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=====Definition=====The term [[sinthome ]] is, as [[Lacan]] points out, an archaic way of writing what has more recently been spelt [[symptôme]].

The term sinthome is, as =====Jacques Lacan points out, an archaic way of writing what has more recently been spelt symptÙme. ==========1975-6 Seminar=====[[Lacan ]] introduces the term in 1975, as the title for the 1975-6 [[seminar]], which is both a continuing elaboration of his [[topology]], extending the previous [[seminar]]'s focus on the BORROMEAN KNOT[[borromean knot]], and an exploration of the writings of [[James Joyce. Through this coincidentia oppositorum - bringing together mathematical theory and the intricate weave of the Joycean text - Lacan redefines the psychoanalytic symptom in terms of his final topology of the subject]].

1. Before the appearance of sinthome, divergent currents in LacanThrough this ''s thinking lead to different inflections of the concept of the SYMPTOM. As early as 1957, the symptom is said to be coincidentia oppositorum'inscribed in a writing process' (Ec, 445), which already implies a different view to that which regards the symptom as a ciphered message. In 1963 Lacan goes on to state that the symptom, unlike acting out, does not call for interpretation; in itself, it is not a call to the Other but a pure jouissance addressed to no one (Lacan, 1962-3: seminar of 23 January 1963; see Miller, 1987: 11). Such comments anticipate - bringing together [[mathematics|mathematical theory]] and the radical transformation intricate weave of Lacan's thought implicit in his shift from the linguistic definition of the symptom [[James Joyce|Joycean]] [[text]] - as a signifier - to his statement, in the 1974-5 seminar, that '[[Lacan]] redefines the [[psychoanalytic]] [[symptom can only be defined as the way ]] in which each subject enjoys [jouit[terms]] of his final [[topology] ] of the unconscious, in so far as the unconscious determines him' (Lacan, 1974-5: seminar of 18 February 1975)[[subject]].

This move from conceiving =====Development of the symptom as a message which can be deciphered by reference to the unconscious 'structured like a language', to seeing it as the trace Concept of the particular modality of the subject's jouissance, culminates in the introduction of the term sinthome. The sinthome thus designates a signifying formulation beyond analysis, a kernel of enjoyment immune to "Symptom"=====Before the efficacy [[appearance]] of the symbolic. Far from calling for some analytic 'dissolution', the [[sinthome is what 'allows one to live' by providing a unique organisation of jouissance. The task of analysis thus becomes]], divergent currents in one of [[Lacan]]'s last definitions [[thinking]] lead to different inflections of the end [[concept]] of analysis, to identify with the sinthome[[symptom]].

2. The theoretical shift from linguistics to topology which marks the final period of Lacan's work constitutes the true status of the sinthome =====Symptom Inscribed in Writing Process=====As early as unanalysable1957, and amounts the [[symptom]] is said to an exegetical problem beyond the familiar one of Lacan's dense rhetoric. The 1975-6 seminar extends the theory of the Borromean knot, which be "inscribed in the previous seminar had been proposed as the essential structure of the subject, by adding the sinthome as a fourth ring to the triad of the real, the symbolic and the imaginarywriting [[process]], tying together a knot which constantly threatens to come undone"<ref>{{Ec}} p. This knot is not offered as a model but as a rigorously non-metaphorical description of a topology 'before 445</ref> which the imagination fails' (Lacan, 1975-6: seminar of 9 December 1975). Since meaning (sens) is already figured within the knot, at the intersection of the symbolic and the imaginary (see Figure 1), it follows implies a different view to that which regards the function of the sinthome - intervening to knot together real, symbolic and imaginary - is inevitably beyond meaningsymptom as a ciphered [[message]].

3. =====Symptom as pure ''Jouissance''=====In 1963 [[Lacan had been an enthusiastic reader of Joyce since his youth (see ]] goes on to [[state]] that the references to Joyce in Ec[[symptom]], 25 and S20unlike [[acting out]], 37). In the 1975-6 seminardoes not call for [[interpretation]]; in itself, Joyce's writing it is read as an extended sinthome, not a fourth term whose addition call to the Borromean knot of RSI allows the subject [[Other]] but a pure ''[[jouissance]]'' addressed to cohereno one. Faced in his childhood by the radical non<ref>{{L}} 1962-function/absence (carence) of the Name-of-the-Father, Joyce managed to avoid psychosis by deploying his art as supplÈance, as a supplementary cord in the subjective knot3. Lacan focuses on Joyce's youthful 'epiphanies[[Seminar X|Le Séminaire. Livre X. L' (experiences of an almost hallucinatory intensity which were then recorded in enigmatic, fragmentary texts) as instances of angoisse]]'radical foreclosure', in which 'the real forecloses meaning' (seminar of 16 March 1976)1962-3, unpublished.</ref>

=====The Joycean text - Way in Which the Subject Enjoys the Unconscious=====Such comments anticipate the radical transformation of Lacan's [[thought]] implicit in his shift from the epiphany to Finnegans Wake [[linguistic]] definition of the [[symptom]] - entailed as a special relation [[signifier]] - to language; a 'destructive' refashioning of it as sinthomehis [[statement]], in the invasion of 1974-5 [[seminar]], that "the symbolic order by symptom can only be defined as the way in which each subject[[enjoys]] [''jouit''] the unconscious, in so far as the unconscious determines him."<ref>{{L}} 1974-5. 's private jouissance'[[Seminar XXII|Le Séminaire. Livre XXII. One of LacanRSI]]''s puns, synth1974-homme5, implies this kind of published in ''[[Ornicar?]]'artificial' self, nos. 2-creation5, 1975.</ref>

