The Significance of Lacan's Seminar 10

Lacan's Seminar 10 marks a pivotal shift in his approach to anxiety, transitioning from Freud's understanding, which states that anxiety has no object, to suggesting that anxiety is indeed tied to an object, albeit one that is not substantial. The concept of Das Ding, which Lacan acknowledges, evolves into the notion of abjaya, a critical focus of this seminar that is explored in greater detail in Seminar 11. This redefinition emphasizes a nuanced relationship with anxiety, arguing that it is intense because of an overwhelming presence rather than a void. Lacan’s innovative perspectives not only redefine existing psychoanalytic concepts but also signal a move towards greater accessibility in Lacanian thought, a necessary progression as his seminars begin to be published in English by Polity Press instead of Norton.