Difference between revisions of "Progress"

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progress ([[French]]:''progrès'')               
  
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[[Lacan]] claims that the idea of [[progress]], like other [[humanist]] [[:category:concepts|concepts]], is alien to his teaching:
  
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<blockquote>"There is not the slightest idea of progress in anything I articulate, in the sense that this term would imply a happy solution."<ref>{{Sl7}} p.122</ref></blockquote>
  
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In this respect, [[Lacan]] is a basically [[pessimistic]] thinker, and he finds support for such [[pessimism]] in the gloomier works of [[Freud]] such as [[Civilization and its Discontents]].
  
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These texts allow [[Lacan]] to argue that "Freud was in no way a progressive."<ref>{{S7}} p.183</ref>
  
progress (progrËs)                Lacan claims that the idea of progress, like other humanist concepts, is alien to his teaching: 'There is not the slightest idea of progress in anything I articulate, in the sense that this term would imply a happy solution' (Sl7, 122). In this respect, Lacan is a basically pessimistic thinker, and he finds support for such pessimism in the gloomier works of Freud such as Civilization and its Discontents (Freud, 1930a). These texts allow Lacan to argue that 'Freud was in no way a progressive' (S7, 183).
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[[Lacan]] rejects the idea of [[progress]] because it is based on a linear unidirectional concept of [[time]], and because it implies the possibility of [[synthesis]].
 
 
    Lacan rejects the idea of progress because it is based on a linear unidirectional concept of TIME, and also because it implies the possibility of synthesis (see DIALECTIc). Along with the idea of progress, Lacan rejects other related concepts such    as that of a unilinear sequence of phases of psychosexual [[development]].
 
 
 
    There is one sense, however, in which Lacan does speak of progress: the  progress in psychoanalytic TREATMENT. IDSOfaT RS treatment is a process which has a beginning and an end, when this treatment is moving and not 'stuck', we may speak of progress. The treatment is progressing as long as new material is emerging. Indeed, psychoanalytic treatment may be described as 'a progress towards truth' (E, 253).
 
 
 
  
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[[Lacan]] rejects other related concepts such as that of a unilinear sequence of [[phase]]s of psychosexual [[development]].
  
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There is one sense, however, in which [[Lacan]] does speak of [[progress]]: the [[progress]] in [[psychoanalytic]] [[treatment]].
  
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[[Treatment]] is a process which has a beginning and an [[end of analysis|end]].
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When the [[treatment]] is moving and not 'stuck', we may speak of [[progress]].
  
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Indeed, psychoanalytic treatment may be described as "a progress towards truth."<ref>{{E}} p.253</ref>
  
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==See Also==
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* [[Time]]
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* [[Development]]
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* [[Treatment]]
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
[[Category:Lacan]]
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[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Terms]]
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[[Category:Dictionary]]
 
[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Concepts]]
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
 
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]

Revision as of 14:12, 21 June 2006

progress (French:progrès)

Lacan claims that the idea of progress, like other humanist concepts, is alien to his teaching:

"There is not the slightest idea of progress in anything I articulate, in the sense that this term would imply a happy solution."[1]

In this respect, Lacan is a basically pessimistic thinker, and he finds support for such pessimism in the gloomier works of Freud such as Civilization and its Discontents.

These texts allow Lacan to argue that "Freud was in no way a progressive."[2]

Lacan rejects the idea of progress because it is based on a linear unidirectional concept of time, and because it implies the possibility of synthesis.

Lacan rejects other related concepts such as that of a unilinear sequence of phases of psychosexual development.

There is one sense, however, in which Lacan does speak of progress: the progress in psychoanalytic treatment.

Treatment is a process which has a beginning and an end. When the treatment is moving and not 'stuck', we may speak of progress.

Indeed, psychoanalytic treatment may be described as "a progress towards truth."[3]

See Also

References

  1. Template:Sl7 p.122
  2. Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book VII. The Ethics of Psychoanalysis, 1959-60. Trans. Dennis Porter. London: Routledge, 1992. p.183
  3. Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.253