Capitalism capitalizes on desire by offering the illusion of fulfillment through obtaining objects or wealth, but desire is sustained by a constant sense of lack.
Psychoanalysis addresses the subjectivity of human beings within the social order and highlights the connection between subjectivity and society through structural linguistics.
Marxism and psychoanalysis both aim to overcome lack and achieve fulfillment, but they face limitations in recognizing the enjoyment tied to sacrifice and the attachment to dissatisfaction in capitalism.
Deep dives
The Structure of Desire and the Illusion of Fulfillment
Freud's psychoanalytic critique of capitalism emphasizes the structure of desire, which is based on the satisfaction through missing its object. Capitalism capitalizes on this structure, offering the illusion that our desires can be realized if we obtain certain objects or accumulate wealth. However, this promise of fulfillment is ultimately unattainable, as desire is sustained by a constant sense of lack.
Psychoanalysis and the Social Order
Psychoanalysis, particularly through the lens of Lacan, addresses the subjectivity of human beings within the social order. It highlights that subjectivity forms in response to the social structure and operates within it, challenging the idea that psychoanalysis solely focuses on individual introspection. The structural linguistics influence in psychoanalysis reinforces the connection between subjectivity and society, expanding the scope of understanding the human experience.
The Critique of Marxism and the Capitalist Promise
Psychoanalysis offers a critique of Marxism by highlighting their shared promise of overcoming lack and achieving fulfillment. By promising the end of antagonism, Marxism replicates the capitalist promise in a different form. It fails to recognize the inherent enjoyment and satisfaction tied to sacrifice, as seen in fascist movements. Moreover, socialism faces resistance due to the attachment to the dissatisfaction that capitalism provides, making the prospect of overcoming it a significant barrier.
The Illusory Promise of Marxism and Psychoanalysis
The speaker discusses the limitations of Marxism and psychoanalysis, highlighting the failure of both to address the fundamental lack and desire that plague individuals. While aligned with the Marxist critique of capitalism, the speaker is skeptical of the political promises tied to Marxism and prefers not to label themselves as a Marxist. They argue that Marxism and psychoanalysis both emphasize the significance of contradiction and subjectivity, but differ in their approach to addressing them. Marxism focuses on societal contradictions, while psychoanalysis delves into individual subjectivity. The speaker suggests that both perspectives offer valuable insights in understanding desire, subjectivity, and the limitations of political projects.
The Intractable Nature of Desire and the Psyche
The podcast explores the connection between psychoanalysis and Buddhism, specifically regarding desire and satisfaction. While Buddhism offers a practice, meditation, which aims to displace the ego and achieve enlightenment, psychoanalysis challenges the idea of ego as illusory and delves into the role of desire. Psychoanalysis views desire itself as an illusion, while recognizing the inextricable bond between subjectivity and desire. Despite the differences, psychoanalysis can still provide conceptual tools and insights for understanding subjectivity, even for those with a Marxist outlook. It emphasizes the significance of analyzing one's actions and manifestations of desire in the world, rather than relying solely on introspection. Psychoanalysis underscores the need to confront and understand desire within the framework of subjectivity, acknowledging the limitations of overcoming lack and achieving complete satisfaction.
Prof. Todd McGowan, author of "Capitalism and Desire: The Psychic Costs of Free Markets" and co-host of "Why Theory", returns to the show to talk with Breht about Marxism and Psychoanalysis, Freud, Lacan, Death Drive, Desire, the fundamental sense of Lack at the core of our psyches, and much more! Check out Todd's book here: http://cup.columbia.edu/book/capitalism-and-desire/9780231178723
