Discourse Ontology: Body and the Construction of a World, from Heidegger through Lacan (The Palgrave Lacan Series)

This book explores the themes within, and limits of, a dialogue between Martin Heidegger’s philosophy of being and Jacques Lacan’s post-Freudian metapsychology. It argues that a conceptual bridging between the two is possible, and lays the foundations of that bridge, starting with Heidegger and proceeding through the work of Lacan. After presenting basic aspects of Heidegger’s ontology, Tombras focuses on his incisive critique of modern science and psychoanalysis, and argues that psychoanalytic theory is vulnerable to this critique. The response comes from Lacan’s re-reading and recasting of fundamental Freudian insights, and his robust post-Freudian metapsychology. A broad discussion of Lacan’s work follows, to reveal its rupture with traditional philosophy, and show how it builds on and then reaches beyond Heidegger’s critique. This book is informed by the terminology, insights, concepts, hypotheses, and conclusions of both thinkers. It discusses time and the body in jouissance; the emergence of the divided subject and signifierness; truth, agency and the event; and being and mathematical formalisation. Tombras describes the ontological recursive construction of a shared ontic world and discusses the limits and historicity of this world. Contents......Page 6 List of Figures......Page 9 1 Introduction......Page 10 Changing Causes......Page 12 A Science for the Psyche and a Challenge......Page 13 Aims and Scope of the Book......Page 17 Chapter Outline......Page 23 Bibliography......Page 28 2 The Question of Being......Page 29 Heidegger’s Phenomenology......Page 30 Beings, and the Question of Being......Page 33 Ontological Difference......Page 36 The World, and Things in This World......Page 38 Signs and Language......Page 41 Truth as Unconcealment......Page 43 Being-with Others, Authenticity, the “They”......Page 46 Time, Historicity, and the “Event”......Page 48 “Turning” Away from Fundamental Ontology......Page 51 Bibliography......Page 56 3 A Critique of Science and Psychoanalysis......Page 58 From the Ancient to the Modern World......Page 60 The Era of Galileo......Page 63 Regional Ontologies......Page 65 On the Givenness of Space......Page 68 On the Givenness of Time......Page 70 Body and the Question of Psyche......Page 73 Certainty, Truth, Science......Page 77 Psychoanalysis in Focus......Page 82 From the Question of Being to Lacan......Page 88 Bibliography......Page 91 4 Back to Freud, and Beyond......Page 94 Revisiting Freud’s Discovery......Page 95 Basic Assumptions of Psychoanalysis......Page 97 “Retroaction” and the Concept of Time......Page 101 Material and Tools of Psychoanalysis......Page 103 Signifiers and the Origins of Meaning......Page 106 The Lacanian Unconscious......Page 109 An Identity from the Mirror......Page 111 The Three Registers of Experience......Page 113 Jouissance and the Signifierisation of the Real......Page 120 Emergence of Desire......Page 124 Instincts, Drives and Beyond......Page 128 Bibliography......Page 131 5 Lacanian Metapsychology......Page 136 The Subject of Psychoanalysis......Page 137 Law and Cause in Psychoanalysis......Page 139 Signifierness and Signifying Chain......Page 142 The Corporeality of Language: Lalangue......Page 147 Knowledge, Truth, Metalanguage......Page 150 Logical Time and Temporality......Page 153 Theory of Discourses......Page 158 Jouissance and the Speaking Body......Page 163 Sexuation......Page 166 Borromean Clinic......Page 170 A Method of Discovery or of Exposition?......Page 175 Mathematical Formalisation and Discourse......Page 178 From “Anti-philosophy” Back to Philosophy......Page 182 Bibliography......Page 185 6 An Ontology from Discourse......Page 190 From Heidegger Through Lacan......Page 193 The Case for an Ontology......Page 196 What Is a Signifier?......Page 197 Beings, Being, and History......Page 200 Four Aspects of Time......Page 202 The Position of the Unconscious......Page 203 Speaking Being and the Emergence of Signifierness......Page 205 Truth as a Rule-Governed Activity......Page 207 Discursive Constitution of Time......Page 210 Body, Jouissance and Sexuation......Page 211 Constructing and Sharing a World......Page 213 Recasting the