Lacan=====Symptom as the Particular Modality of the Subject's engagement with Joyce's writing does not, he insists, entail 'applied psychoanalysisJouissance''. Topological theory is not conceived =====This move from conceiving of the [[symptom]] as merely another kind of representational accounta [[message]] which can be deciphered by reference to the [[unconscious]] "[[structured]] like a language, but " to [[seeing]] it as a form the trace of the [[particular]] modality of writing, a praxis aiming to figure that which escapes the imaginary. To that extent, rather than a theoretical object or [[subject]]'s ''[[jouissance]]'case', Joyce becomes an exemplary saint homme who, by refusing any imaginary solution, was able to invent a new way culminates in the introduction of using language to organise enjoymentthe term ''[[sinthome]]''.

=====Identification with the ''Sinthome''=====The task of ''[[analysis]]'' thus becomes, in one of [[Lacan]]'s last definitions of the [[end of analysis]], to [[identify]] with the ''[[sinthome]]''. =====Shift from Linguistics to Topology=====The [[theoretical]] shift from [[linguistics]] to [[topology]] which marks the final period of Lacan's [[work]] constitutes the [[true]] status of the [[sinthome]] as unanalysable, and amounts to an exegetical problem beyond the familiar one of [[Lacan]]'s dense [[rhetoric]].  =====''Sinthome'' as Fourth Ring in Borromean Knot=====The 1975-6 [[seminar]] extends the [[theory]] of the [[borromean knot]], which in the previous seminar had been proposed as the essential [[structure]] of the [[subject]], by adding the ''[[sinthome]]'' as a fourth ring to the [[triad]] of the [[real]], the [[symbolic]] and the [[imaginary]], tying together a [[knot]] which constantly threatens to come undone.  This [[knot]] is not offered as a [[model]] but as a rigorously non-[[metaphorical]] description of a [[topology]] "before which the [[imagination]] fails."<ref>{{L}} 195-6. ''[[Seminar XXIII|Le Séminaire. Livre XXIII. Le sinthome, 1975-76]]'', published in ''[[Ornicar]]?'', nos 6-11, 1976-7. 9 December 1975.</ref> Since [[meaning]] (''sens'') is already figured within the [[knot]], at the intersection of the [[symbolic]] and the [[imaginary]], it follows that the function of the ''[[sinthome]]'' -- intervening to [[knot]] together [[real]], [[symbolic]] and [[imaginary]] - is inevitably beyond [[meaning]]. =====Writings of James Joyce=====[[Lacan]] had been an enthusiastic reader of [[Joyce]] since his youth.<ref>{{Ec}} p.25; {{S20}} p.37</ref>  In the 1975-6 [[seminar]], [[Joyce]]'s [[writing]] is read as an extended ''[[sinthome]]'', a fourth term whose addition to the [[borromean knot]] of ''RSI'' allows the [[subject]] to cohere.  Faced in his [[childhood]] by the radical non-function / [[absence]] (''carence'') of the [[Name-of-the-Father]], [[Joyce]] managed to avoid [[psychosis]] by deploying his [[art]] as ''suppléance'', as a supplementary cord in the [[subject]]ive [[knot]].  [[Lacan]] focuses on [[Joyce]]'s youthful "epiphanies" (experiences of an almost [[hallucinatory]] intensity which were then recorded in enigmatic, fragmentary [[texts]]) as instances of "radical [[foreclosure]]," in which "the real forecloses meaning."<ref>[[Seminar]] of 16 March 1976</ref> ====="Destructive" Refashioning of Language=====The [[Joycean]] text -- from the epiphany to ''[[James Joyce|Finnegans Wake]]'' -- entailed a special relation to [[language]]; a "destructive" refashioning of it as ''[[sinthome]]'', the invasion of the [[symbolic order]] by the [[subject]]'s private ''[[jouissance]]''.  One of [[Lacan]]'s puns, ''[[sinthome|synth-homme]]'', implies this kind of "artificial" [[self]]-creation. =====Lacan's Engagement with Joyce's Writing=====[[Lacan]]'s engagement with [[Joyce]]'s writing does not, he insists, entail "applied [[psychoanalysis]]."  =====Topological Theory=====[[Topology|Topological theory]] is not conceived of as merely [[another]] kind of representational account, but as a [[form]] of writing, a praxis aiming to [[figure]] that which escapes the [[imaginary]].  =====''Saint Homme''==========New Way of Using Language to Organize Enjoyment=====To that extent, rather than a theoretical [[object]] or "[[case]]," [[Joyce]] becomes an exemplary ''[[sinthome|saint homme]]'' who, by refusing any [[imaginary]] solution, was able to invent a new way of using [[language]] to organise [[enjoyment]]. ==See Also=={{See}}* [[Borromean knot]]* [[Interpretation]]* ''[[Jouissance]]''||* [[Message]]* [[Psychosis]]* [[Signifier]]||* [[Subject]]* [[Symptom]]* [[Topology]]{{Also}} == References ==<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">

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