Difference between revisions of "Split"
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| − | + | ==Sigmund Freud== | |
| − | [[ | + | [[Freud]] described the "[[splitting of the ego]]" ([[German]]: ''[[Ich-spaltung]]'', [[French]]: ''[[clivage du moi]]'') in his analysis of [[fetishism]] and [[psychosis]] as the process in which two contradictory attitudes come to exist side by side in the [[ego]] - [[acceptance]] and [[disavowal]].<ref>Freud. 1940b.</ref> |
| − | + | ==Jacques Lacan== | |
| − | + | [[Lacan]] expands the concept of ''[[spaltung]]'' (from a process unique to [[fetishism]] or [[psychosis]]) to a general characteristic of [[subject]]ivity itself. | |
| − | The [[ | + | The [[subject]] can never be anything other than [[divided]], [[split]], [[alienation|alienated]] from himself. |
| − | The [[split]] | + | The [[split]] is irreducible, can never be healed; there is no possibility of [[synthesis]]. |
| − | The [[subject]] will never know himself completely, but will always be cut off from his own [[knowledge]]. | + | The [[split]] or '[[split|divided]] [[subject]]' is [[symbolization|symbolised]] by the [[bar]] which strikes through the <i>'''S'''</i> to produce the [[bar]]red [[subject]], <i>'''$'''</i>.<ref>{{E}} p.288</ref> |
| + | |||
| + | The [[split]] denotes the [[impossibility]] of the [[ideal]] of a fully present [[self-consciousness]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[subject]] will never [[know]] himself [[completely]], but will always be cut off from his own [[knowledge]]. | ||
It thus indicates the [[presence]] of the [[unconscious]], and is an effect of the [[signifier]]. | It thus indicates the [[presence]] of the [[unconscious]], and is an effect of the [[signifier]]. | ||
| − | The [[subject]] is [[split]] by the very fact that he is a | + | The [[subject]] is [[split]] by the very fact that he is a "[[speaking being]],"<ref>{{E}} p.269</ref> because [[speech]] [[divides]] the [[subject]] of the [[enunciation]] from the [[subject]] of the statement. |
| − | In his [[seminar]] of 1964-5 [[Lacan]] theorises the [[split]] [[subject]] in terms of a division between [[truth]] and [[knowledge]] (''savoir'').<ref> | + | In his [[seminar]] of 1964-5 [[Lacan]] theorises the [[split]] [[subject]] in terms of a [[division]] between [[truth]] and [[knowledge]] (''[[savoir]]'').<ref>{{Ec}} p.856)</ref> |
== See Also== | == See Also== | ||
| + | * [[Speech]] | ||
| + | * [[Unconscious]] | ||
| + | * [[Division]] | ||
| + | * [[Signifier]] | ||
* [[Subject]] | * [[Subject]] | ||
* [[Alienation]] | * [[Alienation]] | ||
Revision as of 07:26, 7 July 2006
Sigmund Freud
Freud described the "splitting of the ego" (German: Ich-spaltung, French: clivage du moi) in his analysis of fetishism and psychosis as the process in which two contradictory attitudes come to exist side by side in the ego - acceptance and disavowal.[1]
Jacques Lacan
Lacan expands the concept of spaltung (from a process unique to fetishism or psychosis) to a general characteristic of subjectivity itself.
The subject can never be anything other than divided, split, alienated from himself.
The split is irreducible, can never be healed; there is no possibility of synthesis.
The split or 'divided subject' is symbolised by the bar which strikes through the S to produce the barred subject, $.[2]
The split denotes the impossibility of the ideal of a fully present self-consciousness.
The subject will never know himself completely, but will always be cut off from his own knowledge.
It thus indicates the presence of the unconscious, and is an effect of the signifier.
The subject is split by the very fact that he is a "speaking being,"[3] because speech divides the subject of the enunciation from the subject of the statement.
In his seminar of 1964-5 Lacan theorises the split subject in terms of a division between truth and knowledge (savoir).[4]
See Also
References
- ↑ Freud. 1940b.
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.288
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.269
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.856)