Mind/Body Split......Page 214 The Position of Consciousness......Page 218 Truth in the Era of Alternative Facts......Page 222 Bibliography......Page 225 7 Conclusion: Psychoanalysis as a Cause......Page 227 Index......Page 233 This Book Explores The Themes Within, And Limits Of, A Dialogue Between Martin Heidegger's Philosophy Of Being And Jacques Lacan's Post-freudian Metapsychology. It Argues That A Conceptual Bridging Between The Two Is Possible, And Lays The Foundations Of That Bridge, Starting With Heidegger And Proceeding Through The Work Of Lacan. After Presenting An Overview Of Key Concepts Of Heidegger's Ontology, Tombras Sets Out An Incisive Critique Of Modern Science And Psychoanalysis, And Argues That Psychoanalytic Theory Is Vulnerable To This Critique. The Response Comes From Lacan's Re-reading And Recasting Of Fundamental Freudian Insights, And His Robust Post-freudian Metapsychology. A Broad Discussion Of Lacan's Work Follows, Which Reveals Its Rupture With Traditional Philosophy, And Demonstrates How It Builds On And Then Reaches Beyond Heidegger's Critique. This Book Is Informed By The Terminology, Insights, Concepts, Hypotheses, And Conclusions Of Both Heidegger And Lacan. It Discusses Time And The Body In Jouissance; The Emergence Of The Divided Subject And Signifierness; Truth, Agency And The Event; And Being And Mathematical Formalisation. Crucially, Tombras Describes The Ontological Recursive Construction Of A Shared Ontic World And Discusses The Limits And Historicity Of This World. This Book Opens Up New Pathways In The Study Of Ontology And Epistemology And Will Appeal In Particular To Students And Scholars Of Psychoanalysis And Philosophy. Christos Tombras Is A Supervising Psychoanalyst With A Lacanian Orientation, Practicing In London, Uk. Dr. Tombras Is A Member Of The Centre For Freudian Analysis And Research, Uk, And Lectures, Runs Workshops And Facilitates Reading Groups. His Main Research Interest Is In A Dialogue Between Continental Philosophy And Psychoanalysis. He Has Published In Both English And Greek. Chapter 1: Introduction -- Chapter 2: The Question Of Being -- Chapter 3: A Critique Of Science And Psychoanalysis -- Chapter 4: Back To Freud, And Beyond -- Chapter 5: Lacanian Metapsychology -- Chapter 6: An Ontology From Discourse -- Chapter 7: Conclusion: Psychoanalysis As A Cause. Christos Tombras. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This book explores the themes within, and limits of, a dialogue between Martin Heidegger's philosophy of being and Jacques Lacan's post-Freudian metapsychology. It argues that a conceptual bridging between the two is possible, and lays the foundations of that bridge, starting with Heidegger and proceeding through the work of Lacan. After presenting an overview of key concepts of Heidegger's ontology, Tombras sets out an incisive critique of modern science and psychoanalysis, and argues that psychoanalytic theory is vulnerable to this critique. The response comes from Lacan's re-reading and recasting of fundamental Freudian insights, and his robust post-Freudian metapsychology. A broad discussion of Lacan's work follows, which reveals its rupture with traditional philosophy, and demonstrates how it builds on and then reaches beyond Heidegger's critique. This book is informed by the terminology, insights, concepts, hypotheses, and conclusions of both Heidegger and Lacan. It discusses time and the body in jouissance; the emergence of the divided subject and signifierness; truth, agency and the event; and being and mathematical formalisation. Crucially, Tombras describes the ontological recursive construction of a shared ontic world and discusses the limits and historicity of this world. This book opens up new pathways in the study of ontology and epistemology and will appeal in particular to students and scholars of psychoanalysis and philosophy. Christos Tombras is a supervising psychoanalyst with a Lacanian orientation, practicing in London, UK. Dr. Tombras is a member of the Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research, UK, and lectures, runs workshops and facilitates reading groups. His main research interest is in a dialogue between continental philosophy and psychoanalysis. He has published in both English and Greek." -- Prové de l'editor.