Difference between revisions of "Other"

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other/Other (autre/Autre)                 
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The "[[other]]" is perhaps the most [[complex]] term in [[Lacan]]'s [[work]]. {{Top}}[[autre]]]]'', ''[[Autre{{Bottom}}
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The 'other' is perhaps the most complex term in Lacan's work. When Lacan first begins to use the term, in the 1930s, it is not very salient, and refers simply to 'other people'. Although Freud does use the term 'other', speaking of both der Andere (the other person) and das Andere (otherness), Lacan seems to have borrowed the term from Hegel, to whose work Lacan        was introduced in      a series of lectures given by Alexandre KojËve at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes in 1933-9 (see KojËve, 1947).
 
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In 1955 Lacan draws a distinction between 'the little other' ('the other') and 'the [[big Other]]' ('the Other') (S2, ch. 19), a distinction which remains central throughout the rest of his work. Thereafter, in Lacanian algebra, the [[big Other]] is designated A (upper case, for French Autre) and the little other is designated a (lower case italicised, for French autre). Lacan asserts that an awareness of this distinction is fundamental to analytic practice: the analyst must be 'thoroughly imbued' with the difference between A and a (E, 140), so that he can situate himself in the place of Other, and not of the other (Ec, 454).
 
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1.    The little other is the other who is not [[Real]]ly other, but a reflection and projection of the EGo (which is why the symbol a can represent the little other and the ego interchangeably in SCHEMA L). He is simultaneously the [[Counterpart]] and the SPECULAR IMAGE. The little other is thus entirely inscribed in the [[Imaginary]] order. For a more detailed discussion of the development of the symbol a in Lacan's work, see oBJETPETITA.
 
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2.  The [[big Other]] designates radical alterity, an other-ness which transcends the illusory otherness of the [[Imaginary]] because it cannot be assimilated through identification. Lacan equates this radical alterity with language and the law, and hence the [[big Other]] is inscribed in the order of the [[Symbolic]]. Indeed, the [[big Other]] is the [[Symbolic]] insofar as it is particularised for each subject. The Other is thus both another subject, in his radical alterity and unassimilable uniqueness, and also the [[Symbolic]] order which mediates the relationship with that other subject.
 
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However, the meaning of 'the Other as another subject' is strictly secondary to the meaning of 'the Other as [[Symbolic]] order'; 'the Other must first of all be considered a locus, the locus in which speech is constituted' (S3, 274). It is thus only possible to speak of the Other as a subject in a secondary sense, in the sense that a subject may occupy this position and thereby 'embody' the Other for another subject (S8, 202).
 
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In arguing that speech originates not in the ego, nor even in the subject, but in the Other, Lacan is stressing that speech and language are beyond one's conscious control; they        come from another place, outside consciousness, and hence 'the unconscious is the discourse of the Other' (Ec, 16). In conceiving of the Other as a place, Lacan alludes to Freud's concept of psychical locality, in which the unconscious is described as 'the other scene (see SCENE).
 
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It is the mother who first occupies the position of the [[big Other]] for the child, because it is she who receives the child's primitive cries and retroactively sanctions them as  a particular message (see PUNCTUATION). The [[Castration Complex]] is formed when the child discovers that this Other is not complete, that there is a LACK in the Other. In other words, there is always a signifier missing from the treasury of signifiers constituted by the Other. The mythical complete Other (written A in Lacanian algebra) does not exist. In 1957 Lacan illustrates this incomplete Other graphically by striking a BAR through the symbol A, to produce A; hence another name for the castrated, incomplete Other is the barred Other.
 
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The Other is also 'the Other sex' (S20, 40). The Other sex is always [[Woman]], for both male and female subjects; 'Man here acts as the relay whereby the [[Woman]] becomes this Other for herself as she is this Other for him' (Ec, 732).
 
