Difference between revisions of "Matheme"
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<!-- The [[matheme]] is a concept introduced in the [[{{LB}}|work]] of [[Jacques Lacan]]. The "[[matheme]]" is a neologism coined by [[Jacques Lacan]] in the early 1970s. Formed by derivation from "[[mathematics]]" and by analogy with [[phoneme]] and [[Lévi-Strauss]]'s [[mytheme]],<ref>''Mytheme'' is a term coined by [[Claude Lévi-Strauss]] to denote the basic constituents of mythological systems.</ref> the term is an equivalent to "[[algebra|mathematical sign]]". It is not used in conventional [[mathematics]], but is part of [[Lacan]]'s [[algebra]]. --> | <!-- The [[matheme]] is a concept introduced in the [[{{LB}}|work]] of [[Jacques Lacan]]. The "[[matheme]]" is a neologism coined by [[Jacques Lacan]] in the early 1970s. Formed by derivation from "[[mathematics]]" and by analogy with [[phoneme]] and [[Lévi-Strauss]]'s [[mytheme]],<ref>''Mytheme'' is a term coined by [[Claude Lévi-Strauss]] to denote the basic constituents of mythological systems.</ref> the term is an equivalent to "[[algebra|mathematical sign]]". It is not used in conventional [[mathematics]], but is part of [[Lacan]]'s [[algebra]]. --> | ||
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| + | ==Schema L== | ||
| + | [[Image:Lacan-schemal.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Schema L]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1955, [[Lacan]] introduced what could be called his first [[matheme]], the relatively simple "'''[[schema L]]'''", illustrating the [[imaginary|imaginary function]] of the [[ego]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''[[Schema L]]''' [[identification|identifies]] four points in the [[signifying chain]]: | ||
| + | # [[Image:Biga.gif]], the [[unconscious]] or the "[[discourse]] of the [[Other]]]", and then . | ||
| + | # [[Image:Smalls.gif]], the [[subject]], which in turn results from the relation between | ||
| + | # [[Image:Smalla.gif]], the [[ego]] and | ||
| + | # [[Image:Smalla'.gif]], the [[counterpart|other]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Signifier== | ||
| + | [[Image:SAUSSUREANALGORITHM.gif|thumb|100px|right|Saussurean algorithm|The Saussurean algorithm]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Perhaps the most familiar [[matheme]] is the "[[matheme|algorithm]]" which in 1957 replaces [[Saussure]]'s simple diagram / arbor with the notion '''S/s'''. In 1957, [[Lacan]] replaces [[Saussure]]'s diagram of the [[sign]] with what is now referred to as the "'''[[Saussurean algorithm]]'''".<ref>{{E}} p. 149</ref> The [[matheme]] links the [[law]]s of the [[unconscious]] discovered by [[Freud]] to the [[law]]s of [[language]] ([[metaphor]] and [[metonymy]]). | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is to be understood as demonstrating that the [[signifier]] is above the [[signified]] , showing the primacy of the [[signifier]] (which is capitalized, whereas the [[signifier]] is reduced to mere lower-case italic), and that the two are separated by a [[bar]] that resists [[signification]] and forces the [[signifier]] to [[slip|slide]] endlessly.<ref>{{L}} "[[The Agency of the Letter in the Unconscious or Reason Since Freud|L'instance de la lettre dans l'inconscient ou la raison depuis Freud]]." ''[[Écrits]]''. Paris: Seuil, 1966: 493-528 ["[[The Agency of the Letter in the Unconscious or Reason Since Freud|The agency of the letter in the unconscious or reason since Freud]]." Trans. [[Alan Sheridan]] ''[[Écrits: A Selection]]''. London: Tavistock, 1977; New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1977: 146-78].</ref> | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 05:49, 23 June 2007
| French: mathème |
The term mathème is a neologism which Lacan derives from the word "mathematics, presumably by analogy with the term mytheme (a term coined by Claude Lévi-Strauss to denote the basic constituents of mythological systems).[1] The mathemes are part of Lacanian algebra.
Schema L
In 1955, Lacan introduced what could be called his first matheme, the relatively simple "schema L", illustrating the imaginary function of the ego.
Schema L identifies four points in the signifying chain:
, the unconscious or the "discourse of the Other]", and then .
, the subject, which in turn results from the relation between
, the ego and
, the other.
Signifier
Perhaps the most familiar matheme is the "algorithm" which in 1957 replaces Saussure's simple diagram / arbor with the notion S/s. In 1957, Lacan replaces Saussure's diagram of the sign with what is now referred to as the "Saussurean algorithm".[2] The matheme links the laws of the unconscious discovered by Freud to the laws of language (metaphor and metonymy).
This is to be understood as demonstrating that the signifier is above the signified , showing the primacy of the signifier (which is capitalized, whereas the signifier is reduced to mere lower-case italic), and that the two are separated by a bar that resists signification and forces the signifier to slide endlessly.[3]
See Also
References
- ↑ Lévi-Strauss, Claude. 1955.
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 149
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. "L'instance de la lettre dans l'inconscient ou la raison depuis Freud." Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966: 493-528 ["The agency of the letter in the unconscious or reason since Freud." Trans. Alan Sheridan Écrits: A Selection. London: Tavistock, 1977; New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1977: 146-78].
- Lacan, Jacques. (1973) 'L'Etourdit' (The Twit). Scilicet, 4.
- Lacan, Jacques. (1975) [1972-73] Le Seminaire xx Encore. Paris, Seuil.
- Lacan, Jacques. (1976) Le Sinthome, Seminaire XXIII (1975-76), Ornicar? 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 [Provisional transcription].
- Lacan, Jacques. (1986) [1945-46] Esquisse. Ornicar? 36.
- Miller, Jacques-Alain. (1996) 'Retour de Granade: Savoir et satisfaction'. Revue de la cause Freudienne, 33: 7-15.
- Miller, Jacques-Alain. (1996) 'Le monologue de l'appard'. Revue de la cause Freudienne, 34: 7-18.
- Milner, Jean-Claude. (1995) L'Oeuvre Claire. Paris: Seuil.
