Difference between revisions of "Lure"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | {{Top}}leurre{{Bottom}} | ||
| − | + | ==Translation== | |
| + | As Alan Sheridan points out in the short glossary he provides to his translation of [[Écrits]]: | ||
| + | <blockquote>"The French word translates variously 'lure' (for hawks, fish), 'decoy' (for birds), 'bait' (for fish), and the notion of 'allurement' and 'enticement.'"<ref>Sheridan, Alan. "Translator's Note", in {{E}} [1977]. p. xi</ref></blockquote> | ||
| − | + | ==Animal and Human Lures== | |
| + | [[Human]] [[being]]s are not the only [[animal]]s who are capable of setting [[lure]]s, and this fact is sometimes used to argue in favor of the [[existence]] of "[[lure|animal consciousness]]." | ||
| + | However, [[Lacan]] argues that it is important to distinguish between [[lure|animal lure]]s and [[lure|human lure]]s. | ||
| − | + | ==Animal Lures== | |
| − | + | [[Animal]]s can deceive by their camouflage or by "the feint by which an apparent straggler leads a predator away from the flock," but "there is nothing even there that transcends the function of lure in the service of need."<ref>{{E}} p. 172</ref> | |
| − | + | [[Lure|Animal lure]]s are extremely important in mating ceremonies where an [[animal]] must entice another into copulation, and this is also what lends [[human]] [[sexuality]] its strong [[imaginary]] element. | |
| + | <blockquote>"Sexual behavior is quite especially prone to the lure."<ref>{{S1}} p. 123</ref></blockquote> | ||
| − | == | + | ==Human Lures== |
| − | + | Whereas [[lure|animal lure]]s are straightforward, the [[human]] [[being]] is unique in being capable of a special kind of [[lure]] which involves a "[[lure|double deception]]." | |
| − | + | This is a kind of [[lure]] which involves ''deceiving by pretending to deceive'' (i.e. telling a [[truth]] that one expects to be taken for a lie).<ref>{{E}} p. 305</ref> | |
| − | " | + | ===Example=== |
| + | The classic example of the properly [[lure|human lure]] is the joke quoted by [[Freud]] (and often cited by [[Lacan]]) about the two Polish Jews: "Why do you tell me you are going to Cracow so I'll believe you are going to Lvov, when you are really going to Cracow?"<ref>{{E}} p. 173</ref> | ||
| + | Other [[animal]]s are incapable of this special kind of [[lure]] owing to the fact that they do not possess [[language]]. | ||
| − | + | ==See Also== | |
| − | + | * [[Language]] | |
| − | + | * [[Truth]] | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | == See Also== | ||
| − | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 41: | Line 39: | ||
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | [[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | ||
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | [[Category:Jacques Lacan]] | ||
| + | {{OK}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | __NOTOC__ | ||
Revision as of 19:27, 24 August 2006
| French: leurre |
Translation
As Alan Sheridan points out in the short glossary he provides to his translation of Écrits:
"The French word translates variously 'lure' (for hawks, fish), 'decoy' (for birds), 'bait' (for fish), and the notion of 'allurement' and 'enticement.'"[1]
Animal and Human Lures
Human beings are not the only animals who are capable of setting lures, and this fact is sometimes used to argue in favor of the existence of "animal consciousness."
However, Lacan argues that it is important to distinguish between animal lures and human lures.
Animal Lures
Animals can deceive by their camouflage or by "the feint by which an apparent straggler leads a predator away from the flock," but "there is nothing even there that transcends the function of lure in the service of need."[2]
Animal lures are extremely important in mating ceremonies where an animal must entice another into copulation, and this is also what lends human sexuality its strong imaginary element.
"Sexual behavior is quite especially prone to the lure."[3]
Human Lures
Whereas animal lures are straightforward, the human being is unique in being capable of a special kind of lure which involves a "double deception."
This is a kind of lure which involves deceiving by pretending to deceive (i.e. telling a truth that one expects to be taken for a lie).[4]
Example
The classic example of the properly human lure is the joke quoted by Freud (and often cited by Lacan) about the two Polish Jews: "Why do you tell me you are going to Cracow so I'll believe you are going to Lvov, when you are really going to Cracow?"[5]
Other animals are incapable of this special kind of lure owing to the fact that they do not possess language.
See Also
References
- ↑ Sheridan, Alan. "Translator's Note", in Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. [1977]. p. xi
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 172
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book I. Freud's Papers on Technique, 1953-54. Trans. John Forrester. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 123
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 305
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 173