  
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==Jacques Lacan==
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[[Freud]] uses the term "[[other]]" to [[speak]] of ''[[Other|der Andere]]'' ("the other person") and ''[[Other|das Andere]]'' ("otherness"), but in the 1930s, when [[Lacan]] first begins to use the term, it is not very salient, and refers simply to "other [[people]]." The term seems to be borrowed from [[Hegel]], to whose work [[Lacan]] was introduced in a series of lectures given by [[Alexandre Kojève]] in 1933-9.
  
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==def==
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==Little and Big Other==
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other
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In 1955, [[Lacan]] draws a [[distinction]] between the "[[little other]]" and the "[[big Other]]" ("the [[Other]]"), a distinction which remains central throughout the rest of his work.<ref>{{S2}} Chapter 19</ref> Thereafter, in [[Lacan]]ian [[algebra]], the [[big Other]] is designated '''A''' (upper [[case]], for [[French]] ''[[Other|Autre]]'') and the [[little other]] is designated <i>'''a'''</i> (lower case italicized, for [[French]] ''[[Other|autre]]''). [[Lacan]] asserts that an [[awareness]] of this distinction is fundamental to [[analytic treatment|analytic practice]]: the [[analyst]] must be "thoroughly imbued" with the [[difference]] between '''A''' and <i>'''a'''</i>,<ref>{{E}} p. 140</ref> so that he can situate himself in the place of [[Other]], and not of the [[other]].<ref>{{Ec}} p. 454</ref>
  
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Like many terms in literary and cultural theory, other has an everyday use that only hints at its technical meaning in Lacanian psychoanalysis. Lacan actually designates two "others", one with a lower-case "o" (or "a" for autre in French) and one with a capital "O":
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===Little other (autre, "''a''") ===
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The [[little other]] is the [[other]] who is not, in fact, [[other]], but a [[reflection]] or [[projection]] of the [[ego]].<ref>This is why the symbol a can [[represent]] the little other and the ego interchangeably in [[schema L]].</ref> It is simultaneously the [[counterpart]] and the [[specular image]]. The [[little other]] is inscribed in the [[imaginary]] [[order]] as both the [[counterpart]] and the [[specular image]].
  
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other
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===Big Other (Autre, "A")===
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The [[mirror stage]] sets up an image of the ego as an [[Ideal-Ego]] for the [[subject]]. This Ideal-I becomes an "other" within the subject's experience of his or her "I", a component of a "self" that is internally divided.
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The [[big Other]] designates radical [[alterity]], an [[otherness]] which transcends the [[illusory]] [[other|otherness]] of the [[imaginary]] because it cannot be assimilated through [[identification]]. [[Lacan]] equates the [[big Other]] with [[language]] and the [[law]], and hence the [[big Other]] is inscribed in the [[symbolic]] [[order]]. Indeed, the [[big Other]] ''is'' the [[symbolic]] insofar as it is particularized for each [[subject]]. Thus, the [[Other]] is both another [[subject]] in its radical [[alterity]] and unassimilable uniqueness and also the [[symbolic]] [[order]] which mediates the [[relationship]] with that [[subject]].
  
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Other
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==Speech and the Other==
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The Other represents "other people," other subjects whom the individual encounters in social life, but for Lacan it also stands for language and the conventions of social life organized under the category of the law. Because language and the codes of human societies pre-exist any individual human being, these systems are "other" to the individual subject. The fact that subjects, themselves internally alienated, must employ the Other of language and the law to interact with other subjects is crucial to Lacan's theory of the psyche as well as to its practical application in therapy.
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However, the [[meaning]] of "the [[Other]] as another [[subject]]" is strictly secondary to the meaning of "the [[Other]] as [[symbolic]] [[order]]." "The Other must first of all be considered a locus, the locus in which speech is constituted."<ref>{{S3}} p. 274</ref> It is thus only possible to speak of the [[Other]] as a [[subject]] in a secondary [[sense]], in the sense that a [[subject]] may occupy this position and thereby "embody" the [[Other]] for another [[subject]].<ref>{{S8}} p. 202</ref>
  
