Critique on the Couch: Why Critical Theory Needs Psychoanalysis

by Amy Allen

Does critical theory still need psychoanalysis? In Critique on the Couch , Amy Allen offers a cogent and convincing defense of its ongoing relevance.

Countering the overly rationalist and progressivist interpretations of psychoanalysis put forward by contemporary critical theorists such as Jürgen Habermas and Axel Honneth, Allen argues that the work of Melanie Klein offers an underutilized resource. She draws on Freud, Klein, and Lacan to develop a more realistic strand of psychoanalytic thinking that centers on notions of loss, negativity, ambivalence, and mourning. Far from leading to despair, such an understanding of human subjectivity functions as a foundation of creativity, productive self-transformation, and progressive social change.

At a time when critical theorists are increasingly returning to psychoanalytic thought to diagnose the dysfunctions of our politics, this book opens up new ways of understanding the political implications of psychoanalysis while preserving the progressive, emancipatory aims of critique.

280 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Librarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Others:
Amy 2^ Allen : Self Help, Spirituality
Amy 3^ Allen : wrote "Goddess Forsaken"
Amy 4^ Allen : Fiction, Romance, Paranormal
Amy 5^ Allen : Philosophy
Amy 6^ Allen : Childrens, Nature Education

Reviews

[saml · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid book, convincing and wonderful to talk about. a little bit thin and propaedeutic, though

[leren_lezen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice. Still not really convinced of why we need Melanie Klein (and for instance why not LaPlanche or Lacan) to emphasise the death drive that rules the subject. Allen does so because the Kleinian death drive - in her view - is less anti-social compared to some of the more Freudian inspired ones, and critical theory needs a social understanding of the subject for its political aims. Yet I still don't really see why Lacan - for whom the subject can only exist in relation to the Other and others - or LaPlanche - whose understanding of the death drive in terms of enigma and adult-child relationship - are less focused on intersubjectivity and relationality than Klein. LaPlanche and Lacan are furthermore, I think, more convincing as they critique the dichotomy between Eros and death drive, a (conservative?) turn that Allen does fall for with Klein.

What would have been cool here is an analysis of the anti-social turn in queer theory (Bersani, Edelman) and see how Allen would position herself in that debate, as this turn celebrates negativity but in a paradoxical way that does allow for 'better futures.'

[Attasit Sittidumrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

By introducing Melanie Klein's psychological treatment of the drive which is not opposite to the social living, Allen is successful to reground the political project of Frankfurt School. It could say that her aim could be nothing rather than to revitalize the emancipatory side in the project of Frankfurt school subordinated by the Habermassian paradigm of communicative rationality. In other words, what Allen tries to do in this book is pushing Frankfurt school's political direction beyond their limit set by Habermas's philosophy of intersubjectivity. To sum: with the help of Kleinian psychological framework, Allen displays the shape of Frankfurt school beyond Habermas's paradigm, namely, the shape that could resuscitate Adorno's spirit in the more political way.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important argument and critique of Habermas and Honneth. Allen is a bit too taken with Klein, however.