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philosophy (philosophie)                  Freud regarded philosophy    as  one of the great cultural institutions, alongside art and religion        - the mark of a highly developed state of civilisation. However, he viewed the relationship between philosophy and  pychoanalysis in ambiguous terms. On the            one hand, he credited certain philosophers (such as Empedocles and Nietzsche) with having anticipated purely by intuition what psychoanalysts discovered only by laborious investigation (Freud, 1914d: SE XIV, 15-16). On the other hand, he repeatedly criticised philosophers for equating the psyche with consciousness and thus excluding the unconscious on purely a priori grounds (Freud, 1925e [1924]: SE XIX, 216-17), and likened philosophical systems to paranoiac [[Delusions]] (Freud, 1912-13: SE XIII, 73).
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{{Top}}philosophie{{Bottom}}
  
    In Lacan's work too there is an ambivalent relationship between psychoanalysis and philosophy. On the one hand, Lacan opposes psychoanalysis to the totalising explanations of philosophical systems (Sl, 118-19; S11, 77), and links philosophy with the discourse of the MASTER, the reverse of psychoanalysis (S20, 33). On the other hand, Lacan's work is full of philosophical references; indeed, this is often regarded as one of the features that distinguishes Lacan from other psychoanalytic thinkers. The philosophers most frequently referred to by Lacan are the following:
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== Philosophy and Freud ==
 +
[[Freud]] regarded "[[philosophy]]" as one of the great [[cultural]] institutions, alongside [[art]] and [[religion]] - the mark of a highly developed [[state]] of [[civilization]].  However, he viewed the [[relationship]] between [[philosophy]] and [[psychoanalysis]] in ambiguous [[terms]]. On the one hand, he credited certain philosophers (such as Empedocles and [[Nietzsche]]) with having anticipated purely by intuition what [[psychoanalysts]] discovered only by laborious investigation.<ref>{{F}} 1914d: [[SE]] XIV, 15-16</ref>. On the [[other]] hand, he repeatedly criticised philosophers for equating the [[psyche]] with [[consciousness]] and thus excluding the [[unconscious]] on purely ''a priori'' grounds,<ref>{{F}} 1925e [1924]: [[SE]] XIX, 216-17</ref> and likened philosophical systems to [[paranoia]]c [[delusions]].<ref>{{F}} 1912-13: [[SE]] XIII, 73</ref>
  
 +
== Philosophy and Lacan ==
 +
In [[Lacan]]'s [[work]] too there is an ambivalent relationship between [[psychoanalysis]] and [[philosophy]].  On the one hand, [[Lacan]] opposes [[psychoanalysis]] to the totalising explanations of philosophical systems,<ref>{{S1}} p.118-19; {{S11}} p.77</ref> and [[links]] [[philosophy]] with the [[discourse]] of the [[master]], the reverse of [[psychoanalysis]].<ref>{{S20}} p. 33</ref> On the other hand, [[Lacan]]'s work is [[full]] of philosophical references; indeed, this is often regarded as one of the features that distinguishes [[Lacan]] from other [[psychoanalytic]] thinkers.
 +
The philosophers most frequently referred to by [[Lacan]] are the following:
  
 +
=== Plato ===
 +
[[Lacan]] often compares the psychoanalytic method to the Socratic dialogue.  He also refers specifically to a [[number]] of [[Plato]]'s works, especially ''[[The Symposium]]'', to which he dedicates a large part of his 1960-1 [[seminar]].
  
e      Plato    Lacan often compares the psychoanalytic method to the Socratic dialogue (see DIALECTIc). He also refers specifically to a number of Plato's works, especially The Symposium, to which he dedicates a large part of his 1960-1 seminar.
+
=== Aristotle ===
 
+
[[Lacan]] discusses [[Aristotle]]'s typology of [[causality|causation]] in the 1964 seminar, and Aristotelian [[logic]] in the seminar of 1970-1.
 
 
 
 
ï      Aristotle    Lacan discusses Aristotle's typology of causation in the 1964
 
 
 
seminar (see CHANCE), and Aristotelian logic in the seminar of 1970-1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
e      Descartes    References to Descartes abound in Lacan's work, since he sees
 
 
 
the philosophy of the COGITO as summing up the very heart of the psychology of
 
 
 
modern man (S2, 6). The Lacanian concept of the subject is both the cartesian
 
 
 
subject (in its quest to move from doubt to certainty) and the subversion of the
 
 
 
cartesian subject.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
e      Kant    It is Kant's moral philosophy (the Critique of Practical Reason)
 
 
 
which most interests Lacan, and he discusses this at length both in his seminar
 
 
 
  on ethics (1959-60) and his essay on 'Kant with Sade' (1962). Lacan uses
 
 
 
Kant's categorical imperative to throw light on the Freudian concept of the
 
 
 
superego.
 
