First Writings by Jacques Lacan

First Writings by Jacques Lacan

Before he became an analyst, Lacan was a psychiatrist. The articles in the present volume would not be being republished if they didn’t invite us to read them retroactively. What can they teach us about the formation of this future analyst?

Lacan’s clinical approach is rooted in the uniqueness of each case, which is only ever chosen for its “singularity”. Each one must necessarily present an “original character” or be “atypical”. One might recognise from the outset an orientation towards the “one-by-one” required by the practice of psychoanalysis.

The singularity of each case re-occurs at the level of the clinical details, studied with a concern for precision that extends down to the smallest detail, to the point where the observation may seem labyrinthine to the reader. Lacan will later declare his taste for “fidelity to the symptom’s formal envelope”.

Three other features carry traces of the future. There is the use of the word “structure” to refer to the organisation of an entity that forms a whole, separate from other entities, and detached from the concept of development. There is the importance given to the analysis of the writings of patients. And then there is the related connection established between symptoms and literary creations.

Jacques Lacan (1901-1981) was one of the twentieth century’s most influential thinkers.  His many works include Écrits, The Four Fundamental Concepts of Psycho-analysis and the many volumes of The Seminar.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781509561308
ISBN 10	1509561307
Title	First Writings
Author	Jacques Lacan
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Year published	2024-10-18
Number of pages	140
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.