by an injection[[dreams]]. In The conventional [[understanding]] of Freud’s [[theory]] of dreams is that a dream is the course [[fantasy|phantasmic]] realisation of the conversationsome [[censor]]ed [[unconscious]] [[desire]], Freud approaches her and looks deep into her mouth. He which is confronted with the unpleasant sight as a rule of scabs and curly structures like nasal bones. At this point, the a [[horrorsexuality|sexual]] suddenly changes to [[comedynature]]. Three doctors, friends At the beginning of Freud, among them one called Otto, appear and begin to enumerate, in ridiculous pseudo-professional ''[[jargonThe Interpretation of Dreams]]'', possible (and mutually exclusive) causes Freud provides a detailed interpretation of his own dream about "[[Irma’s infectioninjection]]. " If anyone had been to blame, it transpires in the dream, it The interpretation is Otto, because he gave Irma the injectionsurprisingly reminiscent of an old [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[joke]]: "Injections ought not to be made so thoughtlessly," the doctors conclude, "and probably the syringe had not been clean." So, the 'Did [[latent thoughtRabinovitch]]' articulated in win a new car on the dream is neither sexual nor unconscious, but Freud’s fully [[consciousstate]] wish to absolve himself of lottery?" "In [[responsibilityprinciple]] for the failure of Irma’s treatment, yes, he did. Only it was not a car but a bicycle, it was not new but old, and he did not win it, it was stolen from him!" How does this fit with Is a dream the thesis that dreams manifest [[unconsciousmanifest]] ation of the dreamer’s unconscious [[sexuality|sexual]] desire? In principle, yes. Yet in the dream Freud [[desirechose]]to demonstrate his theory of dreams, his desire is neither sexual nor unconscious, and, moreover, it's?not his own.

A crucial refinement is necessary here. The unconscious desire which animates the dream begins with a conversation between Freud and his [[dreampatient]] is not merely the dream’s [[latent thoughtIrma]], which is translated into its about the failure of her [[explicittreatment]] contentbecause of an infection caused by an injection. In the course of the conversation, but another Freud approaches her and looks deep into her mouth. He is confronted with the unpleasant [[unconscioussight]] of scabs and curly [[wishstructures]]like nasal bones. At this point, which inscribes itself in the dream through the ''[[Traumarbeithorror]]'' (‘suddenly changes to [[dream-workcomedy]]’). Three doctors, friends of Freud, among them one called Otto, appear and begin to enumerate, the in ridiculous pseudo-professional [[processjargon]] whereby , possible (and mutually exclusive) causes of Irma’s infection. If anyone had been to blame, it transpires in the latent thought dream, it is [[distortion|distorted]] into Otto, because he gave Irma the injection: "Injections ought not to be made so thoughtlessly," the doctors conclude, "and probably the dream’s explicit formsyringe had not been clean. " Here lies So, the '[[paradoxlatent thought]] of ' articulated in the dream-work: we want to get rid of a pressingis neither sexual nor unconscious, disturbing thought of which we are but Freud’s fully [[conscious, so we distort it, translating it into the ]] wish to absolve himself of [[hieroglyphresponsibility]] for the failure of the dreamIrma’s treatment. However, it is through How does this distortion fit with the [[thesis]] that another, much more fundamental dreams manifest [[unconscious]] [[sexuality|sexual]] [[desire]] encodes itself in the dream, and this desire is unconscious and sexual.s?

What A crucial refinement is necessary here. The unconscious desire which animates the ultimate meaning of Freud’s [[dream? In his own analysis, Freud focuses on ]] is not merely the dream-thought, on his 'superficial' dream’s [[wishlatent thought]] to be blameless in his , which is translated into its [[treatmentexplicit]] of [[Irmacontent]]. However, in the details of his but another [[interpretationunconscious]] there are hints of deeper motivations. The dream-encounter with Irma reminds Freud of several other women. The [[oralwish]] examination recalls another , which inscribes itself in the dream through the ''[[patientTraumarbeit]], a governess, who had appeared a 'picture of youthful beauty' until he looked into her mouth. Irma’s position by a window reminds him of a meeting with an 'intimate woman friend' of Irma’s of whom he 'had a very high opinion'; thinking about her now, Freud has 'every reason to suppose that this other lady, too, was a (‘[[hystericdream-work]]'. The scabs and nasal bones remind him of his own use of cocaine to reduce nasal swelling’), and of a the [[femaleprocess]] patient who, following his example, had developed an 'extensive necrosis of whereby the nasal mucous membrane'. His consultation with one of the doctors brings to mind an occasion on which Freud's treatment of a woman patient gave rise to a 'severe toxic state', to which she subsequently 'succumbed'; the patient had the same name as his eldest daughter, [[Mathildelatent]] thought is [[distortion|distorted]]. The into the dream’s explicit [[unconsciousform]] . Here lies the [[desireparadox]] of the dream-[[dreamwork]] is Freud’s : we [[wishwant]] to be get rid of a pressing, disturbing thought of which we are fully conscious, so we distort it, translating it into the 'primordial father' who possesses all [[hieroglyph]] of the dream. However, it is through this [[womendistortion]] that another, much more fundamental [[Irmadesire]] embodies encodes itself in the [[dream]], and this desire is unconscious and sexual.