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== def ==
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===Discourse of the Other===
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In contrast to the dominant Anglo-American [[ego-psychologist]]s of his time, Lacan considered the self as something constituted in the "Other", that is, the conception of the external. Lacan argues that the psychoanalytic movement towards understanding the ego as a coherent force with dominion over a person's psyche was rooted in a misunderstanding of Freud. In Lacan's view, the self remained in eternal internal conflict and that only extensive self-deceit made the situation bearable.  
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In arguing that [[speech]] originates not in the [[ego]] or even in the [[subject]] but in the [[Other]], [[Lacan]] is stressing that [[speech]] and [[language]] are beyond [[conscious]] [[control]]; they come from an [[other]] place, [[outside]] [[consciousness]], and hence "the [[unconscious]] is the [[discourse]] of the [[Other]]."<ref>{{Ec}} p. 16</ref> In conceiving of the [[Other]] as a [[place]], [[Lacan]] alludes to [[Freud]]'s [[concept]] of [[psychical locality]], in which the [[unconscious]] is described as "the [[other]] [[scene]]."
  
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His developmental theory of the objectified self was inspired by [[Ferdinand de Saussure]]'s insights into the relationship of the signifier and the signified - the role of language and reference in thought were central to his formulations, particularly the Symbolic.
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==Lack in the Other==
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It is the [[mother]] who first occupies the [[position]] of the [[big Other]] for the [[child]], because it is she who receives the [[child]]'s [[primitive]] cries and [[retroactively]] sanctions [[them]] as a [[particular]] [[message]]. The [[castration complex]] is formed when the [[child]] discovers that this [[Other]] is not [[complete]], that there is a [[lack]] in the [[Other]]. In other [[words]], there is always a [[signifier]] [[missing]] from the treasury of [[signifier]]s constituted by the [[Other]]. The [[mythical]] complete [[Other]] (written '''A''' in [[Lacan]]ian [[algebra]]) does not [[exist]]. In 1957 [[Lacan]] illustrates this incomplete [[Other]] graphically by striking a [[bar]] through the [[symbol]] '''<strike>A</strike>'''. Hence another [[name]] for the [[castrated]], incomplete [[Other]] is the ''[[barred]] [[Other]]''.
  
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===The Other Sex===
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The Other is also "the Other sex."<ref>{{S20}} p. 40</ref> The [[Other]] [[sex]] is always [[woman]], for both [[male]] and [[female]] [[subjects]].
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<blockquote>"[[Man]] here [[acts]] as the relay whereby the [[woman]] becomes this Other for herself as she is this [[Other]] for him."<ref>{{Ec}} p. 732</ref></blockquote>
  
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== [[Kid A In Alphabet Land]] ==
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==See Also==
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[[Image:Kida_o.gif |right|frame]]
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{{See}}
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'''Kid A In Alphabet Land Obliterates Another Obstinate Opponent - The Obnoxious Other!'''
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* [[Bar]]
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* [[Counterpart]]
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* [[Ego]]
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* [[Imaginary]]
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* [[Little other]]
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* [[Lack]]
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* [[Language]]
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* [[Law]]
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* [[Mother]]
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* ''[[Objet (petit) a]]''
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* [[Specular image]]
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* [[Subject]]
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* [[Symbolic]]
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* [[Unconscious]]
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* [[Woman]]
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{{Also}}
  
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You're Not My Brother - You're Another, Like Any Other! You Had Better Take Cover, 'Cuz If I Have My Druthers, You I Will Smother! - After I Take You As
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==References==
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[[Category:Kid A In Alphabet Land]]
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<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">
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<references />
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[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
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[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
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[[Category:Linguistics]]
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[[Category:Dictionary]]
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[[Category:Language]]
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[[Category:Symbolic]]
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[[Category:Concepts]]
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[[Category:Terms]]
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[[Category:Edit]]
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[[Category:New]]
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Latest revision as of 03:27, 15 June 2021

The "other" is perhaps the most complex term in Lacan's work.

