Lacan: A Genealogy

A Genealogy of Desire by Beistegui provides a historical and critical approach to Lacan's work, charting the development of his key concept of desire and its relationship to liberal political economy, psychiatry, psychopathology, and the politics of identity. It highlights the urgency and radicality of Lacan's concepts and the relationship between desire, norm, and the law.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 28 July 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Lacan's A Genealogy offers a comprehensive genealogical exploration of his entire body of work, spanning from his early writings on paranoid psychosis to his later investigations into the realms of real and surplus enjoyment. Beistegui contends that a thorough genealogy is essential to chart and interpret Lacan's central concept of desire. This genealogy, drawing inspiration from Foucault, adopts a historical and critical approach, seeking to understand how our current subjectivity has been shaped through theoretical and practical transformations, the emergence of specific discourses of truth, the establishment of institutions, and the dynamics of power relations.

Throughout this genealogical journey, desire emerges as a pivotal thread, intertwining with liberal political economy, psychiatry, psychopathology, and various discourses of recognition that shape our contemporary politics of identity. Moreover, it holds a central place in our understanding, experience, and governance of ourselves, both ethically and politically. A novel interpretation of Lacan emphasizes the radicality and urgency of his concepts, highlighting the relationship between desire, norm, and the law.

In the first chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Subject," Beistegui delves into the historical roots of Lacan's thought, tracing the influence of Freud, Nietzsche, and Heidegger on his early formulations. He highlights the emergence of the concept of the "subject" as a central figure in psychoanalysis, and how Lacan's work departed from traditional Freudian theories to emphasize the role of the "real" in shaping subjectivity.

The second chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Signifier," explores Lacan's concept of the signifier and its relationship to the real. Beistegui explains how the signifier functions as a mediator between the subject and the external world, and how it is structured by the imaginary and the symbolic. He also discusses the importance of the mirror stage in the development of the child's subjectivity, and how the child's relationship with the mirror image plays a crucial role in the formation of the ego.

The third chapter, titled "The Genealogy of Desire," focuses on Lacan's concept of desire and its relationship to the law. Beistegui argues that desire is not merely a psychological or physiological phenomenon, but rather a fundamental aspect of human existence that is deeply intertwined with the law. He explores how desire is regulated by the law, and how it operates as a mechanism of social control and discipline.

In the fourth chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Other," Beistegui examines Lacan's concept of the "other" and its role in shaping subjectivity. He discusses how the "other" functions as a mirror image of the subject, and how the subject's relationship with the "other" plays a crucial role in the formation of the ego. Beistegui also explores the concept of the "big Other," which represents the societal and cultural norms that shape our understanding of the world.

The fifth chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Subject of the Law," delves into Lacan's concept of the subject of the law and its relationship to the real. Beistegui argues that the subject of the law is not a passive recipient of legal norms, but rather an active agent who actively engages with the law and shapes its interpretation. He explores how the subject of the law is constituted through the interplay between the law and the imaginary, and how the subject's relationship with the law is shaped by the symbolic order.

In the final chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Subject of the Real," Beistegui examines Lacan's concept of the subject of the real and its relationship to the symbolic order. He argues that the subject of the real is not a fixed entity, but rather a dynamic and fluid process that is constantly evolving and adapting to the changing conditions of the world. He explores how the subject of the real is constituted through the interplay between the real and the imaginary, and how the subject's relationship with the real is shaped by the symbolic order.

Throughout the book, Beistegui employs a rich and nuanced vocabulary to elucidate Lacan's complex theories and concepts. He provides detailed examples and illustrations to support his arguments, and he engages with a wide range of philosophical, psychological, and legal thinkers
Lacan's A Genealogy offers a comprehensive genealogical exploration of his entire body of work, spanning from his early writings on paranoid psychosis to his later investigations into the realms of real and surplus enjoyment. Beistegui contends that a thorough genealogy is essential to chart and interpret Lacan's central concept of desire. This genealogy, drawing inspiration from Foucault, adopts a historical and critical approach, seeking to understand how our current subjectivity has been shaped through theoretical and practical transformations, the emergence of specific discourses of truth, the establishment of institutions, and the dynamics of power relations.

Throughout this genealogical journey, desire emerges as a pivotal thread, intertwining with liberal political economy, psychiatry, psychopathology, and various discourses of recognition that shape our contemporary politics of identity. Moreover, it holds a central place in our understanding, experience, and governance of ourselves, both ethically and politically. A novel interpretation of Lacan emphasizes the radicality and urgency of his concepts, highlighting the relationship between desire, norm, and the law.

In the first chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Subject," Beistegui delves into the historical roots of Lacan's thought, tracing the influence of Freud, Nietzsche, and Heidegger on his early formulations. He highlights the emergence of the concept of the "subject" as a central figure in psychoanalysis, and how Lacan's work departed from traditional Freudian theories to emphasize the role of the "real" in shaping subjectivity.

The second chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Signifier," explores Lacan's concept of the signifier and its relationship to the real. Beistegui explains how the signifier functions as a mediator between the subject and the external world, and how it is structured by the imaginary and the symbolic. He also discusses the importance of the mirror stage in the development of the child's subjectivity, and how the child's relationship with the mirror image plays a crucial role in the formation of the ego.

The third chapter, titled "The Genealogy of Desire," focuses on Lacan's concept of desire and its relationship to the law. Beistegui argues that desire is not merely a psychological or physiological phenomenon, but rather a fundamental aspect of human existence that is deeply intertwined with the law. He explores how desire is regulated by the law, and how it operates as a mechanism of social control and discipline.

In the fourth chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Other," Beistegui examines Lacan's concept of the "other" and its role in shaping subjectivity. He discusses how the "other" functions as a mirror image of the subject, and how the subject's relationship with the "other" plays a crucial role in the formation of the ego. Beistegui also explores the concept of the "big Other," which represents the societal and cultural norms that shape our understanding of the world.

The fifth chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Subject of the Law," delves into Lacan's concept of the subject of the law and its relationship to the real. Beistegui argues that the subject of the law is not a passive recipient of legal norms, but rather an active agent who actively engages with the law and shapes its interpretation. He explores how the subject of the law is constituted through the interplay between the law and the imaginary, and how the subject's relationship with the law is shaped by the symbolic order.

In the final chapter, titled "The Genealogy of the Subject of the Real," Beistegui examines Lacan's concept of the subject of the real and its relationship to the symbolic order. He argues that the subject of the real is not a fixed entity, but rather a dynamic and fluid process that is constantly evolving and adapting to the changing conditions of the world. He explores how the subject of the real is constituted through the interplay between the real and the imaginary, and how the subject's relationship with the real is shaped by the symbolic order.

Throughout the book, Beistegui employs a rich and nuanced vocabulary to elucidate Lacan's complex theories and concepts. He provides detailed examples and illustrations to support his arguments, and he engages with a wide range of philosophical, psychological, and legal scholars to enrich his analysis.

In conclusion, Lacan's A Genealogy provides a valuable contribution to the study of psychoanalysis and the broader field of philosophy. By offering a genealogical account of Lacan's work, Beistegui sheds light on the historical and theoretical foundations of his concepts and their relevance to contemporary debates. Through his meticulous exploration of desire, the law, the other, and the subject of the real, Beistegui offers a novel interpretation of Lacan that emphasizes the radicality and urgency of his ideas and their relationship to the broader social and political context. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in psychoanalysis, philosophy, and the complexities of human existence.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350190818