Difference between revisions of "Talk:Biology"
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[[biology]] (''[[biologie]]'') | [[biology]] (''[[biologie]]'') | ||
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| + | ==Biological Reduction== | ||
| + | [[Lacan]] opposed [[biological reductionism, that is, the application of [[biological]] (or ethological/[[psychological]]) concepts (such as [[adaptation]], [[biological]] explanations of [[human]] [[behavior]]) to [[psychoanalysis]]. | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]] rejects any attempt to explain [[psychic]] phenomena in terms of crude [[biological]] [[determinism]]. | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]] draws distinctions between [[need]] and [[desire]], [[drives]] and [[instinct]]s. | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]] stresses the primacy of the [[symbolic]] [[order]] in [[human]] [[existence]]. | ||
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| + | ==Penis and Phallus== | ||
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| + | [[Freud]] conceives of the [[castration complex]] and [[sexual difference]] in terms of the [[presence]] and [[absence]] of the [[penis]]. | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]] reformulates the [[castration complex]] and [[sexual difference]] in non-[[biological]], non-[[anatomical]] terms (the [[presence]] and [[absence]] of the [[phallus]]). | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]] conceives of the [[phallus]] as a [[signifier]] rather than as a [[bodily]] [[organ]]. | ||
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| + | Many [[:category:feminist theory|Feminist]] theories have drawn from [[Lacan]] in constructing a [[essentialism|non-essentialist]] account of gendered [[subjectivity]]. | ||
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| + | ==Culturalism== | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]] also rejects the [[culturalist]] position which ignores the relevance of [[biology]]. | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]] is in favor of attempts to discern the precise way in which [[biology]] has an impact on the [[psychic]] field.<ref>{{Ec}} p.723</ref> | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]], like [[Freud]], uses concepts borrowed from [[biology]], and then reworks them in an entirely [[symbolic]] framework. | ||
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| + | Thus in his account of [[sexual difference]], [[Lacan]] follows [[Freud]]'s rejection of the false dichotomy between "anatomy or convention."<ref>Freud, 1933a: SE XXII, 114</ref> | ||
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| + | [[Lacan]]'s concern is not to privilege either term but to show how both interact in complex ways in the process of assuming a sexual position. | ||
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| + | --- | ||
==Freud and Biology== | ==Freud and Biology== | ||
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* [[Science]] | * [[Science]] | ||
* [[Nature]] | * [[Nature]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 08:48, 24 August 2006
Contents
Biological Reduction
Lacan opposed [[biological reductionism, that is, the application of biological (or ethological/psychological) concepts (such as adaptation, biological explanations of human behavior) to psychoanalysis.
Lacan rejects any attempt to explain psychic phenomena in terms of crude biological determinism.
Lacan draws distinctions between need and desire, drives and instincts.
Lacan stresses the primacy of the symbolic order in human existence.
Penis and Phallus
Freud conceives of the castration complex and sexual difference in terms of the presence and absence of the penis.
Lacan reformulates the castration complex and sexual difference in non-biological, non-anatomical terms (the presence and absence of the phallus).
Lacan conceives of the phallus as a signifier rather than as a bodily organ.
Many Feminist theories have drawn from Lacan in constructing a non-essentialist account of gendered subjectivity.
Culturalism
Lacan also rejects the culturalist position which ignores the relevance of biology.
Lacan is in favor of attempts to discern the precise way in which biology has an impact on the psychic field.[1]
Lacan, like Freud, uses concepts borrowed from biology, and then reworks them in an entirely symbolic framework.
Thus in his account of sexual difference, Lacan follows Freud's rejection of the false dichotomy between "anatomy or convention."[2]
Lacan's concern is not to privilege either term but to show how both interact in complex ways in the process of assuming a sexual position.
---
Freud and Biology
Freud's work is full of references to biology.
Freud regarded biology as a scientific model (of scientific rigour) on which to base the new science of psychoanalysis.
Freud borrowed concepts from biology (such as the concept of the [[drive]) but reworked them in such a radical way that they become totally new concepts.
For example, the concept of the death instinct "is not a question of biology."[3]
Lacan asserts: "Freudian biology has nothing to do with biology."[4]
Biological Reduction
Lacan opposed biological reductionism, that is, the application of biological (or ethological/psychological) concepts (such as adaptation, biological explanations of human behavior) to psychoanalysis.
Lacan rejects any attempt to explain psychic phenomena in terms of crude biological determinism.
Lacan draws distinctions between need and desire, drives and instincts.
Lacan stresses the primacy of the symbolic order in human existence.
Penis and Phallus
Freud conceives of the castration complex and sexual difference in terms of the presence and absence of the penis.
Lacan reformulates the castration complex and sexual difference in non-biological, non-anatomical terms (the presence and absence of the phallus).
Lacan conceives of the phallus as a signifier rather than as a bodily organ.
Many Feminist theories have drawn from Lacan in constructing a non-essentialist account of gendered subjectivity.
Culturalism
Lacan also rejects the culturalist position which ignores the relevance of biology.
Lacan is in favor of attempts to discern the precise way in which biology has an impact on the psychic field.[5]
Lacan, like Freud, uses concepts borrowed from biology, and then reworks them in an entirely symbolic framework.
Thus in his account of sexual difference, Lacan follows Freud's rejection of the false dichotomy between "anatomy or convention."[6]
Lacan's concern is not to privilege either term but to show how both interact in complex ways in the process of assuming a sexual position.
References
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.723
- ↑ Freud, 1933a: SE XXII, 114
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Trans. Alan Sheridan. London: Tavistock Publications, 1977. p.102
- ↑ 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.75
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. Écrits. Paris: Seuil, 1966. p.723
- ↑ Freud, 1933a: SE XXII, 114
