Subjectivity and Otherness: A Philosophical Reading of Lacan

by Lorenzo Chiesa

The evolution of the concept of subjectivity in the works of Jacques Lacan. Countering the call by some “pro-Lacanians” for an end to the exegesis of Lacan's work—and the dismissal by “anti-Lacanians” of Lacan as impossibly impenetrable— Subjectivity and Otherness argues for Lacan as a “paradoxically systematic” thinker, and for the necessity of a close analysis of his texts. Lorenzo Chiesa examines, from a philosophical perspective, the evolution of the concept of subjectivity in Lacan's work, carrying out a detailed reading of the Lacanian subject in its necessary relation to otherness according to Lacan's orders of the Imaginary, the Symbolic, and the Real. Chiesa emphasizes the continuity underlying apparently incompatible phases of Lacan's examination of the subject, describing Lacan's theory as a consistent philosophical system—but one that is constantly revised and therefore problematic. Chiesa analyzes each “old” theory of the subject within the framework of a “new” elaboration and reassesses its fundamental tenets from the perspective of a general psychoanalytic discourse that becomes increasingly complex. From the 1960s on, writes Chiesa, the Lacanian subject amounts to an irreducible lack that must be actively confronted and assumed; this “subjectivized lack,” Chiesa argues further, offers an escape from the contemporary impasse between the “death of the subject” alleged by postmodernism and a return to a traditional “substantialist” notion of the subject. An original treatment of psychoanalytic issues, Subjectivity and Otherness fills a significant gap in the existing literature on Lacan, taking seriously the need for a philosophical investigation of Lacanian concepts.

Genres: Philosophy, Psychoanalysis, Nonfiction, Theory, Psychology, Research

248 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2007

About the author

Lorenzo Chiesa is Director of the Genoa School of Humanities and the author of Subjectivity and Otherness: A Philosophical Reading of Lacan and The Not-Two: Logic and God in Lacan, both published by the MIT Press.

Reviews

[Sara-Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chisea's book is a terrific overview, and although less accessible than fink and far less playful than zizek, it excels in combining concentrated precision with (possibly unmatched) depth and rigour, particularly of the shifting periods in lacan's thought that seem to raise insoluble ambiguities. It is organized into three sections that correspond to the Lacanian registers of the Imaginary, the Symbolic and the Real and that roughly follow a chronological path through his seminars on the status of subjects with 'normal' symbolic identification. The pages kept a' turning in accompaniment to many 'ah ha!'s.

In one of bruce fink's books, he spoke of a temporal paradox while reading lacan, something like, 'you can't read him unless you already understand what he means, and even then…'. This book made me feel as if I might, for what its worth, finally be prepped enough to read lacan's seminars and get something out of it. maybe maybe.

[Nima · Rating 4 out of 5]

در این بستر است که لاکان تعاریف معروف خود از عشق را برای اولین بار قاعده‌مند می‌سازد: «آنچه کسی در مورد یک موجود دوست دارد، ورای او و در نهایت چیزی است که آن موجود فاقد آن است» و به موازات آن، «هیچ نشانه‌ای از عشق بزرگ‌تر از اهدای چیزی که فرد آن را ندارد نیست». قاعده‌ی اول تلویحاً به عاشق اشاره دارد و قاعده‌ی دوم به معشوق. می‌توانیم چنین استنتاج کنیم که طی دیالکتیک ناکامی، این قواعد بی‌قید‌وشرط هم بر کودک و هم بر مادر اعمال می‌شوند. رابطه‌ی آنها یک رابطه‌ی «عاشقانه» است.‌ کودک به‌عنوان عاشق، ابژه‌ی رضایتمندی را درخواست نمی‌کند، بلکه ابژه‌ی نمادین را به‌مثابه چیزی که فقدان دارد درخواست می‌کند. همچنین لاکان با توجه به اینکه این ابژه که ورای … است، «هیچ» نیست، زیرا دارای ویژگی «بودن نمادین» است، آن را «بودن» (being) می‌نامد.‌ علاوه بر این، این ابژه در مقام ابژه، دارای فقدان فالوس است [ابژه‌ی فاقد فالوس است].‌ همین امر در مورد مادر نیز صادق است: او کودک را به‌خاطر آنچه فاقد آن است دوست دارد، یا بهتر بگوییم برای آنچه بیش از او درون او وجود دارد، یعنی گشتالت فالیک. برعکس، هم مادر و هم کودک به‌عنوان معشوق، چیزی را می‌دهند که ندارند: کودک جایگزین فالوس ازدست‌رفته‌ی مادر است، بی‌آنکه بداند؛ مشابه با این امر، مادری که کودک هنوز محرومیت او را تشخیص نمی‌دهد، همه‌ی توان مطلق در نظر گرفته می‌شود و از این‌رو توانایی برآوردن تمام درخواست‌های او را دارد. به این صورت، هم کودک و هم مادر چیزی را که ندارند می‌دهند و آن فالوس است. موقتاً فقدان‌ها به این صورت روی هم قرار می‌گیرند. P120

