Schreber's Delusions and the Collapse of Symbolic Authority

Eric Sandner, chair of the Department of Modern Germanic Studies at the University of Chicago, joins the Machinique Unconscious Happy Hour podcast to discuss his works on psychoanalysis, literature, and philosophy. Sandner explains how Daniel Paul Schreber's breakdown and delusions serve as a laboratory for exploring the complexities and difficulties of transforming symbolic authority. Schreber's experience reflects the struggles of modernity and the demise of traditional forms of authority. Sandner also delves into the concept of investiture and its impact on individuals who struggle to inhabit symbolic positions. He highlights the intersection of representation and nerves, where the materiality of signification affects the body and gives rise to new vibrations and frequencies. Sandner emphasizes how Schreber's experience highlights the convergence of symbolic and neurological realms, challenging traditional disciplinary boundaries and inviting a new mode of understanding.