Difference between revisions of "Need"

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* [[desire]].
 
* [[desire]].
  
===Instinct===
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===Need and Instinct===
 
In the context of this distinction, "[[need]]" comes close to what [[Freud]] referred to as "[[instinct]]" (''[[Instinkt]]''); that is, a purely ''[[biological]]'' concept opposed to the realm of the [[drive]] (''[[Trieb]]'').
 
In the context of this distinction, "[[need]]" comes close to what [[Freud]] referred to as "[[instinct]]" (''[[Instinkt]]''); that is, a purely ''[[biological]]'' concept opposed to the realm of the [[drive]] (''[[Trieb]]'').
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===Need and Demand===
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[[Lacan]] bases this distinction on the fact that in order to satisfy his [[needs]] the infant must articulate them in [[language]]; in other words, the infant must articulate his [[needs]] in a "[[demand]]".
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However, in doing so, something else is introduced which causes a split between [[need]] and [[demand]]; this is the fact that every [[demand]] is not only an articulation of [[need]] but also an (unconditional) [[demand]] for [[love]].
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Now, althought the other to whom the [[demand]] is addressed (in the first instance, the [[mother]]) can and may supply the [[object]] which satisfies the infant's [[need]], she is never in a position to answer the [[demand]] for [[love]] unconditionally, because she too is divided.
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The result of this split between [[need]] and [[demand]] is an insatiable leftover, which is [[desire]] itself.
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===Need and Desire===
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[[Need]] is thus an intermittent tension which arises for purely organic reasons and which is discharged entirely by the specific action corresponding to the particular [[need]] in question.
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[[Desire]], on the other hand, is a constand force which can never be satisfied, the constant 'pressure' which underlies the [[drives]].

Revision as of 23:44, 29 July 2006

"Need" (Fr. besoin)

Need, Demand and Desire

Around 1958, Lacan develops an important distinction between three terms:

Need and Instinct

In the context of this distinction, "need" comes close to what Freud referred to as "instinct" (Instinkt); that is, a purely biological concept opposed to the realm of the drive (Trieb).

Need and Demand

Lacan bases this distinction on the fact that in order to satisfy his needs the infant must articulate them in language; in other words, the infant must articulate his needs in a "demand".

However, in doing so, something else is introduced which causes a split between need and demand; this is the fact that every demand is not only an articulation of need but also an (unconditional) demand for love.

Now, althought the other to whom the demand is addressed (in the first instance, the mother) can and may supply the object which satisfies the infant's need, she is never in a position to answer the demand for love unconditionally, because she too is divided.

The result of this split between need and demand is an insatiable leftover, which is desire itself.

Need and Desire

Need is thus an intermittent tension which arises for purely organic reasons and which is discharged entirely by the specific action corresponding to the particular need in question.

Desire, on the other hand, is a constand force which can never be satisfied, the constant 'pressure' which underlies the drives.