Resistances of Psychoanalysis

by Jacques Derrida

In the three essays that make up this stimulating and often startling book, Jacques Derrida argues against the notion that the basic ideas of psychoanalysis have been thoroughly worked through, argued, and assimilated. The continuing interest in psychoanalysis is here examined in the various "resistances" to analysis—conceived not only as a phenomenon theorized at the heart of psychoanalysis, but as psychoanalysis's resistance to itself, an insusceptibility to analysis that has to do with the structure of analysis itself. Derrida not only shows how the interest of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic writing can be renewed today, but these essays afford him the opportunity to revisit and reassess a subject he first confronted (in an essay on Freud) in 1966. They also serve to clarify Derrida's thinking about the subjects of the essays—Freud, Lacan, and Foucault—a thinking that, especially with regard to the last two, has been greatly distorted and misunderstood. The first essay, on Freud, is a tour de force of close reading of Freud's texts as philosophical reflection. By means of the fine distinctions Derrida makes in this analytical reading, particularly of The Interpretation of Dreams, he opens up the realm of analysis into new and unpredictable forms—such as meeting with an interdiction (when taking an analysis further is "forbidden" by a structural limit). Following the essay that might be dubbed Derrida's "return to Freud," the next is devoted to Lacan, the figure for whom that phrase was something of a slogan. In this essay and the next, on Foucault, Derrida reencounters two thinkers to whom he had earlier devoted important essays, which precipitated stormy discussions and numerous divisions within the intellectual milieus influenced by their writings. In this essay, which skillfully integrates the concept of resistance into larger questions, Derrida asks in What is the origin and nature of the text that constitutes Lacanian psychoanalysis, considering its existence as an archive, as teachings, as seminars, transcripts, quotations, etc.? Derrida's third essay may be called not simply a criticism but an appreciation of Foucault's an appreciation not only in the psychological and rhetorical sense, but also in the sense that it elevates Foucault's thought by giving back to it ranges and nuances lost through its reduction by his readers, his own texts, and its formulaic packaging.

Genres: Philosophy, Psychoanalysis, Theory, France, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published December 16, 2014

About the author

Jacques Derrida was a French philosopher best known for developing deconstruction, a method of critical analysis that questioned the stability of meaning in language, texts, and Western metaphysical thought. Born in Algeria, he studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he was influenced by philosophers such as Heidegger, Husserl, and Levinas. His groundbreaking works, including Of Grammatology (1967), Writing and Difference (1967), and Speech and Phenomena (1967), positioned him at the center of intellectual debates on language, meaning, and interpretation.
Derrida argued that Western philosophy was structured around binary oppositions—such as speech over writing, presence over absence, or reason over emotion—that falsely privileged one term over the other. He introduced the concept of différance, which suggests that meaning is constantly deferred and never fully present, destabilizing the idea of fixed truth. His work engaged with a wide range of disciplines, including literature, psychoanalysis, political theory, and law, challenging conventional ways of thinking and interpretation.
Throughout his career, Derrida continued to explore ethical and political questions, particularly in works such as Specters of Marx (1993) and The Politics of Friendship (1994), which addressed democracy, justice, and responsibility. He held academic positions at institutions such as the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales and the University of California, Irvine, and remained an influential figure in both European and American intellectual circles. Despite criticism for his complex writing style and abstract concepts, Derrida’s ideas have left a lasting impact on contemporary philosophy, literary theory, and cultural criticism, reshaping the way meaning and language are understood in the modern world.

Reviews

[Γιώργος Γεωργόπουλος · Rating 5 out of 5]

Τίμιος ο Ντεριντά τίμιος κι ο λόγος του, κι όταν δεν είναι λες...ρε τον άτιμο. ;-)

[Joe Conde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short collection of three shockingly lucid essays from Derrida, a writer I’ve usually avoided for having such an impenetrable writing style. Despite my reluctance, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, particularly the final essay on Foucault and History of Madness. Moreover, these essays were helpful in understanding Derrida’s movement of deconstruction, if deconstruction is the kind of thing (?) to “understood” anyway. Well worth reading, especially if you’ve made the unfortunate move to try reading anything French poststructuralist/postmodern.

[Jayson Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is comprised of three essays, each one focused on deconstructing a text from three different psychologists; Freud, Lacan, and Foucault. It is dense in places and highly lucid in others. Each thinker is treated respectfully and intelligently by Derrida. I'm more interested and inspired to read some of Lacan and Foucault because their ideas sound fascinating. And I'm continually amazed with Derrida's deep and eloquent writing in this book. I will definitely be rereading this one.

[Masha M · Rating 3 out of 5]

очень пока для меня путаный язык и можно разобраться, но это выматывает. постоянные скобки, синонимы, гребаная феноменология

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

It probably deserves more than 3 stars but it's more abstruse than usual - more reliant on texts from which I am at this point distant, making comprehension difficult.