Difference between revisions of "Jacques Lacan:The Subject of the Unconscious"
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THE UNCONSCIOUS AS GAP OR RUPTURE | THE UNCONSCIOUS AS GAP OR RUPTURE | ||
| − | The [[unconscious]] must "be apprehended in its experience of rupture, between [[perception]] and [[consciousness]], in that [[time|nontemporal locus]]... [[Freud]] calls [[scene|another scene]]."<ref>{{S11}}: 56</ref> | + | The [[unconscious]] must "be apprehended in its [[experience]] of rupture, between [[perception]] and [[consciousness]], in that [[time|nontemporal locus]]... [[Freud]] calls [[scene|another scene]]."<ref>{{S11}}: 56</ref> |
| − | The [[unconscious]] manifests itself at those moments in which processes beyond [[consciousness|conscious thought]] disrupt [[speech]], points when [[language]] fails. [[Lacan]] defines the [[unconscious]] in terms of "impediment", "failure" and "splitting". The [[unconscious]] ''is'' precisely this [[gap]] or [[gap|rupture]] in the [[symbolic]] [[signifyin chain|chain]]. | + | The [[unconscious]] manifests itself at those moments in which [[processes]] beyond [[consciousness|conscious thought]] disrupt [[speech]], points when [[language]] fails. [[Lacan]] defines the [[unconscious]] in [[terms]] of "impediment", "failure" and "[[splitting]]". The [[unconscious]] ''is'' precisely this [[gap]] or [[gap|rupture]] in the [[symbolic]] [[signifyin chain|chain]]. |
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| − | That the unconscious is structured like a language is Lacan's central thesis and probably his most influential contribution to psychoanalysis | + | That the unconscious is [[structured]] like a language is Lacan's central [[thesis]] and probably his most influential contribution to [[psychoanalysis]] |
The [[unconscious]] is governed by the rules of the [[signifier]] as it is [[language]] | The [[unconscious]] is governed by the rules of the [[signifier]] as it is [[language]] | ||
| − | We can only know the unconscious through speech and language; therefore. | + | We can only [[know]] the unconscious through speech and language; therefore. |
| − | the unconscious is constituted through the subject's articulation in the symbolic order. The Lacanian unconscious is not an individual unconscious, in the sense that Freud speaks of the unconscious | + | the unconscious is constituted through the [[subject]]'s articulation in [[the symbolic]] [[order]]. The [[Lacanian]] unconscious is not an [[individual]] unconscious, in the [[sense]] that Freud speaks of the unconscious |
| − | The Lacanian unconscious is rather the effect of a trans-individual symbolic order upon the subject. We can draw from this three related theses: | + | The Lacanian unconscious is rather the effect of a trans-individual [[symbolic order]] upon the subject. We can draw from this [[three]] related theses: |
| − | # The unconscious is not biological but is something that signifies. | + | # The unconscious is not [[biological]] but is something that signifies. |
# The unconscious is the effect - the impact - upon the subject of the trans-individual symbolic order. | # The unconscious is the effect - the impact - upon the subject of the trans-individual symbolic order. | ||
# The unconscious is structured like a language. | # The unconscious is structured like a language. | ||
| − | Fink argues that the Lacanian unconscious is not only structured like a language but is language, insofar as it is language that makes up the unconscious. This involves us in rethinking, however, what we mean by language. Language, for Lacan, designates not simply verbal speech or written text but any signifying system that is based upon differential relations. The unconscious is structured like a language in the sense that it is a signifying process that involves coding and decoding, or ciphering and deciphering. The unconscious comes into being in the symbolic order in the gap between signifier and signified, through the sliding of the signified beneath the signifier and the failure of meaning to be fixed (see Chapter 2). In short, the unconscious is something that signifies and must be deciphered. | + | Fink argues that the Lacanian unconscious is not only structured like a language but is language, insofar as it is language that makes up the unconscious. This involves us in rethinking, however, what we mean by language. Language, for Lacan, designates not simply [[verbal]] speech or written [[text]] but any signifying [[system]] that is based upon differential relations. The unconscious is structured like a language in the sense that it is a signifying [[process]] that involves coding and decoding, or ciphering and deciphering. The unconscious comes into [[being]] in the symbolic order in the gap between signifier and [[signified]], through the sliding of the signified beneath the signifier and the failure of [[meaning]] to be fixed (see Chapter 2). In short, the unconscious is something that signifies and must be deciphered. |
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| − | [[Lacan]] defines the [[unconscious]] as the "[[discourse]] of the [[Other]]."<ref>* "[[Subversion du sujet et dialectique du désir dans l'inconscient freudien]]." ''[[Écrits]]''. Paris: Seuil, 1966: 793-827 ["[[The subversion of the subject and the dialectic of desire in the Freudian unconscious]]." Trans. [[Alan Sheridan]] ''[[Écrits: A Selection]]''. London: Tavistock, 1977; New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 1977: 292-325]. </ref> | + | [[Lacan]] defines the [[unconscious]] as the "[[discourse]] of the [[Other]]."<ref>* "[[Subversion du sujet et dialectique du désir dans l'inconscient freudien]]." ''[[Écrits]]''. [[Paris]]: Seuil, 1966: 793-827 ["[[The subversion of the subject and the dialectic of desire in the Freudian unconscious]]." Trans. [[Alan Sheridan]] ''[[Écrits: A Selection]]''. [[London]]: Tavistock, 1977; New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 1977: 292-325]. </ref> |
Revision as of 01:31, 25 May 2019
THE UNCONSCIOUS AS GAP OR RUPTURE
The unconscious must "be apprehended in its experience of rupture, between perception and consciousness, in that nontemporal locus... Freud calls another scene."[1]
The unconscious manifests itself at those moments in which processes beyond conscious thought disrupt speech, points when language fails. Lacan defines the unconscious in terms of "impediment", "failure" and "splitting". The unconscious is precisely this gap or rupture in the symbolic chain.
That the unconscious is structured like a language is Lacan's central thesis and probably his most influential contribution to psychoanalysis
The unconscious is governed by the rules of the signifier as it is language
We can only know the unconscious through speech and language; therefore.
the unconscious is constituted through the subject's articulation in the symbolic order. The Lacanian unconscious is not an individual unconscious, in the sense that Freud speaks of the unconscious
The Lacanian unconscious is rather the effect of a trans-individual symbolic order upon the subject. We can draw from this three related theses:
- The unconscious is not biological but is something that signifies.
- The unconscious is the effect - the impact - upon the subject of the trans-individual symbolic order.
- The unconscious is structured like a language.
Fink argues that the Lacanian unconscious is not only structured like a language but is language, insofar as it is language that makes up the unconscious. This involves us in rethinking, however, what we mean by language. Language, for Lacan, designates not simply verbal speech or written text but any signifying system that is based upon differential relations. The unconscious is structured like a language in the sense that it is a signifying process that involves coding and decoding, or ciphering and deciphering. The unconscious comes into being in the symbolic order in the gap between signifier and signified, through the sliding of the signified beneath the signifier and the failure of meaning to be fixed (see Chapter 2). In short, the unconscious is something that signifies and must be deciphered.
THE UNCONSCIOUS IS THE DISCOURSE OF THE OTHER
Lacan defines the unconscious as the "discourse of the Other."[2]
- ↑ 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.: 56
- ↑ * "Subversion du sujet et dialectique du désir dans l'inconscient freudien." Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966: 793-827 ["The subversion of the subject and the dialectic of desire in the Freudian unconscious." Trans. Alan Sheridan Écrits: A Selection. London: Tavistock, 1977; New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 1977: 292-325].