HoweverWhat is the ultimate meaning of Freud’s dream? In his own [[analysis]], Freud focuses on the dream presents a further enigma: -thought, on his 'superficial'whose'' desire does it [[manifestwish]] to be blameless in his [[treatment]] of [[Irma]]? . Recent commentaries clearly establish that the true motivation behind However, in the details of his [[interpretation]] there are hints of deeper motivations. The dream was -[[encounter]] with Irma reminds Freud's desire to absolve of several other women. The [[oral]] examination recalls another [[Fliesspatient]], his close friend and collaboratora governess, who had appeared a 'picture of youthful beauty' until he looked into her mouth. Irma’s [[responsibilityposition]] and by a window reminds him of a meeting with an 'intimate woman friend' of Irma’s of whom he 'had a very high opinion'; [[guiltthinking]]. It was Fliess who botched Irma's nose operationabout her now, and the dreamFreud has 's desire is not every [[reason]] to exculpate Freud himselfsuppose that this other lady, but his friendtoo, who was, at this point, Freud’s a [[hysteric]]'. The scabs and nasal bones remind him of his own use of [[subject supposed cocaine]] to knowreduce nasal swelling, and of a [[female]]patient who, following his example, had developed an 'extensive necrosis of the nasal mucous membrane'. His consultation with one of the doctors brings to mind an occasion on which Freud's treatment of a woman patient gave rise to a 'severe toxic state', to which she subsequently 'succumbed'; the patient had the same [[objectname]] of as his eldest daughter, [[transferenceMathilde]]. The [[unconscious]] [[desire]] of the [[dream dramatises his ]] is Freud’s [[wish ]] to show that Fliess wasnbe the 'primordial father't responsible for who possesses all the medical failure, that he wasn’t lacking in [[knowledgewomen]]. The dream does manifest Freud’s desire – but only insofar as his desire is already the [[OtherIrma]]'s (Fliess’s) embodies in the [[desiredream]].

However, the dream presents a further enigma: ''whose'' desire does it [[manifest]]? Recent commentaries clearly establish that the [[true]] motivation behind the dream was Freud's desire to absolve [[Fliess]], his close friend and collaborator, of [[responsibility]] and [[guilt]]. It was Fliess who botched Irma's nose operation, and the dream's desire is not to exculpate Freud himself, but his friend, who was, at this point, Freud’s '[[subject supposed to know]]', the [[object]] of his [[transference]]. The dream dramatises his wish to show that Fliess wasn't [[responsible]] for the medical failure, that he wasn’t [[lacking]] in [[knowledge]]. The dream does manifest Freud’s desire – but only insofar as his desire is already the [[Other]]'s (Fliess’s) [[desire]]. Why do we dream? Freud’s answer is deceptively simple: the ultimate function of the dream is to enable the dreamer to stay asleep. This is usually [[interpreted ]] as bearing on the kinds of dream we have when some [[external ]] [[disturbance ]] – noise, for example – threatens to wake us. In such a [[situation]], the sleeper immediately begins to imagine a situation which incorporates this external stimulus and thereby is able to continue sleeping for a while longer; when the external stimulus becomes too strong, he finally wakes up. Are things really so straightforward? In another famous example from ''[[The Interpretation of Dreams]]'', an exhausted [[father]], whose young son has just died, falls asleep and dreams that the [[child]] is standing by his bed in flames, whispering the horrifying reproach: "[[Father, can’t you see I’m burning?]]" Soon afterwards, the father wakes to discover that a fallen candle has set fire to his dead son’s shroud. He had smelled the smoke while asleep, and incorporated the [[image]] of his burning son into his dream to prolong his sleep. Had the father woken up because the external stimulus became too strong to be contained within the dream-scenario? Or was it the obverse, that the father constructed the dream in order to prolong his sleep, but what he encountered in the dream was much more unbearable even than [[external reality]], so that he woke up to escape into that [[reality]].

