Eric Santner, a scholar at the University of Chicago, discusses his latest book and the connections between philosophy, literature, and a life in theory. The conversation explores topics such as the transformation from atheism to belief, Freud's understanding of unconscious mental activity, the concept of psychotheology, the relationship between theory and praxis, and the concept of sensuousness and vulnerability in theory.
Daniel Paul Schreber's breakdown and delusions serve as a laboratory for exploring the complexities and difficulties of transforming symbolic authority.
The intersection of representation and nerves reveals the materiality of signification, affecting the body and giving rise to new vibrations and frequencies.
Schreber's delusions and attempts to figure out his disturbance call for speculative thinkers and theorists to explore the complexities of the flesh and symbolic authority.
Deep dives
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.
The Enigmatic Signifier and Schreber's Delusional Elaboration
Sandner explores the concept of the enigmatic signifier in relation to Schreber's delusions. He describes how Schreber's experience of being addressed by God and the impact of representation on his nerves reflects a profound theological and material dimension. Sandner discusses how these experiences go beyond traditional notions of meaning and brain anatomy, highlighting a new field of understanding. He draws connections to Rilke's novel 'Malte Laurids Brigge' and the notion of a revelation reduced to a zero level. Sandner emphasizes the difficulties in establishing a language for this field and how psychoanalysis, as a study of failed authority, attempts to navigate this complex territory.
The Collapse of Traditional Forms of Authority and the Birth of Theory
Sandner explores how Schreber's experiences highlight the collapse of traditional forms of authority, particularly in relation to sovereigns undergoing crises of investiture. He argues that these collapses reflect broader social crises and the impact of symbolism on the body. Sandner discusses how this collapse leads to the birth of theory, challenging disciplinary boundaries and traditional notions of expertise. He emphasizes the difficulties and speculative nature of discussing this new field, which requires a different mode of attention and language. Sandner concludes by highlighting how Schreber's delusions and attempts to figure out his disturbance serve as a call to speculative thinkers and theorists to explore the complexities of the flesh and symbolic authority.
Understanding Schreiber's Legacy
Schreiber's work has attracted various disciplines, including psychiatrists and media theorists, due to its vital intensity and the question of how to characterize it. Schreiber's legacy lies in his belief that his text is worth engaging with, testifying to the demise of traditional authority and warning against transferring authority to expert knowledge. The experts, although agitating the body, do not fully grasp the flesh and continue to produce symptoms. Lacan and Freud suggest the need for a new kind of discourse, different from the traditional university discourse, to understand and respond to the demand for work and the drive that comes from within.
Exploring the Connection between Foucault, Psychoanalysis, and Schreiber
While Foucault's work sheds light on forensic psychiatry and biopower, his analysis lacks a comprehensive understanding of the flesh and the place of bodies in social orders. This is where a connection between Foucault's ideas and psychoanalysis can be established. The emphasis on desire in psychoanalysis complements Foucault's focus on pleasure. Together, they can uncover the dimension of the flesh and the drive that goes beyond somatic demands. The concept of hammering, as seen in Kafka's work, also resonates with the idea of work without a super ego, an alternative to the compulsive demands of capitalism. These discussions highlight the need for new practices and forms of human expressivity to engage with the demand for work and creativity.
Eric Santner joined Coop and Tay for a really lovely discussion on a life in theory. We weave in Eric's latest book, Untying Things Together: Philosophy, Literature, and a Life in Theory and My Own Private Germany: Daniel Paul Schreber's Secret History of Modernity. Schreber is the backdrop for this look at what a body and what theory can do.
Eric L. Santner is an American scholar. He is Philip and Ida Romberg Professor in Modern Germanic Studies, and Chair, in the Department of Germanic Studies, at the University of Chicago, where he has been based since 1996.
Support us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/muhh
Twitter: @unconscioushh
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