French: [[autre]], Autre

Jacques Lacan

Freud uses the term "other" to speak of der Andere ("the other person") and das Andere ("otherness"), but in the 1930s, when Lacan first begins to use the term, it is not very salient, and refers simply to "other people." The term seems to be borrowed from Hegel, to whose work Lacan was introduced in a series of lectures given by Alexandre Kojève in 1933-9.

Little and Big Other

In 1955, Lacan draws a distinction between the "little other" and the "big Other" ("the Other"), a distinction which remains central throughout the rest of his work.[1] Thereafter, in Lacanian algebra, the big Other is designated A (upper case, for French Autre) and the little other is designated a (lower case italicized, for French autre). Lacan asserts that an awareness of this distinction is fundamental to analytic practice: the analyst must be "thoroughly imbued" with the difference between A and a,[2] so that he can situate himself in the place of Other, and not of the other.[3]

Little other (autre, "a")

The little other is the other who is not, in fact, other, but a reflection or projection of the ego.[4] It is simultaneously the counterpart and the specular image. The little other is inscribed in the imaginary order as both the counterpart and the specular image.

Big Other (Autre, "A")

The big Other designates radical alterity, an otherness which transcends the illusory otherness of the imaginary because it cannot be assimilated through identification. Lacan equates the big Other with language and the law, and hence the big Other is inscribed in the symbolic order. Indeed, the big Other is the symbolic insofar as it is particularized for each subject. Thus, the Other is both another subject in its radical alterity and unassimilable uniqueness and also the symbolic order which mediates the relationship with that subject.

Speech and the Other

However, the meaning of "the Other as another subject" is strictly secondary to the meaning of "the Other as symbolic order." "The Other must first of all be considered a locus, the locus in which speech is constituted."[5] It is thus only possible to speak of the Other as a subject in a secondary sense, in the sense that a subject may occupy this position and thereby "embody" the Other for another subject.[6]

Discourse of the Other

In arguing that speech originates not in the ego or even in the subject but in the Other, Lacan is stressing that speech and language are beyond conscious control; they come from an other place, outside consciousness, and hence "the unconscious is the discourse of the Other."[7] In conceiving of the Other as a place, Lacan alludes to Freud's concept of psychical locality, in which the unconscious is described as "the other scene."

Lack in the Other

It is the mother who first occupies the position of the big Other for the child, because it is she who receives the child's primitive cries and retroactively sanctions them as a particular message. The castration complex is formed when the child discovers that this Other is not complete, that there is a lack in the Other. In other words, there is always a signifier missing from the treasury of signifiers constituted by the Other. The mythical complete Other (written A in Lacanian algebra) does not exist. In 1957 Lacan illustrates this incomplete Other graphically by striking a bar through the symbol A. Hence another name for the castrated, incomplete Other is the barred Other.

The Other Sex

The Other is also "the Other sex."[8] The Other sex is always woman, for both male and female subjects.

"Man here acts as the relay whereby the woman becomes this Other for herself as she is this Other for him."[9]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book II. The Ego in Freud's Theory and in the Technique of Psychoanalysis, 1954-55. Trans. Sylvana Tomaselli. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge Unviersity Press, 1988. Chapter 19
  2. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p. 140
  3. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p. 454
  4. ↑ This is why the symbol a can represent the little other and the ego interchangeably in schema L.
  5. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book III. The Psychoses, 1955-56. Trans. Russell Grigg. London: Routledge, 1993. p. 274
  6. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre VIII. Le transfert, 1960-61. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1991. p. 202
  7. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p. 16
  8. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre XX. Encore, 1972-73. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1975. p. 40
  9. ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p. 732
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