[[Adorno]] said that the [[Nazi]] motto "Deutschland, erwache!" actually meant its opposite: if you responded to this call, you could continue to [[sleep]] and dream (i.e. to avoid engagement with the [[real]] of [[social antagonism]]). In the first stanza of [[Primo Levi]]’s [[poetry|poem]] "[[Reveille]]" the [[concentration camp]] survivor recalls being in the camp, asleep, dreaming intense dreams about returning home, eating, telling his relatives his story, when, suddenly, he is woken up by the [[Polish]] kapo’s command "Wstawac!" ("Get up!"). In the second stanza, he is at home after the [[war]], well fed, having told his story to his [[family]], when, suddenly, he imagines hearing again the shout, "Wstawac!" The [[reversal]] of the [[relationship]] between [[dream]] and [[reality]] from the first stanza to the second is crucial. Their content is formally the same – the pleasant domestic [[scene ]] is interrupted by the [[injunction]] ‘Get up!’ – but in the first, the dream is cruelly interrupted by the wake-up call, while in the second, reality is interrupted by the imagined command. We might imagine the second example from The ''[[Interpretation of Dreams]]'' as belonging to the [[Holocaust]] survivor who, unable to save his son from the crematorium, is haunted afterwards by his reproach: "Vater, siehst du nicht dass ich verbrenne?" In our "[[society of the spectacle]]", in which what we [[experience]] as everyday reality more and more takes the form of the [[lie]] made real, [[Freud]]’s insights show their true [[value]]. Consider the interactive computer [[games]] some of us play [[compulsive]]ly, games which enable a [[neurotic]] weakling to adopt the [[screen]] persona of a macho [[aggressivity|aggressor]], beating up other [[men]] and [[violence|violently]] enjoying [[women]]. It’s all too easy to assume that this weakling takes refuge in [[cyberspace]] in order to escape from a dull, [[impotence|impotent]] [[reality]]. But perhaps the games are more telling than that. What if, in playing them, I articulate the [[perversion|perverse]] core of my [[personality]] which, because of [[ethics|ethico]]-[[social norms|social constraints]], I am not able to act out in real [[life]]? Isn’t my [[virtual]] persona in a way "[[more real than reality]]"? Isn’t it precisely because I am aware that this is 'just a [[game]]' that in it I can do what I would never be able to in the real [[world]]? In this precise sense, as [[Lacan]] put it, [[the Truth has the structure of a fiction]]: what appears in the guise of dreaming, or even daydreaming, is sometimes the [[truth]] on whose [[repression]] [[social reality]] itself is founded. Therein resides the ultimate lesson of ''[[The Interpretation of Dreams]]'': [[reality]] is for those who cannot sustain the [[dream]].

In our "[[society of the spectacle]]", in which what we experience as everyday reality more and more takes the form of the [[lie]] made real, ==Source==* [[FreudLives!]]’s insights show their true value. Consider the interactive computer ''[[gamesLondon]] some Review of us play [[compulsive]]ly, games which enable a [[neurotic]] weakling to adopt the screen persona of a macho [[aggressivity|aggressor]], beating up other [[men]] and [[violence|violently]] enjoying [[women]]Books''. It’s all too easy to assume that this weakling takes refuge in Volume. 28 [[cyberspaceNumber]] in order to escape from a dull10. May 25, [[impotence|impotent]] [[reality]]2006. <http://www. But perhaps the games are more telling than thatlrb. What if, in playing them, I articulate the [[perversion|perverse]] core of my [[personality]] which, because of [[ethics|ethico]]-[[social norms|social constraints]], I am not able to act out in real life? Isn’t my [[virtual]] persona in a way "[[more real than reality]]"? Isn’t it precisely because I am aware that this is 'just a game' that in it I can do what I would never be able to in the real world? In this precise sense, as [[Lacan]] put it, [[the Truth has the structure of a fiction]]: what appears in the guise of dreaming, or even daydreaming, is sometimes the [[truth]] on whose [[repression]] [[social reality]] itself is foundedco. Therein resides the ultimate lesson of ''[[The Interpretation of Dreams]]'': [[reality]] is for those who cannot sustain the [[dream]]uk/v28/n10/zize01_.html>