[Farshad · Rating 5 out of 5]

كنار كتاب كژ نگريستن، اين كتاب فك كنم بهترين مورد در زمينه ي معرفى انديشه هاى بنيادين لكان است

[leren_lezen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. On the one hand this is an impressive and very 'deep' reading of Lacan. On the other hand, it is bit annoying that Chiesa claims to stay close to the primary works, which makes him 'hate' on feminist/cultural studies for doing a 'soft version' of Lacan, yet he himself cannot escape the necessity of interpretation and selection of sources. Furthermore written in overly obscure (I would argue masculine) language, which is really a shame and unnecessary. Also very annoying that the subject is always a 'he' for Chiesa (as it unfortunately was for Lacan too). What was in particular philosophical about this book - besides the focus on subjectivity - is also not clear to me. Would not recommend any beginner nor advanced Lacan scholar to read it, although I have no doubts about the rigor of Chiesa's analysis.

[Colt Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how much it succeeds in being a "philosophical reading of Lacan," and I think Chiesa owns up to this in the text, but it is masterful in the manner in which it establishes connection between Lacan's different eras. So often we think of the late Lacan as being completely distinct from his earlier periods, but Chiesa rigorously defends how we can trace common threads throughout each. Really wonderful text; could make for a great introduction to Lacan.

[The Big Signorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re new to the seminars of Jacques Lacan, then this is a systemic outline of all this central ideas from the early, middle, and late periods of his seminar teachings. Lorenzo not only makes a rigorous account of the central ideas of the 3 registers but also of the function of the subject, the subject as barred, the Other, the Big Other, the real of the Other, etc. If there is a secondary text that can attempt to say it all, then it is this text right here.

[georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

well-written but not what i needed for my essay

[Braeden Hysuick · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this just as difficult as reading Lacan himself. This book helped clarify a couple concepts but you should stay away from this if you’re looking for an intro to Lacan.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

You can take Lacan out of the clinic, but you can't take the clinic out of Lacan.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I'm only about halfway through at this point, so I can't entirely justify my rating.) This is an excellent reconstruction of Lacan's theories. I was excited about this book before it came out, and now that I've gotten into it, I'm very impressed. He manages to articulate the aspects of Lacan's thought that sometimes (who am I kidding? oftentimes) leave me slightly confused if not bewildered. For example, I started reading this book after presenting on Lacan's essay on the Mirror Stage and was pleasantly surprised by Chiesa's account, not only because what I understood matched up with what Chiesa writes, but also because he manages to articulate Lacan's ideas in a seemingly effortless manner. I'm curious to see what I'll make of Chiesa's implicit argument regarding the development of Lacan's thought (it is best seen as incorporating earlier aspects of Lacan's theories in a manner that does not necessary place his later theories at odds with his earlier ones) when I manage to read and think more about Lacan.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't actually finish this as I had to return it. However I did like what I read, despite it being rather wordy and the many obscure references to things I didn't understand. I am intrigued by this series though.

It's at the Rowden White if anyone reading this is facinated b the title.

[Tomasz Gil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my 2nd introduction to Lacan. Very difficult, felt very steep. The author seems to be reading a lot of other ideas into Lacan. I do not recommend unless you are ready to take on Lacan as a critic.

[Tommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good explanation of the Lacanian theory of the subject.