truth Truth (vÈritÈ) Truth is one of the most central, and yet most complexterms in Lacan's discourse. A few basic points are clear and constant in Lacan's concept of truth; truth always refers to truth about desire, and the aim of psychoanalytic treatment is to lead the analysand to articulate this truth.
terms Truth does not await, in Lacan's discoursesome preformed state of fullness, to be revealed to the analysand by the analyst; on the contrary, it is gradually constructed in the dialectical movement of the treatment itself. A few basic points are clear and constant in<ref>Ec, 144</ref>
Lacan's concept argues, in opposition to the traditions of classical philosophy, that truth; truth always refers is not beautiful<ref>S7, 217</ref> and that it is not necessarily beneficial to learn the truth about desire.<ref>Sl7, and the122</ref>
aim of psychoanalytic treatment is to lead While Lacan always speaks about 'truth' in the analysand to articulate singular, this is not a single universal truth, but an absolutely particular truth, unique to each subject.<ref>see S7, 24</ref>
Truth does not await, in some preformed state of fullness, to be revealed to the
analysand by However, beyond these few simple points, it is impossible to give a univocal definition of the analyst; on way Lacan uses the contraryterm, since it is gradually constructed functions in multiple contexts simultaneously, in theopposition to a wide variety of terrns.
dialectical movement All that will be attempted here, therefore, is a general indication of some of the treatment itself (Ec, 144)contexts in which it functions. Lacan argues, in
oPposition to ==Truth versus exactitude==Exactitude is a question of 'introducing measurement into the real',<ref>E, 74</ref> and constitutes the traditions aim of classical philosophy, that truth is not beautifulthe exact sciences.
(S7Truth, 217) and that it however, concerns desire, which is not necessarily beneficial to learn a matter for the exact sciences but for the truth (Sl7, 122)sciences of subjectivity.
While Lacan always speaks about Therefore truth is only a meaningful concept in the context of language: 'It is with the appearance of language that the dimension of truthemerges.' in the singular<ref>E, this is not a single172</ref>
universal Psychoanalytic treatment is based on the fundamental premise that speech is the only means of revealing the truth, but an absolutely particular truth, unique to each subject (seeabout desire.
S7, 24)'Truth hollows its way into the real thanks to the dimension of speech. However, beyond these few simple points, it There is impossible neither true nor false prior to give aunivocal definition of the way Lacan uses the termspeech.'<ref>Sl, since it functions in228</ref>
multiple contexts simultaneously, in opposition to a wide variety of terrns.
All that will be attempted here==Truth and [[Science]]==From Lacan's earliest writings, thereforethe term 'truth' has metaphysical, is a general indication of some of the even mystical, nuances which problematise any attempt to articulate truth and science.
contexts in which it functionsIt is not that Lacan denies that science aims to know the truth, but simply that science cannot claim to monopolise truth as its exclusive property.<ref>Ec, 79</ref>
Lacan later argues that science is in fact based on a foreclosure of the concept of truth as cause.<ref>Ec, 874</ref>
The concept of truth is essential for understanding madness, and modern science renders madness meaningless by ignoring the concept of truth.<ref>Ec, 153-4</ref>
e ==Truth, lies and deception==Truth versus exactitude Exactitude is a question of 'introducing mea-intimately connected with deception, since lies can often reveal the truth about desire more eloquently than honest statements.
surement into Deception and lies are not the opposite of truth: on the real' (E, 74)contrary, and constitutes they are inscribed in the aim text of the exact sciencestruth.
Truth, however, concerns desire, which The analyst's role is not a matter for to reveal the exact sciencestruth inscribed in the deception of the analysand's speech.
but for Although the sciences of subjectivityanalysand may in effect be saying to the analyst 'I am deceiving you', the analyst says to the analysand 'In this I am deceiving to you, what you are sending as message is what I express to you, and in doing so you are telling the truth. Therefore truth is only a meaningful<ref>(S11,139-40; see S4, 107-8)</ref>
concept in the context of language: 'It is with the appearance of language
that the dimension of truth emerges' (E, 172). Psychoanalytic treatment is
based on the fundamental premise that speech is the only means of revealing
the truth about desire. 'Truth hollows its way into the real thanks to the
dimension of speech. There is neither true nor false prior to speech' (Sl, 228).
