Difference between revisions of "Knowledge"

From No Subject - Encyclopedia of Psychoanalysis
Jump to: navigation, search
(Absolute Knowledge)
(The LinkTitles extension automatically added links to existing pages (<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://github.com/bovender/LinkTitles">https://github.com/bovender/LinkTitles</a>).)
 
(24 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Top}}connaissance]]''/''[[savoir{{Bottom}}
+
{{Topp}}connaissance]]''/''[[savoir{{Bottom}}
 +
 
 +
In [[Lacan]] ''connaissance'' (with its inevitable concomitant, "''[[méconnaissance]]''") belongs to the [[imaginary]] [[order|register]], while ''savoir'' belongs to the [[symbolic]] [[order|register]].<ref>{{Ec}} p. 281</ref>
  
 
==Jacques Lacan==
 
==Jacques Lacan==
 
+
===Definition===
The term "[[knowledge]]" has two meanings in [[Lacan]]'s [[Jacques Lacan:Bibliography|work]]:
+
The term "[[knowledge]]" has two [[meanings]] in [[Lacan]]'s [[Jacques Lacan:Bibliography|work]]. [[Lacan]] distinguishes between two types of [[knowledge]]:
 
 
[[Lacan]] distinguishes between two types of [[knowledge]]:
 
 
 
 
* [[knowledge|imaginary knowledge]] ([[French]]: '''''[[connaissance]]''''') -- the [[knowledge]] of the '''[[ego]]''', and  
 
* [[knowledge|imaginary knowledge]] ([[French]]: '''''[[connaissance]]''''') -- the [[knowledge]] of the '''[[ego]]''', and  
 
 
* [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]] ([[French]]: '''''[[savoir]]''''') -- the [[knowledge]] of the '''[[subject]]'''.
 
* [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]] ([[French]]: '''''[[savoir]]''''') -- the [[knowledge]] of the '''[[subject]]'''.
  
 +
==''Savoir''==
 +
[[knowledge|Symbolic knowledge]] refers to both the [[knowledge]] of the '''[[subject]]''''s ''relation'' to the '''[[symbolic]] [[order]]''', and also to that ''relation'' itself. It is the articulation of '''[[signifier]]s''' in the [[subject]]'s [[symbolic|symbolic universe]], the '''[[signifying chain]]''' ([[Image:SS2.gif]]).
  
=====Symbolic Knowledge=====
+
===Unknown Knowledge===
[[knowledge|Symbolic knowledge]] refers to both the [[knowledge]] of the '''[[subject]]''''s ''relation'' to the '''[[symbolic]] [[order]]''', and also to that ''relation'' itself.
+
The "'''[[unconscious]]'''" is simply [[another]] [[name]] for [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]] insofar as it is an "[[knowledge|unknown knowledge]]," a [[knowledge]] which the [[subject]] ''does not know it knows''.
 
 
It is the articulation of '''[[signifier]]s''' in the [[subject]]'s [[symbolic|symbolic universe]], the '''[[signifying chain]]''' ([[Image:SS2.gif]]).
 
 
 
 
 
=====Unknown Knowledge=====
 
The "'''[[unconscious]]'''" is simply another name for [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]] insofar as it is an "[[knowledge|unknown knowledge]]," a [[knowledge]] which the [[subject]] ''does not know it knows''.
 
 
 
 
 
=====Absolute Knowledge=====
 
[[Knowledge|Symbolic knowledge]] is the [[end of analysis|aim]] of '''[[treatment|psychoanalytic treatment]]''', and the only means of access to this [[knowledge]] is via a particular form of [[speech]] called '''[[free association]]'''.
 
  
'''[[treatment|Psychoanalytic treatment]]''' aims toward the ''[[progress|progressive reveletion]]'' of this [[knowledge]] to the [[subject]], rather than toward "'''[[dialectic|absolute knowledge]]'''" because the [[unconscious]] is irreducible; there is an inescapable '''[[split|division]]''' between the '''[[subject]]''' and '''[[knowledge]]'''.
+
===Absolute Knowledge===
 +
'''[[treatment|Psychoanalytic treatment]]''' involves a way to access [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]], via a [[particular]] [[form]] of [[speech]] called '''[[free association]]'''. The [[end of analysis|aim]] of '''[[treatment|psychoanalytic treatment]]''' is the ''[[progress|progressive reveletion]]'' of [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]] to the [[subject]], rather than "[[knowledge|absolute knowledge]]," because the [[unconscious]] is irreducible; there is an inescapable '''[[split|division]]''' between the '''[[subject]]''' and '''[[knowledge]]'''.
  