 
 
  e Hegel      Lacan attended a series of lectures on Hegel given by Alexandre
 
 
 
KojËve in 1933-9 at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes (these lectures were later
 
 
 
collected and published by Raymond Queneau;              see KojËve, 1947). The
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
influence of these lectures on his work, especially his earlier work, is immense,
 
 
 
and whenever Lacan refers to Hegel it is KojËve's reading of Hegel that he has
 
 
 
in mind. From Hegel Lacan takes (among other things)              an emphasis    on
 
 
 
dialectical modes of thought, the concept of the BEAUTIFUL SOUL, the dialectic
 
 
 
of the MASTER and the slave, and a distinction between animal and human
 
 
 
DESIRE.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  e Heidegger        Lacan established      a personal friendship with Heidegger,
 
 
 
visiting him and translating        some of his works. Heidegger's influence on
 
 
 
Lacan's work can be seen in Lacan's metaphysical discussions of BEING, and
 
 
 
in the distinction between full SPEECH and empty speech.
 
 
 
      These are only the philosophers to whom Lacan refers most frequently; he
 
 
 
also discusses the work of many other philosophers such as St Augustine,
 
 
 
Spinoza, Sartre, and others.
 
 
 
      Lacan's work engages with many philosophical schools and                areas of
 
 
 
enquiry. In his early work he shows a bent towards phenomenology, even
 
 
 
presenting a 'phenomenological description of the psychoanalytic experience'
 
 
 
in 1936 (Ec, 82-5), but he later becomes quite opposed to phenomenology, and
 
 
 
in 1964 presents a critique of Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception
 
 
 
(Sll, 71-6). Insofar as psychoanalysis engages with ontological questions,
 
 
 
Lacan aligns psychoanalysis with MATERIALISM, againSt all forms of idealism.
 
 
 
Lacan also engages with epistemology and the philosophy of SCIENCE, where
 
 
 
his constant approach is rationalist rather than empiricist.
 
 
 
      Further information on Lacan's relationship with philosophy is provided in
 
 
 
Juranville (1984), Macey (1988: ch. 4), Ragland-Sullivan (1986) and Samuels
 
 
 
(1993).
 
 
 
 
 
  
 +
=== Descartes ===   
 +
References to [[Descartes]] abound in [[Lacan]]'s work, since he sees the [[philosophy]] of the ''[[cogito]]'' as summing up the very heart of the [[psychology]] of modern man.<ref>{{S2}} p. 6</ref> The [[Lacan]]ian [[concept]] of the [[subject]] is both the [[subject|Cartesian subject]] (in its quest to move from [[doubt]] to [[certainty]]) and the [[subversion]] of the [[subject|Cartesian subject]].
  
 +
=== Kant ===
 +
It is [[Kant]]'s [[philosophy|moral philosophy]] (the ''[[Critique of Practical Reason]]'') which most interests [[Lacan]], and he discusses this at length both in his [[seminar]] on [[ethics]] (1959-60) and his essay on '[[Kant with Sade]]' (1962).  [[Lacan]] uses [[Kant]]'s [[categorical imperative]] to throw light on the [[Freud]]ian concept of the [[superego]].
  
 +
=== Hegel ===
 +
[[Lacan]] attended a series of lectures on [[Hegel]] given by [[Alexandre Kojeve]] in 1933-9 at the ''Ecole des Hautes [[Etudes]]''.  The influence of these lectures on his work, especially his earlier work, is immense, and whenever [[Lacan]] refers to [[Hegel]] it is [[Kojeve]]'s [[reading]] of [[Hegel]] that he has in [[mind]]. From [[Hegel]] [[Lacan]] takes (among other things) an emphasis on [[dialectic]]al modes of [[thought]], the concept of the [[beautiful soul]], the [[dialectic]] of the [[master]] and the [[slave]], and a [[distinction]] between [[animal]] and [[human]] [[desire]].
  
 +
=== Heidegger ===       
 +
[[Lacan]] established a personal [[friendship]] with [[Heidegger]], visiting him and translating some of his works. [[Heidegger]]'s influence on [[Lacan]]'s work can be seen in [[Lacan]]'s metaphysical discussions of [[being]], and in the distinction between [[speech|full speech]] and [[speech|empty speech]]. These are only the philosophers to whom [[Lacan]] refers most frequently; he also discusses the work of many other philosophers such as St [[Augustine]], [[Spinoza]], [[Sartre]], and [[others]]. [[Lacan]]'s work engages with many philosophical [[schools]] and areas of enquiry.  In his early work he shows a bent towards [[phenomenology]], even presenting a "[[phenomenological]] description of the psychoanalytic [[experience]]" in 1936,<ref>{{Ec}} pp. 82-5</ref> but he later becomes quite opposed to [[phenomenology]], and in 1964 presents a critique of [[Merleau-Ponty]]'s ''Phenomenology of [[Perception]]''.<ref>{{S11}} pp. 71-6</ref>  Insofar as [[psychoanalysis]] engages with [[ontological]] questions, [[Lacan]] aligns [[psychoanalysis]] with [[materialism]], against all forms of [[idealism]]. [[Lacan]] also engages with [[epistemology]] and the [[philosophy]] of [[science]], where his constant approach is rationalist rather than empiricist.
  
