Freud Museum London: Psychoanalysis Podcasts
Author’s talk: Alenka Zupančič - What is Sex?
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Sexuality is a philosophical problem for psychoanalysis, signaling a short circuit between ontology and epistemology.
- Unconscious knowledge involves understanding the form that transmits knowledge, intertwining not knowing and the unconscious knowing.
- The phallic signifier in the symbolic order reveals anatomical contingencies and emphasizes the impurity it introduces, challenging simplistic interpretations.
Deep dives
The Concept of Sexuality and Its Intrinsic Negativity
The discussion centers on the concept of sexuality and its inherent complexity and problematic nature. The exploration delves into the idea that sexuality is not simply an external construct subjected to repression, but rather an enigmatic core, inherently contradictory and elusive. This challenges traditional perceptions of sexuality as a self-evident phenomenon and highlights the role of negativity and contradiction within it.
The Unconscious as a Form of Knowledge
The podcast examines the concept of the unconscious as a distinctive form of knowledge, emphasizing the distinction between not knowing and the unconscious knowing. It asserts that the unconscious is not solely about repressed content but also involves understanding the form that transmits knowledge, such as the knowledge of repression. The discussion underscores how the unconscious represents a complex interplay between conscious and unconscious elements, shedding light on the nuances of psychological processes.
Sexuality, Discourse, and the Real
The episode delves into the intricate relationship between sexuality, discourse, and the concept of the real in Lacanian theory. It reflects on how sexuality intersects with systemic violence and examines the notion that sexuality reveals inherent contradictions within the discursive structure. The analysis extends to the role of surplus enjoyment, the signifying order, and the systemic violence present in social dynamics, providing a profound insight into the intricate complexities of human sexuality.
The Significance of the Phallic Signifier in Symbolic Order
The podcast delves into the concept of the phallic signifier, highlighting its role in the symbolic order. It explores how the symbolic order is intertwined with anatomical contingencies, emphasizing the impurity it introduces to the symbolic realm. While some suggest replacing the term 'phallus' with a more neutral one, the podcast argues that this misses the subversive point inherent in the concept. By using the term 'phallic signifier,' the podcast suggests that Jacques Lacan aims to reveal the contingency at the core of the symbolic order.
Contingency and Necessity in Relation to Freedom and Desire
The podcast discusses the distinction between contingency and relativism, highlighting the importance of contingency in deciding the structure of necessity. It challenges the notion of freedom as mere choice, emphasizing that true freedom involves grappling with the grammar of necessity. The discussion critiques a simplistic understanding of freedom as the ability to choose between options, asserting that necessities must be acknowledged and addressed through active engagement and struggle.
Drawing on Freud and Lacan, Zupančič argues that sexuality is at the point of a “short circuit” between ontology and epistemology.
Sexuality and knowledge are structured around a fundamental negativity, which unites them at the point of the unconscious. The unconscious (as linked to sexuality) is the concept of an inherent link between being and knowledge in their very negativity.
About the authorAlenka Zupančič is a Slovene philosopher and social theorist. She works as research advisor at the Institute of Philosophy, Scientific Research Center of the Slovene Academy of Sciences. She is also professor at the European Graduate School in Switzerland, and at the Graduate School ZRC SAZU (Ljubljana). She is the author of numerous articles and books on psychoanalysis and philosophy, including Ethics of the Real: Kant and Lacan; The Shortest Shadow: Nietzsche's Philosophy of the Two; Why Psychoanalysis: Three Interventions; The Odd One In: On Comedy; and, most recently, What is Sex?
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