'''[[treatment|Psychoanalytic treatment]]''' does not aim toward "'''[[dialectic|absolute knowledge]]'''" but rather toward the ''[[progress|progressive reveletion]]'' of [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]] to the [[subject]], because the [[unconscious]] is irreducible; there is an inescapable '''[[split|division]]''' between the '''[[subject]]''' and '''[[knowledge]]'''.
+
===''Jouissance''' of the Other===
 
+
[[Knowledge|Symbolic knowledge]] is [[knowledge]] of the '''[[truth]]''' [[about]] one's '''[[unconscious]] [[desire]]'''. In this [[sense]], [[knowledge]] is a form of '''''[[jouissance]]''''': "[[knowledge]] is the '''''[[jouissance]]''''' of the '''[[Other]]'''."<ref>{{S17}} p. 13</ref>
The [[end of analysis|aim]] of '''[[treatment|psychoanalytic treatment]]''' is the ''[[progress|progressive reveletion]]'' of [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]] to the [[subject]], rather than "[[knowledge|absolute knowledge]]," because the [[unconscious]] is irreducible; there is an inescapable '''[[split|division]]''' between the '''[[subject]]''' and '''[[knowledge]]'''.
 
 
 
=====''Jouissance''' of the Other=====
 
[[Knowledge|Symbolic knowledge]] is [[knowledge]] of the '''[[truth]]''' about one's '''[[unconscious]] [[desire]]'''.
 
 
 
In this sense, [[knowledge]] is a form of '''''[[jouissance]]''''': "[[knowledge]] is the ''[[jouissance]]'' of the [[Other]]."<ref>{{S17}} p.13</ref>
 
 
 
[[Knowledge]] in this sense is a form of '''''[[jouissance]]''''': "[[knowledge]] is the ''[[jouissance]]'' of the [[Other]]."<ref>{{S17}} p.13</ref>
 
  
 
===Subject Supposed to Know===
 
===Subject Supposed to Know===
[[Symbolic]] [[knowledge]] does not reside in any particular [[subject]], nor in the [[Other]] (which is not a [[subject]] but a locus), but is [[intersubjective]].
+
[[knowledge|Symbolic knowledge]] does not reside in any particular [[subject]], but is '''[[intersubjective]]'''. However, this does not prevent one supposing that somewhere there is a [[subject]] who possesses this [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]] (the '''[[subject supposed to know]]''').  The [[knowledge]] is ''attributed'' to the [[analyst]] by the [[analysand]] in [[treatment|psychoanalytic treatment]].  The [[analysand]] attributes [[knowledge]] to the [[analyst]] in [[treatment|psychoanalytic treatment]].
 
 
However, this does not prevent one supposing that somewhere there is a [[subject]] who possesses this [[knowledge| symbolic knowledge]] (the [[subject supposed to know]]).
 
  
 
==''Connaissance''==
 
==''Connaissance''==
===Imaginary Knowledge===
+
[[Knowledge|Imaginary knowledge]] refers to the [[knowledge|self-knowledge]] of the [[subject]] in the '''[[imaginary]] [[order]]'''. This [[delusion|illusory]] kind of [[knowledge]], based on [[méconnaissance|misunderstanding]], [[méconnaissance|misrecognition]] (''[[méconnaissance]]''), and a [[fantasy]] of [[master|self-mastery]] and [[gestalt|unity]], is constitutive of the [[ego]].<ref>{{E}} p. 306</ref>
''[[Connaissance]]'' (and its necessary correlate, ''[[méconnaissance]]'') is the kind of [[knowledge|self-knowledge]] that belongs to the [[imaginary]] [[order]].
 
 
 
It is by misunderstanding and misrecognition (''[[méconnaissance]]'') that the [[subject]] comes to the [[knowledge|imaginary knowledge]] of himself (''me-connaissance'') which is constitutive of the [[ego]].<ref>{{E}} p.306</ref>
 
 
 
The [[ego]] is thus an [[illusory]] kind of [[knowledge|self-knowledge]] based on a [[fantasy]] of self-mastery and [[unity]].
 
