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Lacan Today: Psychoanalysis, Science, Religion
Lacan Psychoanalysis, Science, Religion offers a lucid overview of the French psychoanalyst's work. In five sections--"The Structure of the Subject," "Epistemology," "Four Discourses," "There is No Sexual Rapport," and "God is Real,"--the book maps out Lacan's thought for the lay reader with unmatched clarity. It does this by building from Lacan's graph and formulas, which are often misunderstood. This formalization acts as a pedagogical tool of wonderful economy, offering a broad overview without neglecting the essential details. The chapters are summarized by a general graph that visually demonstrates Lacan's rigor and coherence.
The book examines often-neglected aspects of Lacan's work, like problems in the history of science, epistemology, and religion, in order to show Lacan's relevance to today's world. It makes the case for Lacan as one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century, whose reach extends beyond the discipline of psychoanalysis. Indeed, Lacan's thought should lead readers into a reexamination of philosophy, literature, art, politics, economy, and desire.
In his introduction, Alexandre Leupin "If the unconscious exists, then Lacan is the only twentieth-century thinker who has drawn the consequences of Freud's discovery to their ultimate limits. I propose here what some will take as bombastic Lacan's radical reevaluation of human thinking is comparable to Einstein's."
Though Lacan's thought is making tremendous inroads in countries of Latin culture, it has been slowly fading from public awareness in the English-speaking world. Often Lacan has been nothing more than a pawn in the bundling of contradictory doctrines labeled as "French thought"; or he has been reduced to a means of exchange between psychoanalysts or specialists in the humanities. Leupin's contention is that what Lacan said or wrote is of interest to the general public and that his consignment to oblivion is reversible. This book demonstrates that Lacan's thinking has vast implications, not only for college professors or practicing psychoanalysts, but also for scientists, epistemologists, and every man and woman.
The book examines often-neglected aspects of Lacan's work, like problems in the history of science, epistemology, and religion, in order to show Lacan's relevance to today's world. It makes the case for Lacan as one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century, whose reach extends beyond the discipline of psychoanalysis. Indeed, Lacan's thought should lead readers into a reexamination of philosophy, literature, art, politics, economy, and desire.
In his introduction, Alexandre Leupin "If the unconscious exists, then Lacan is the only twentieth-century thinker who has drawn the consequences of Freud's discovery to their ultimate limits. I propose here what some will take as bombastic Lacan's radical reevaluation of human thinking is comparable to Einstein's."
Though Lacan's thought is making tremendous inroads in countries of Latin culture, it has been slowly fading from public awareness in the English-speaking world. Often Lacan has been nothing more than a pawn in the bundling of contradictory doctrines labeled as "French thought"; or he has been reduced to a means of exchange between psychoanalysts or specialists in the humanities. Leupin's contention is that what Lacan said or wrote is of interest to the general public and that his consignment to oblivion is reversible. This book demonstrates that Lacan's thinking has vast implications, not only for college professors or practicing psychoanalysts, but also for scientists, epistemologists, and every man and woman.
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 17, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 13, 2009
An amazing book that posits Lacan as still relevant in today's world -- there is an amazing chapter on Lacan and theology (Who knew Lacan's views concerning religion were the polar opposite of Freud's? Lacan believed he could prove the existence of God through psychoanalysis!).
September 5, 2012
This book posited itself as an easy-to-read guide to Lacan; I wouldn't go that far. While dense, it was extremely useful for understanding the schemas, topology, and equations of Lacan's later work. Probably not an introduction, but definitely helpful.
September 25, 2012
Excellent overview of Lacanian theory. Good as introduction and as reference. The author introduces Lacan as the Einstein of the humanities.
November 18, 2021
The best Lacan introduction book by far, schemes are well-explained in a detailed way. Language made simple and digestible. Nice analysis on some of Freudian’s concepts. Absolutely the great book early Lacanians would need.
June 1, 2017
A few mathematical symbols and a schema or two does not Lacan a lucid explosion of the social sciences and the domain of science make.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews