Perversion and Utopia: Studies in Psychoanalysis and Critical Theory

by Joel Whitebook

In this sweeping challenge to the postmodern critiques of psychoanalysis, Joel Whitebook argues for a reintegration of Freud's uncompromising investigation of the unconscious with the political and philosophical insights of critical theory. Perversion and Utopia follows in the tradition of Herbert Marcuse's Eros and Civilization and Paul Ricoeur's Freud and Philosophy. It expands on these books, however, because of the author's remarkable grasp not only of psychoanalytic studies but also of the contemporary critical climate; Whitebook, a philosopher and a psychoanalyst, writes with equal facility on both Habermas and Freud. A central thesis of Perversion and Utopia is that there is an essential affinity between the utopian impulse and the perverse impulse, in that both reflect a desire to bypass the reality principle that Freud claimed to define the human condition. The book explores the positive and negative aspects of the relationship between these impulses, which are ubiquitous features of human life, and the requirements of civilized social existence. Whitebook steers a course between orthodox psychoanalytic conservatism, which seeks simply to repress the perverse-utopian impulse in the name of social continuity and cohesion, and those forms of Freudo-Marxism, postmodernism, and psychoanalytic feminism that advocate its direct and full expression in the name of emancipation. While he demonstrates the limitations of the current textual approaches to Freud, especially those influenced by Lacan, Whitebook also enlists the lessons of psychoanalysis to counteract the excessive rationalism of the Habermasian brand of critical theory, thus making a substantial contribution to current discussions within critical theory itself. His analysis and interpretation of perversion, narcissism, sublimation, and ego bring new insight to these central and thorny issues in Freud, and his discussions of Adorno, Marcuse, Castoriadis, Habermas, Ricoeur, Lacan, and others are equally penetrating.

Genres: Philosophy, Psychoanalysis, Psychology

364 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 1996

Reviews

[LC Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barring discussion of Amy Allen's worthy criticisms, this is the best book I've ever read on critical theory and psychoanalysis. Complete with some incredibly nuanced readings of the ego-psychologists (who, admittely succumbed to the issues they are blamed for on a cultural level) and a brilliant critique of Lacanism, Whitebook is a must read for anyone interested in Freud, the Frankfurt School, and the little-appreciated work of Hans Loewald. I am totally in agreement with Whitebook, Adorno, et al that the ego is not something that theory should just toss away to the metaphorical garbage dump of phantasy. In these trying times, where the lines between reality and hyperreality are increasingly blurred, the ego as a critical, independent agency must be preserved lest we allow reactionary insanity to triumpth. Highly reccomended!