 
 
==="Paranoiac Knowledge"===
 
[[Imaginary]] [[knowledge]] is called "[[knowledge|paranoiac knowledge]]" by [[Lacan]] because it has the same [[structure]] as [[paranoia]] (both involve a [[delusion]] of [[absolute knowledge]] and [[mastery]]), and because one of the preconditions of all [[human]] [[knowledge]] is the "paranoiac alienation of the ego."<ref>{{E}} p.2</ref>
 
  
===Imaginary Obstacle to Symbolic Knowledge===
+
===Paranoiac Knowledge===
[[Knowledge|Imaginary knowledge]] is an obstacle which hinders the [[subject]]s access to [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]].
+
[[knowledge|Imaginary knowledge]] is called "'''[[knowledge|paranoiac knowledge]]'''" because it has the same '''[[structure]]''' as '''[[paranoia]]''' (both involve the [[delusion]] of [[absolute knowledge]] and [[master|mastery]]), and because one of the preconditions of all [[knowledge|human knowledge]] is the "'''[[paranoiac]] [[alienation]] of the ego'''."<ref>{{E}} p. 2</ref>
  
[[Psychoanalytic treatment]] must therefore continually subvert the [[subject]]'s [[imaginary]] [[knowledge|self-knowledge]] in order to reveal the [[symbolic]] [[knowledge|self-knowledge]] which it blocks.
+
===Resistance===
 +
[[Knowledge|Imaginary knowledge]] is an ''[[resistance|obstacle]]'' which hinders the [[subject]]'s access to [[knowledge|symbolic knowledge]].  '''[[Treatment|Psychoanalytic treatment]]''' must therefore continually subvert the [[subject]]'s [[knowledge|imaginary]] [[knowledge|self-knowledge]] in order to reveal the [[knowledge|symbolic]] [[knowledge|self-knowledge]] which it blocks.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
Line 79: Line 53:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 +
<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
</div>
  
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]

Latest revision as of 23:15, 23 May 2019

French: connaissance/savoir

In Lacan connaissance (with its inevitable concomitant, "méconnaissance") belongs to the imaginary register, while savoir belongs to the symbolic register.[1]

Jacques Lacan

Definition

The term "knowledge" has two meanings in Lacan's work. Lacan distinguishes between two types of knowledge:

Savoir

Symbolic knowledge refers to both the knowledge of the subject's relation to the symbolic order, and also to that relation itself. It is the articulation of signifiers in the subject's symbolic universe, the signifying chain (SS2.gif).

Unknown Knowledge

The "unconscious" is simply another name for symbolic knowledge insofar as it is an "unknown knowledge," a knowledge which the subject does not know it knows.

Absolute Knowledge

Psychoanalytic treatment involves a way to access symbolic knowledge, via a particular form of speech called free association. The aim of psychoanalytic treatment is the progressive reveletion of symbolic knowledge to the subject, rather than "absolute knowledge," because the unconscious is irreducible; there is an inescapable division between the subject and knowledge.

Jouissance' of the Other

Symbolic knowledge is knowledge of the truth about one's unconscious desire. In this sense, knowledge is a form of jouissance: "knowledge is the jouissance of the Other."[2]

Subject Supposed to Know

Symbolic knowledge does not reside in any particular subject, but is intersubjective. However, this does not prevent one supposing that somewhere there is a subject who possesses this symbolic knowledge (the subject supposed to know). The knowledge is attributed to the analyst by the analysand in psychoanalytic treatment. The analysand attributes knowledge to the analyst in psychoanalytic treatment.

Connaissance

Imaginary knowledge refers to the self-knowledge of the subject in the imaginary order. This illusory kind of knowledge, based on misunderstanding, misrecognition (méconnaissance), and a fantasy of self-mastery and unity, is constitutive of the ego.[3]

Paranoiac Knowledge

Imaginary knowledge is called "paranoiac knowledge" because it has the same structure as paranoia (both involve the delusion of absolute knowledge and mastery), and because one of the preconditions of all human knowledge is the "paranoiac alienation of the ego."[4]

Resistance

Imaginary knowledge is an obstacle which hinders the subject's access to symbolic knowledge. Psychoanalytic treatment must therefore continually subvert the subject's imaginary self-knowledge in order to reveal the symbolic self-knowledge which it blocks.

See Also

References

  1. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p. 281
  2. Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre XVII. L'envers de la psychanalyse, 19669-70. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p. 13
  3. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 306
  4. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 2