Truth (''{{Top}}vérité'') is one of the most central, and yet most complex terms 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. {{Bottom}}
[[Truth does not await, in some preformed state ]] is one of fullness, to be revealed to the analysand by the analyst; on the contrarymost central, it is gradually constructed and yet most [[complex]] [[terms]] in the dialectical movement of the treatment itself[[Lacan]]'s [[discourse]].<ref>Ec, 144</ref>
Lacan argues, in opposition ==Psychoanalysis==The [[aim]] of [[psychoanalytic]] [[treatment]] is to lead the traditions of classical philosophy, that truth is not beautiful<ref>S7, 217</ref> and that it is not necessarily beneficial [[analysand]] to learn articulate the [[truth]] of his or her [[desire]].<ref>Sl7, 122</ref>
While Lacan always speaks about 'truth' [[Truth]] does not await, in some preformed [[state]] of fullness, to be revealed to the singular[[analysand]] by the [[analyst]], this but is not a single universal truth, but an absolutely particular truth, unique to each subjectrather constructed in the [[dialectic]]al movement of the [[treatment]] itself.<ref>see S7, 24{{Ec}} p.144</ref>
==Philosophy==
[[Lacan]] argues, in opposition to the traditions of classical [[philosophy]], that [[truth]] is not beautiful<ref>{{S7}} p.217</ref> and that it is not necessarily beneficial to learn the [[truth]].<ref>{{S17}} p.122</ref>
However, beyond these few simple points[[Lacan]] speaks [[about]] "[[truth]]" in the [[singular]], it is impossible to give not as a univocal definition of the way Lacan uses the termsingle [[universal]] [[truth]], since it functions in multiple contexts simultaneouslybut as [[particular]] [[truth]], in opposition unique to a wide variety of terrnseach [[subject]].<ref>{{S7}} p. 24</ref>
All that will be attempted here, therefore, ==Language==[[Truth]] is only a general indication meaningful [[concept]] in the context of some of the contexts in which it functions.[[language]]:
==Truth versus exactitude==Exactitude <blockquote>"It is a question with the appearance of 'introducing measurement into [[language]] that the real',[[dimension]] of [[truth]] emerges."<ref>{{E, 74}} p.172</ref> and constitutes the aim of the exact sciences.</blockquote>
Truth, however, concerns desire, which [[Psychoanalytic]] [[treatment]] is not a matter for based on the exact sciences but for fundamental premise that [[speech]] is the sciences only means of subjectivityrevealing the [[truth]] about [[desire]].
Therefore truth is only a meaningful concept in <blockquote>"[[Truth]] hollows its way into the context of language: 'It is with the appearance of language that [[real]] thanks to the dimension of truth emerges[[speech]].'There is neither [[true]] nor [[false]] prior to [[speech]]."<ref>E, 172{{S1}} p.228</ref></blockquote>
Psychoanalytic treatment is based on the fundamental premise that speech is the only means of revealing ==Science==From [[Lacan]]'s earliest writings, the term "[[truth]]" has metaphysical, even mystical, nuances which problematise any attempt to articulate [[truth about desire]] and [[science]].
'Truth hollows its way into the real thanks It is not that [[Lacan]] denies that [[science]] aims to [[know]] the dimension of speech. There is neither true nor false prior [[truth]], but simply that [[science]] cannot [[claim]] to speechmonopolise [[truth]] as its exclusive property.'<ref>Sl, 228{{Ec}} p.79</ref>
[[Lacan]] later argues that [[science]] is in fact based on a [[foreclosure]] of the concept of [[truth]] as [[cause]].<ref>{{Ec}} p.874</ref>
==Truth The concept of [[truth]] is essential for [[understanding]] [[madness]], and modern [[science]] renders [[Sciencemadness]]==From Lacan's earliest writings, meaningless by ignoring the term 'concept of [[truth' has metaphysical, even mystical, nuances which problematise any attempt to articulate truth and science]].<ref>{{Ec}} p. 153-4</ref>
It ==Truth and Deception==[[Truth]] is not that Lacan denies that science aims to know intimately connected with [[deception]], since lies can often reveal the [[truth, but simply that science cannot claim to monopolise truth as its exclusive property]] about [[desire]] more eloquently than honest statements.<ref>Ec, 79</ref>
Lacan later argues that science is [[Deception]] and lies are not the opposite of [[truth]]: on the contrary, they are inscribed in fact based on a foreclosure of the concept [[text]] of [[truth as cause]].<ref>Ec, 874</ref>
The concept of [[analyst]]'s [[role]] is to reveal the [[truth is essential for understanding madness, and modern science renders madness meaningless by ignoring ]] inscribed in the concept [[deception]] of truththe [[analysand]]'s [[speech]].<ref>Ec, 153-4</ref>
==TruthAlthough the [[analysand]] may in effect be saying to the [[analyst]] "I am deceiving you, lies and deception==Truth is intimately connected with deception, since lies can often reveal " the [[analyst]] says to the truth about desire more eloquently than honest statements. [[analysand]]:
Deception and lies <blockquote>"In this I am deceiving to you, what you are not the opposite of truth: on the contrarysending as [[message]] is what I express to you, they and in doing so you are inscribed in telling the text of truth. <ref>{{S11}} p.139-40; {{S4}} p.107-8)</ref></blockquote>
==False Appearances==The false [[appearance]]s presented by the [[analysand]] are not merely obstacles that the [[analyst's role is ]] must expose and discard in [[order]] to reveal discover the [[truth inscribed in ]]; on the deception of contrary, the analysand's speech[[analyst]] must take [[them]] into account (see [[semblance]]).
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, ==Error and in doing so you are telling Mistakes==[[Psychoanalysis]] has shown that the [[truth.<ref>]] about [[desire]] is often revealed by mistakes (S11,139-40; see S4, 107-8[[parapraxes]])</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>{{S1}} p. 273</ref>
==Truth versus false appearancesFiction==The false appearances presented by the analysand are [[Lacan]] does not merely obstacles that use the analyst must expose and discard term "[[fiction]]" in order to discover the truth; on the contrary[[sense]] of 'a falsehood', but in the analyst must take them into account (see sense of a [[semblancescientific]])[[construct]].<ref>{{S7}} p.12</ref>
==Truth, error and mistakes==Psychoanalysis has shown that the truthabout desire is often revealed by mistakes (parapraxes).<ref>see Thus [[Lacan]]'s term "[[fiction]]" corresponds to [[ActFreud]]</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 truths term '' as Konvention'error taking flight in deception and recaptured by mistake.', convention,<ref>Sl, 273{{S11}} p.163</ref>and has more in common with [[truth]] than falsehood.
==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 [[structure]]d like a [[fiction]].<ref>{{E, }} 306; {{Ec, }} 808</ref>
==Truth and the realThe Real==The opposition which [[Lacan ]] draws between [[truth ]] and the [[real ]] dates back to his pre-war writings,<ref>e{{Ec}} p.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>
<blockquote>"We are used to the real. The truth we [[repress]]."<ref>{{E}} p.169</ref></blockquote> 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>{{TV}} p. 83</ref> ==See Also=={{See}}* [[Analysand]]* [[Analyst]]* [[Cause]]* [[Desire]]||* [[Dialectic]]* [[Philosophy]]* [[Science]]* [[Semblance]]||* [[Speech]]* [[Structure]]* [[Subject]]* [[Treatment]]{{Also}} == References ==<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small">
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