The foundation of the unconscious : Schelling, Freud, and the birth of the modern psyche

The unconscious, cornerstone of psychoanalysis, was a key twentieth-century concept and retains an enormous influence on psychological and cultural theory. Yet there is a surprising lack of investigation into its roots in the critical philosophy and Romantic psychology of the early nineteenth century, long before Freud. Why did the unconscious emerge as such a powerful idea? And why at that point? This interdisciplinary study traces the emergence of the unconscious through the work of philosopher Friedrich Schelling, examining his association with Romantic psychologists, anthropologists and theorists of nature. It sets out the beginnings of a neglected tradition of the unconscious psyche and proposes a compelling new argument: that the unconscious develops from the modern need to theorise individual independence. The book assesses the impact of this tradition on psychoanalysis itself, re-reading Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams in the light of broader post-Enlightenment attempts to theorise individuality. Cover 1 The Foundation of the Unconscious 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Acknowledgements 10 Introduction: the historiography of the unconscious 13 The broader unconscious 19 Methodological problems 23 Marquard 27 Foucault 30 The liberal unconscious 34 The unconscious 39 The argument 40 Part I The subject before the unconscious 47 1 A general science of the I: Fichteand the crisis of self-identification 49 The self as object 54 The will of the I 62 Towards an unconscious 73 The self’s new interior 78 2 Natural autonomy: Schelling and the divisions of freedom 87 The freedom of nature 90 Part II The Romantic unconscious 109 3 Divining the individual: towards ametaphysics of the unconscious 111 Absolute beginnings 115 Excursus on Schellingian ontology and French psychoanalysis 123 The absolute who was not there ... 127 The germinal absolute 132 The alchemy of identity 138 The secret birthplace of existence 141 The descent of the unconscious 146 4 The historical unconscious: the psyche in the Romantic human sciences 150 The land that time forgot 156 The abyss of origins 161 Uncanny foundations 167 The fires of transfiguration 173 Supplement on the political inversions of Romantic ontology 180 5 Post-idealism and the Romantic psyche 190 Pathologies of the idea 190 The philosopher and the psyche 198 Gaps in the science of life 203 C. G. Carus and the future of the Romantic psyche 209 Breaks in the chain of life: from reproduction to deconstruction 217 Coda: from the psyche to the psychoanalytic 221 Part III The psychoanalytic unconscious 227 6 Freud: the Geist in the machine 229 Entangled in determinism 243 The navel of the dream 248 What are wishes for? 252 7 The liberal unconscious 267 The first and sole authority 272 Conclusion 286 Bibliography 301 Index 318 The Unconscious, Cornerstone Of Psychoanalysis, Was A Key Twentieth-century Concept And Retains An Enormous Influence On Psychological And Cultural Theory. Yet There Is A Surprising Lack Of Investigation Into Its Roots In The Critical Philosophy And Romantic Psychology Of The Early Nineteenth Century, Long Before Freud. Why Did The Unconscious Emerge As Such A Powerful Idea? And Why At That Point? This Interdisciplinary Study Breaks New Ground In Tracing The Emergence Of The Unconscious Through The Work Of Philosopher Friedrich Schelling, Examining His Association With Romantic Psychologists, Anthropologists And Theorists Of Nature. It Sets Out The Beginnings Of A Neglected Tradition Of The Unconscious Psyche And Proposes A Compelling New Argument: That The Unconscious Develops From The Modern Need To Theorise Individual Independence. The Book Assesses The Impact Of This Tradition On Psychoanalysis Itself, Re-reading Freud's The Interpretation Of Dreams In The Light Of Broader Post-enlightenment Attempts To Theorise Individuality-- Machine Generated Contents Note: Introduction: The Historiography Of The Unconscious; Part I. The Subject Before The Unconscious: 1. A General Science Of The I: Fichte And The Crisis Of Self-identification; 2. Natural Autonomy: Schelling And The Divisions Of Freedom; Part Ii. The Romantic Unconscious: 3. Divining The Individual: Towards A Metaphysics Of The Unconscious; 4. The Historical Unconscious; 5. Post-idealism And The Romantic Psyche; Part Iii. The Psychoanalytic Unconscious: 6. Freud: The Geist In The Machine; 7. The Liberal Unconscious; Conclusion. Matt Ffytche. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The unconscious, cornerstone of psychoanalysis, was a key twentieth-century concept and retains an enormous influence on psychological and cultural theory. Yet there is a surprising lack of investigation into its roots in the critical philosophy and Romantic psychology of the early nineteenth century, long before Freud. Why did the unconscious emerge as such a powerful idea? And why at that point? This interdisciplinary study breaks new ground in tracing the emergence of the unconscious through the work of philosopher Friedrich Schelling, examining his association with Romantic psychologists, anthropologists and theorists of nature. It sets out the beginnings of a neglected tradition of the unconscious psyche and proposes a compelling new argument: that the unconscious develops from the modern need to theorise individual independence. The book assesses the impact of this tradition on psychoanalysis itself, re-reading Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams in the light of broader post-Enlightenment attempts to theorise individuality"-- Provided by publisher