Lacan and the Environment

Leading and emerging Lacanian scholars explore the relationship between psychoanalysis and the environment and climate crisis in this collection, arguing that understanding our proximity to the real, lack, loss, mourning, and destruction is essential to addressing these issues. The book traces Lacan's contribution through various topics and asks questions about climate change denial, Bartleby's behavior, animal desire, internet garbage, and the greening of the planet during COVID-19. It offers a timely intervention into Lacanian theory, environmental studies, geography, philosophy, and literary studies, illustrating the relevance of psychoanalysis to current social and environmental concerns.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 315 pages
Publication date: 17 July 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

In this captivating new collection, esteemed and emerging Lacanian scholars embark on a quest to unravel the profound implications of psychoanalysis for understanding the environment and the climate crisis. They contend that a comprehensive grasp of climate change and its myriad ramifications necessitates a deep exploration of our unsettling proximity to the real, the conflation of lack with loss, and the distinction between mourning and melancholy. Moreover, they shed light on our inclination to destroy the very world we seek to safeguard. The book traces Lacan's influential contribution through a thoughtful examination of various topics, including doomsday preppers, forest suicides, Indigenous resistance, post-apocalyptic films, the mathematics of climate science, and the relevance of Kant. These scholars raise thought-provoking questions such as: What actions can we take when confronted with climate change deniers in our midst? What would Bartleby's response be? Does the animal possess a desire? Who is responsible for cleaning up the vast amount of garbage present on the internet? Why does the sudden greening of the planet during the COVID-19 pandemic offer little assistance in addressing these pressing concerns?

This collection serves as a timely intervention into Lacanian theory, environmental studies, geography, philosophy, and literary studies, highlighting the indispensable role of psychoanalysis in addressing contemporary social and environmental challenges. By delving into the intricate connections between our psyche, the natural world, and societal dynamics, the authors offer a fresh perspective on the complexities of our relationship with the environment and the urgent need for transformative action.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030672072
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021