e Truth and scIENCE From Lacan's earliest writings, the term 'truth' has
metaphysical, even mystical, nuances which problematise any attempt to
articulate truth and science. It is not that Lacan denies that science aims to
know the truth, but simply that science cannot claim to monopolise truth as its
exclusive property (Ec, 79). Lacan later argues that science is in fact based on
a foreclosure of the concept of truth as cause (Ec, 874). The concept of truth is
essential for understanding madness, and modern science renders madness
meaningless by ignoring the concept of truth (Ec, 153-4).
e Truth, lies and deception Truth is intimately connected with deception,
since lies can often reveal the truth about desire more eloquently than honest
statements. Deception and lies are not the opposite of truth: on the contrary,
they are inscribed in the text of truth. The analyst's role is to reveal the truth
inscribed in the deception of the analysand's speech. Although the analysand
may in effect be saying to the analyst 'I am deceiving you', the analyst says to
the analysand 'In this I am deceiving to you, what you are sending as message
is what I express to you, and in doing so you are telling the truth' (S11,
139-40; see S4, 107-8).
e Truth versus false appearances The false appearances presented by the
analysand are not merely obstacles that the analyst must expose and discard in
order to discover the truth; on the contrary, the analyst must take them into
account (see SEMBLANCE).
e Truth, error and mistakes Psychoanalysis has shown that the truth
about desire is often revealed by mistakes (parapraxes; see AcT). The complex
relations between truth, mistakes, error and deception are evoked by Lacan in a
typically elusive phrase when he describes 'the structuration of speech in
search of truth' as 'error taking flight in deception and recaptured by mis-
take' (Sl, 273).
e Truth and fiction Lacan does not use the term 'fiction' in the sense of 'a
falsehood', but in the sense of a scientific construct (Lacan takes his cue here
from Bentham - see S7, 12). Thus Lacan's term 'fiction' corresponds to
Freud's term Konvention, convention (see S11, 163), and has more in com-
mon with truth than falsehood. Indeed, Lacan states that truth is structured like
a fiction (E, 306; Ec, 808).
, Truth and the REAL The opposition which Lacan draws between truth
and the real dates back to his pre-war writings (e.g. Ec, 75), and is taken up at
various points; 'We are used to the real. The truth we repress' (E, 169).
However, Lacan also points out that truth is similar to the real; it is impossible
to articulate the whole truth, and '[p]recisely because of this impossibility,
truth aspires to the real' (Lacan, 1973a: 83).
==Truth versus false appearances==
The false appearances presented by the analysand are not merely obstacles that the analyst must expose and discard in order to discover the truth; on the contrary, the analyst must take them into account (see [[semblance]]).
==Truth, error and mistakes==
Psychoanalysis has shown that the truth
about desire is often revealed by mistakes (parapraxes).<ref>see [[Act]]</ref>
The complex relations between truth, mistakes, error and deception are evoked by Lacan in a typically elusive phrase when he describes 'the structuration of speech in search of truth' as 'error taking flight in deception and recaptured by mistake.'<ref>Sl, 273</ref>
==Truth and fiction==
Lacan does not use the term 'fiction' in the sense of 'a falsehood', but in the sense of a scientific construct (Lacan takes his cue here from Bentham).<ref>see S7, 12</ref>
Thus Lacan's term 'fiction' corresponds to Freud's term Konvention, convention,<ref>see S11, 163</ref> and has more in common with truth than falsehood.
Indeed, Lacan states that truth is structured like a fiction.<ref>E, 306; Ec, 808</ref>
==Truth and the real==
The opposition which Lacan draws between truth and the real dates back to his pre-war writings,<ref>e.g. Ec, 75</ref> and is taken up at various points; 'We are used to the real. The truth we repress.'<ref>E, 169</ref>
However, Lacan also points out that truth is similar to the real; it is impossible to articulate the whole truth, and '[p]recisely because of this impossibility, truth aspires to the real.'<ref>Lacan, 1973a: 83</ref>
== References ==
