Changes

prises four elements"[[quarternary]]" ([[Fr]]. Although Lacan's rejection of dualistic schemas in'[[quaternaire]]'')

Although [[Lacan]]'s rejection of dualistic schemas in favour of an emphasis on the triangular structure of the [[symbolic]] involves a predominance of triadic schemes in his work, Lacan also insists on the importance of fourfold schemes: 'A quadripartite structure has,

<blockquote>A quadripartite structure has, since the introduction of the unconscious, always been required in the con-struction of a subjective ordering.<ref>{{Ec}} p. 774</ref></blockquote>

The emphasis on the [[quaternary ]] first comes to the fore in Lacan's work ininthe early 1950s, and is perhaps due to the influence of Claude LÈvi-Strauss, whose work on the structure of the avunculate shows that the basic unit of kinship always involves a minimum of four terms.<ref>LÈvi-Strauss, 1945</ref>

Thus, in a 1953 paper which deals with the early 1950sneurotic's 'individual myth' (another reference to LÈvi-Strauss), Lacan remarks that "there is within the neurotic a quartet situation,"<ref>Lacan, 1953b: 231</ref> and is perhaps due to adds that this quartet can demonstrate the particularities of each case of neurosis more rigorously than the influence traditional triangular thematisation of Claude LÈvi-Straussthe Oedipus complex.<ref>Lacan,1953b:232</ref>

whose work on the structure of the avunculate shows He concludes that "the basic unit ofwhole oedipal schema needs to be re-examined."<ref>Lacan, 1953b: 235</ref>

kinship always involves a minimum Thus, in addition to the three elements of four terms the Oedipus complex (LÈvi-Straussmother, 1945child, father), Lacan often speaks of a fourth element; sometimes he argues that this fourth element is [[death]],<ref>Lacan, 1953b: 237; S4, 431</ref> and at other times he argues that it is the [[phallus]].<ref>{{S3}} p. Thus,319</ref>

reference to LÈvi-Strauss), Lacan remarks that 'there is within the neurotic a quartet situation' (Lacan, 1953b: 231), and adds that this quartet can demon- strate the particularities of each case of neurosis more rigorously than the traditional triangular thematisation of the Oedipus complex (Lacan, 1953b: 232). He concludes that 'the whole oedipal schema needs to be re-examined' (Lacan, 1953b: 235). Thus, in addition to the three elements of the Oedipus complex (mother, child, father), Lacan often speaks of a fourth element; sometimes he argues that this fourth element iS DEATH (Lacan, 1953b: 237; S4, 431), and at other times he argues that it is the [[Phallus]] (S3, 319).  In 1955, Lacan goes on to compare psychoanalytic treatment to bridge, '"a game for four players' (."<ref>{{E, }} p.139; see E, 229-30). In the same year, he describes a quaternary made up of a triadic structure plus a fourth element (the LETTER) which circulates among these three elements (Lacan, 1955a).  Other important quaternary structures which appear in Lacan's work are SCHEMA L (which has four nodes), the four partial drives and their four corresponding part-objects, and the four discourses (each of which has four symbols assigned to four places). Lacan also enumerates four 'fundamental concepts of psychoanalysis' (Lacan, 1964a), and speaks of the sinthome as a fourth ring which prevents the other three rings in the [[BORROMEAN KNOT]] (the     three orders of the [[Real]], the [[Symbolic]] and the [[Imaginary]]) from becoming separated.230</ref>

[[Category:Psychoanalysis]][[Category:Dictionary]][[Category:Jacques Lacan]]