The Phantom of the Ego: Modernism and the Mimetic Unconscious (Studies in Violence, Mimesis, & Culture)

__The Phantom of the Ego__ is the first comparative study that shows how the modernist account of the unconscious anticipates contemporary discoveries about the importance of mimesis in the formation of subjectivity. Rather than beginning with Sigmund Freud as the father of modernism, Nidesh Lawtoo starts with Friedrich Nietzsche’s antimetaphysical diagnostic of the ego, his realization that mimetic reflexes―from sympathy to hypnosis, to contagion, to crowd behavior―move the soul, and his insistence that psychology informs philosophical reflection. Through a transdisciplinary, comparative reading of landmark modernist authors like Nietzsche, Joseph Conrad, D. H. Lawrence, and Georges Bataille, Lawtoo shows that, before being a timely empirical discovery, the “mimetic unconscious” emerged from an untimely current in literary and philosophical modernism. This book traces the psychological, ethical, political, and cultural implications of the realization that the modern ego is born out of the spirit of imitation; it is thus, strictly speaking, not an ego, but what Nietzsche calls, “a phantom of the ego.” __The Phantom of the Ego__ opens up a Nietzschean back door to the unconscious that has mimesis rather than dreams as its __via regia,__ and argues that the modernist account of the “mimetic unconscious” makes our understanding of the psyche new. The Phantom Of The Ego Is The First Comparative Study That Shows How The Modernist Account Of The Unconscious Anticipates Contemporary Discoveries About The Importance Of Mimesis In The Formation Of Subjectivity. Rather Than Beginning With Sigmund Freud As The Father Of Modernism, Nidesh Lawtoo Starts With Friedrich Nietzsche's Antimetaphysical Diagnostic Of The Ego, His Realization That Mimetic Reflexes--from Sympathy To Hypnosis, To Contagion, To Crowd Behavior--move The Soul, And His Insistence That Psychology Informs Philosophical Reflection. Through A Transdisciplinary, Comparative Reading Of Landmark Modernist Authors Like Nietzsche, Joseph Conrad, D. H. Lawrence, And Georges Bataille, Lawtoo Shows That, Before Being A Timely Empirical Discovery, The Mimetic Unconscious Emerged From An Untimely Current In Literary And Philosophical Modernism. -- Publisher Website. Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Pathos Of Distance -- Mimetic Patho(-)logies -- Ancient Quarrels, Modern Reconciliations -- The Mimetic Unconscious -- Diagnostic Program -- Chapter I. Nietzsche's Mimetic Patho(-)logy : From Antiquity To Modernity -- The Phantom -- The Logos Of Sympathy -- Beyond The Rivalry Principle -- Nietzsche's Platonism -- Psycho-physiology Of The Modern Soul -- Prophet Of Nazism? -- Chapter 2. Conrad And The Horror Of Modernity -- Apocalypse Now In The Classroom -- An Outpost Of Regress -- Heart Of Darkness And The Horror Of Mimesis -- Chapter 3. D.h. Lawrence And The Dissolution Of The Ego -- Ghostly Reappearances -- Primitivist Participation -- The Birth Of The Ideal Ego -- Mass Patho(-)logy Reloaded -- Lawrence Contra Freud -- Chapter 4. Bataille's Mimetic Communication -- Phantom Matador -- Enlightening Fascist Psychology -- Anthropological Effervescence -- The Freudian Triangle -- Sovereign Communication, Unconscious Imitation -- The Psychology Of The Future -- Coda. Mimetic Theory Revisited -- Modernism And Mimetic Theory -- The Laughter Of Community -- The Center Does Not Hold -- Notes -- Bibliography - Index. Nidesh Lawtoo. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This is a comparative study that shows how the modernist account of the unconscious anticipates contemporary discoveries about the importance of mimesis in the formation of subjectivity. Rather than beginning with Sigmund Freud as the father of modernism, the author starts with Friedrich Nietzsche's antimetaphysical diagnostic of the ego, his realization that mimetic reflexes - from sympathy to hypnosis, to contagion, to crowd behavior - move the soul, and his insistence that psychology informs philosophical reflection. Through a transdisciplinary, comparative reading of landmark modernist authors like Nietzsche, Joseph Conrad, D.H. Lawrence, and Georges Bataille, the author of this book shows that, before being a timely empirical discovery, the "mimetic unconscious" emerged from an untimely current in literary and philosophical modernism. This book traces the psychological, ethical, political, and cultural implications of the realization that the modern ego is born out of the spirit of imitation; it is thus, strictly speaking, not an ego, but what Nietzsche calls, "a phantom of the ego." This book opens up a Nietzschean back door to the unconscious that has mimesis rather than dreams as its via regia, and argues that the modernist account of the "mimetic unconscious" makes our understanding of the psyche new Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Pathos of Distance Mimetic Patho(-)logies Ancient Quarrels, Modern Reconciliations The Mimetic Unconscious Diagnostic Program Chapter 1. Nietzsche’s Mimetic Patho(-)logy: From Antiquity to Modernity The Phantom The Logos of Sympathy Beyond the Rivalry Principle Nietzsche’s Platonism Psycho-Physiology of the Modern Soul Prophet of Nazism? Chapter 2. Conrad and the Horror of Modernity Apocalypse Now in the Classroom An Outpost of Regress Heart of Darkness and the Horror of Mimesis Chapter 3. D. H. Lawrence and the Dissolution of the Ego Ghostly Reappearances Primitivist Participation The Birth of the Ideal Ego Mass Patho(-)logy Reloaded Lawrence contra Freud Chapter 4. Bataille’s Mimetic Communication Phantom Matador Enlightening Fascist Psychology Anthropological Effervescence The Freudian Triangle Sovereign Communication, Unconscious Imitation The Psychology of the Future Coda. Mimetic Theory Revisited Modernism and Mimetic Theory The Laughter of Community The Center Does Not Hold Notes Bibliography Index "The Phantom of the Ego is the first comparative study that shows how the modernist account of the unconscious anticipates contemporary discoveries about the importance of mimesis in the formation of subjectivity. Rather than beginning with Sigmund Freud as the father of modernism, Nidesh Lawtoo starts with Friedrich Nietzsche's antimetaphysical diagnostic of the ego, his realization that mimetic reflexes--from sympathy to hypnosis, to contagion, to crowd behavior--move the soul, and his insistence that psychology informs philosophical reflection. Through a transdisciplinary, comparative reading of landmark modernist authors like Nietzsche, Joseph Conrad, D. H. Lawrence, and Georges Bataille, Lawtoo shows that, before being a timely empirical discovery, the "mimetic unconscious" emerged from an untimely current in literary and philosophical modernism." -- Site de l'éditeur