Eros and Ethics: Reading Jacques Lacan's Seminar VII (SUNY series, Insinuations: Philosophy, Psychoanalysis, Literature)

In Eros and Ethics , Marc De Kesel patiently exposes the lines of thought underlying Jacques Lacan's often complex and cryptic reasoning regarding ethics and morality in his seventh seminar, The Ethics of Psychoanalysis (1959-1960). In this seminar, Lacan arrives at a rather perplexing conclusion: that which, over the ages, has been supposed to be "the supreme good" is in fact nothing but "radical evil"; therefore, the ultimate goal of human desire is not happiness and self-realization, but destruction and death. And yet, Lacan hastens to add, the morality based on this conclusion is far from being melancholic or tragic. Rather, it results in an encouraging ethics that for the first time in history gives full moral weight to the erotic. De Kesel's close reading uncovers the real scope of Lacan's criticism regarding the moralizing ethics of our time, and is one of the rare books that gives the reader full access to the letter of the Lacanian text. In Eros And Ethics, Marc De Kesel Patiently Exposes The Lines Of Thought Underlying Jacques Lacans Often Complex And Cryptic Reasoning Regarding Ethics And Moraliry In His Seventh Seminar, The Ethics Of Psychoanalysis (1959-1960). In This Seminar, Lacan Arrives At A Rather Perplexing Conclusion: That Which, Over The Ages, Has Been Supposed To Be The Supreme Good Is In Fact Nothing But Radical Evil; Therefore, The Ultimate Goal Of Human Desire Is Not Happiness And Self-realization, But Destruction And Death. And Yet, Lacan Hastens To Add, The Morality Based On This Conclusion Is Far From Being Melancholic Or Tragic. Rather, It Results In An Encouraging Ethics That For The First Time In History Gives Full Moral Weight To The Erotic. De Kesel's Close Reading Uncovers The Real Scope Of Lacan's Criticism Regarding The Moralizing Ethics Of Our Time, And Is One Of The Rare Books That Gives The Reader Full Access To The Letter Of The Lacanian Text.--jacket. Chapter 1 A Theory Of The Subject 11 -- 1 The Object Relations Theory And Its Moral Premises 13 -- 2 Lacan's Target: Maurice Bouvet 16 -- 3 Lacanian Object Relations Theory: A Theory Of The Subject 20 -- 4 Ethics And Phantasm 34 -- 5 Introducing A Real Object 38 -- Chapter 2 Crucial Problems 47 -- 1 One Ethical Demand Versus Another 48 -- 2 A New Form Of Guilt? 52 -- 3 A New Ethics, A New Eroticism? 54 -- Chapter 3 Aristotle Revisited 57 -- 1 The Interval Between Aristotle And Freud 57 -- 2 Aristotle And Freud Against Bentham 66 -- 3 Pleasure, Reality, And Logos 72 -- Chapter 4 An Intimately Distant Thing 83 -- 1 Das Ding 84 -- 2 A Matter Of Distance 90 -- 3 How Much Does A Thing Weigh? 98 -- Chapter 5 A Critique Of Pure Practical Reason 105 -- 1 Kant's Critique Of Morals 107 -- 2 Lacan And The Critique Of Practical Reason 109 -- 3 The Lacanian Critique Of Pure Practical Reason 113 -- Chapter 6 The Weight Of Enjoyment 121 -- 1 Pleasure 121 -- 2 Sade 131 -- 3 The Commandment To Love Your Neighbor 140 -- 4 An Ethics Of Singularity 152 -- Chapter 7 Sublimation 163 -- 1 From Doom To Dame 163 -- 2 An Object Relational Concept Of Sublimation 167 -- 3 Courtly Love 175 -- 4 Culture As Sublimation 183 -- 5 Sublimation And Ethics Marc De Kesel ; Translated By Sigi Jöttkandt. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. __A comprehensive examination of Lacan's seminar on ethics.__