 +
==See Also==
 +
* [[Hegel]]
 +
* [[Heidegger]]
 +
* [[Kant]]
 +
* [[Merleau-Ponty]]
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
 +
<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
</div>
  
[[Category:Lacan]]
+
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Terms]]
+
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
[[Category:Concepts]]
 
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 +
[[Category:Dictionary]]
 +
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 21:02, 20 May 2019

French: philosophie

Philosophy and Freud

Freud regarded "philosophy" as one of the great cultural institutions, alongside art and religion - the mark of a highly developed state of civilization. However, he viewed the relationship between philosophy and psychoanalysis in ambiguous terms. On the one hand, he credited certain philosophers (such as Empedocles and Nietzsche) with having anticipated purely by intuition what psychoanalysts discovered only by laborious investigation.[1]. On the other hand, he repeatedly criticised philosophers for equating the psyche with consciousness and thus excluding the unconscious on purely a priori grounds,[2] and likened philosophical systems to paranoiac delusions.[3]

Philosophy and Lacan

In Lacan's work too there is an ambivalent relationship between psychoanalysis and philosophy. On the one hand, Lacan opposes psychoanalysis to the totalising explanations of philosophical systems,[4] and links philosophy with the discourse of the master, the reverse of psychoanalysis.[5] On the other hand, Lacan's work is full of philosophical references; indeed, this is often regarded as one of the features that distinguishes Lacan from other psychoanalytic thinkers. The philosophers most frequently referred to by Lacan are the following:

Plato

Lacan often compares the psychoanalytic method to the Socratic dialogue. He also refers specifically to a number of Plato's works, especially The Symposium, to which he dedicates a large part of his 1960-1 seminar.

Aristotle

Lacan discusses Aristotle's typology of causation in the 1964 seminar, and Aristotelian logic in the seminar of 1970-1.

Descartes

References to Descartes abound in Lacan's work, since he sees the philosophy of the cogito as summing up the very heart of the psychology of modern man.[6] The Lacanian concept of the subject is both the Cartesian subject (in its quest to move from doubt to certainty) and the subversion of the Cartesian subject.

Kant

It is Kant's moral philosophy (the Critique of Practical Reason) which most interests Lacan, and he discusses this at length both in his seminar on ethics (1959-60) and his essay on 'Kant with Sade' (1962). Lacan uses Kant's categorical imperative to throw light on the Freudian concept of the superego.

Hegel

Lacan attended a series of lectures on Hegel given by Alexandre Kojeve in 1933-9 at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes. The influence of these lectures on his work, especially his earlier work, is immense, and whenever Lacan refers to Hegel it is Kojeve's reading of Hegel that he has in mind. From Hegel Lacan takes (among other things) an emphasis on dialectical modes of thought, the concept of the beautiful soul, the dialectic of the master and the slave, and a distinction between animal and human desire.

Heidegger

Lacan established a personal friendship with Heidegger, visiting him and translating some of his works. Heidegger's influence on Lacan's work can be seen in Lacan's metaphysical discussions of being, and in the distinction between full speech and empty speech. These are only the philosophers to whom Lacan refers most frequently; he also discusses the work of many other philosophers such as St Augustine, Spinoza, Sartre, and others. Lacan's work engages with many philosophical schools and areas of enquiry. In his early work he shows a bent towards phenomenology, even presenting a "phenomenological description of the psychoanalytic experience" in 1936,[7] but he later becomes quite opposed to phenomenology, and in 1964 presents a critique of Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception.[8] Insofar as psychoanalysis engages with ontological questions, Lacan aligns psychoanalysis with materialism, against all forms of idealism. Lacan also engages with epistemology and the philosophy of science, where his constant approach is rationalist rather than empiricist.

See Also

References

  1. Freud, Sigmund. 1914d: SE XIV, 15-16
  2. Freud, Sigmund. 1925e [1924]: SE XIX, 216-17
  3. Freud, Sigmund. 1912-13: SE XIII, 73
  4. 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.118-19; Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book XI. The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, 1964. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1977. p.77
  5. Lacan, Jacques. Le Séminaire. Livre XX. Encore, 1972-73. Ed. Jacques-Alain Miller. Paris: Seuil, 1975. p. 33
  6. 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. p. 6
  7. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. pp. 82-5
  8. Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book XI. The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis, 1964. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis, 1977. pp. 71-6