Jacques Lacan: A Critical Introduction (Modern European Thinkers)

"The wide-ranging and brilliant ideas of the French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan have had a major influence on twentieth and twenty-first century thought. His 'followers' are loyal and legion. Yet his ideas are complex and were conveyed in a dense and abstract form. Lacan's detractors have accused him of obscurantism, pretentiousness and even incoherence. His psychoanalytic practice and his personal life were complicated too. He was famous and contentious in equal measure. Martin Murray provides a lucid account of Lacan's key concepts, tracing their origins in his diverse interests: art, psychiatry, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics and (of course) psychoanalysis. Murray also investigates Lacan's professional life, personal life and institutional influence in an attempt to understand the charismatic and controversial person he became. The investigation uncovers a uniquely 'split' and contradictory figure whose life and work is best understood 'in easy pieces'. The book offers a critical, biographical and historical introduction to Lacan that is accessible, incisive and rigorous. It encourages an appreciation of both Lacan's life and his thought and will be a welcome addition to the existing literature."--> zadnja str. ov. The Wide-ranging And Brilliant Ideas Of The French Psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan Have Had A Major Influence On Twentieth And Twenty-first Century Thought. His 'followers' Are Loyal And Legion. Yet His Ideas Are Complex And Were Conveyed In A Dense And Abstract Form. Lacan's Detractors Have Accused Him Of Obscurantism, Pretentiousness And Even Incoherence. His Psychoanalytic Practice And His Personal Life Were Complicated Too. He Was Famous And Contentious In Equal Measure. Martin Murray Provides A Lucid Account Of Lacan's Key Concepts, Tracing Their Origins In His Diverse Interests: Art, Psychiatry, Philosophy, Anthropology, Linguistics And (of Course) Psychoanalysis. Murray Also Investigates Lacan's Professional Life, Personal Life And Institutional Influence In An Attempt To Understand The Charismatic And Controversial Person He Became. The Investigation Uncovers A Uniquely 'split' And Contradictory Figure Whose Life And Work Is Best Understood 'in Easy Pieces'. The Book Offers A Critical, Biographical And Historical Introduction To Lacan That Is Accessible, Incisive And Rigorous. It Encourages An Appreciation Of Both Lacan's Life And His Thought And Will Be A Welcome Addition To The Existing Literature. -- Back Cover. Stopping And Starting -- Sweet And Sour -- Sense And Nonsense -- Man And Window -- I And I -- Fight And Flight -- Word And Wish -- Ending And Beginning. Martin Murray. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 200-205) And Index. "The wide-ranging and brilliant ideas of the French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan have had a major influence on twentieth and twenty-first century thought. His 'followers' are loyal and legion. Yet his ideas are complex and were conveyed in a dense and abstract form. Lacan's detractors have accused him of obscurantism, pretentiousness and even incoherence. His psychoanalytic practice and his personal life were complicated too. He was famous and contentious in equal measure. Martin Murray provides a lucid account of Lacan's key concepts, tracing their origins in his diverse interests: art, psychiatry, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics and (of course) psychoanalysis. Murray also investigates Lacan's professional life, personal life and institutional influence in an attempt to understand the charismatic and controversial person he became. The investigation uncovers a uniquely 'split' and contradictory figure whose life and work is both fascinating and erratic. The book offers a critical, biographical and historical introduction to Lacan that encourages a critical appreciation life and his thought"--Back cover

*Winner of the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Book Prize, 2016*

The wide-ranging and brilliant ideas of the French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan (1901-1981) have had a major influence on modern thought. His 'followers' are loyal and legion. Yet his ideas are complex and densely conveyed. Lacan's detractors have accused him of obscurantism, pretentiousness and even incoherence, his psychoanalytic practice and his personal life were complicated - he was famous and contentious in equal measure.

Martin Murray provides a lucid account of Lacan's key concepts, including the mirror stage, and his relationship to Freud's ideas, amongst many others. Tracing their origins in his diverse interests: art, psychiatry, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics and psychoanalysis. Murray also investigates Lacan's professional life, personal life and institutional influence in an attempt to understand the charismatic and controversial person he became.

French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan has been a major influence on a wide range of twentieth-century thought, even as the breadth, complexity, and obscurity of his work has intimidated students and deterred casual readers. That situation hasnt been helped by uneven translations into English that have led to a popular conception of his intellectual enterprise that can at times be profoundly mistaken. In this brief, clearly written introduction to Lacan and his work, Martin Murray presents an up-to-date survey of his key concepts, their development, and their influence on fields such as anthropology, linguistics, and philosophy. Arguing strongly that we should move beyond the traditional focus on Lacans early work, which favored a linguistic approach, Murray offers instead a more comprehensive overview of the whole arc of Lacans thought. The result is a rigorous, yet accessible, account of one of the key intellectual figures of the twentieth century. Acknowledgements 1. Stopping and Starting 2. Sweet and Sour 3. Sense and Nonsense 4. Man and Window 5. I and I 6. Fight and Flight 7. Word and Wish 8. Ending and Beginning Notes Bibliography of Works by Lacan General Bibliography Index