Jacques Lacan’s Seminar IV, which was given in 1956-1957 and published in 1960 as “La relation d’objet” (“The Object Relationship”), is an in-depth examination of the concept of the object in psychoanalysis. According to Lacan, the object plays a central role in the development of the subject, and the subject’s relationship to the object is crucial for understanding the subject’s psychological functioning.
Lacan defines the object as something that is desired by the subject and is a source of satisfaction and fulfillment. However, he emphasizes that the object is not simply a physical object, but rather it is a signifier that represents the subject’s desire. In other words, the object is a symbol that stands in for the subject’s desire, and it is this symbol that the subject desires.
Lacan argues that the subject’s desire is always mediated by language, and the object serves as a point of reference for the subject’s desire. The subject’s desire is directed towards the object, which represents the subject’s lack or lack of fulfillment. In this sense, the object is a representation of the subject’s lack or desire for completion, and it is this lack that drives the subject’s search for satisfaction.
Lacan also discusses the role of the Other in the subject’s development. The Other is the subject’s external reality, which includes language, culture, and other people. The subject’s relationship to the Other is mediated by the subject’s internal representations of the Other, which are shaped by the subject’s experiences and desires. In this way, the Other plays a crucial role in the subject’s development, influencing the subject’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
In Seminar IV, Lacan also introduces the concept of the “mirror stage,” which occurs during the infant’s development. During this stage, the infant recognizes itself in a mirror and begins to develop a sense of self. This sense of self is not fixed, however, and it is constantly being shaped and reshaped by the subject’s experiences and interactions with the world. The mirror stage is an important moment in the development of the subject’s sense of self, and it marks the emergence of the subject’s desire for the object.
To understand Lacan’s ideas, it is important to gain some more context about his work.
Jacques Lacan was a French psychoanalyst who was active in the mid-20th century. He was heavily influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud, but he also developed his own ideas and theories that diverged from traditional Freudian psychoanalysis.
One of the main ideas that Lacan discusses in Seminar IV is the concept of the object. In psychoanalysis, the object is not just a physical object, but rather it represents the subject’s desire. The subject’s desire is always incomplete and unfulfilled, and the object serves as a point of reference for this lack. The subject’s desire is driven by this lack, and the subject is constantly seeking to fulfill this desire.
Lacan also emphasizes the role of language in shaping the subject’s desire and understanding of the world. He argues that the subject’s desire is mediated by language, and that the subject’s relationship to the object is shaped by the subject’s use of language.
Where does the idea of the “object” come from? Why do psychoanalysts think that humans desire “objects”?
The concept of the object in psychoanalysis comes from Sigmund Freud’s theory of the psyche, which posits that the human psyche (mind) is made up of three main components: the ego, the superego, and the id.
According to Freud, the id is the unconscious part of the psyche that is the source of the individual’s bodily needs, wants, desires, and impulses, particularly their sexual and aggressive impulses. The id operates according to the pleasure principle, which means that it seeks to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.
The ego is the part of the psyche that is responsible for a person’s conscious thoughts and perceptions, as well as their sense of self. The ego operates according to the reality principle, which means that it seeks to find ways to satisfy the id’s desires in a way that is acceptable to the external world.
The superego is the part of the psyche that represents the individual’s moral and ethical values, as well as their sense of right and wrong. The superego strives to suppress the impulses of the id and to bring them into line with the individual’s moral standards.
According to Freud, the ego mediates between the id and the external world, and it seeks to find objects in the external world that can satisfy the id’s desires. These objects are known as “partial objects,” as they only partially fulfill the subject’s desire. The subject’s desire is therefore always incomplete and unfulfilled, and the subject is constantly seeking new objects in an attempt to fulfill this desire.
Lacan builds on Freud’s theory of the psyche and develops the concept of the object further, arguing that the object is not just a physical object, but rather it represents the subject’s desire. The object serves as a point of reference for the subject’s lack or lack of fulfillment, and the subject’s desire is directed towards the object.
And how does the mirror stage relate to the concept of the object?
The mirror stage is a concept introduced by Lacan in his Seminar IV that refers to a stage of development that occurs during the infant’s first year of life. During this stage, the infant begins to recognize itself in a mirror and to develop a sense of self.
According to Lacan, the mirror stage is an important moment in the development of the subject, as it marks the first time the subject recognizes itself as a coherent, unified being. Prior to the mirror stage, the infant experiences itself as a disorganized mass of sensations and lacks a cohesive sense of self.
The mirror stage is significant because it marks the beginning of the subject’s separation from the mother and the start of the subject’s entry into the symbolic order, which is the social and cultural world of language and meaning. The mirror stage is also significant because it marks the beginning of the subject’s recognition of the other, or external reality.
Lacan argues that the mirror stage is not just a physical event, but rather it involves the subject’s identification with an image of itself that is constructed through its relationship with the mother and the other. This image of the self is an idealized version of the self that the subject strives to live up to.
The concept of the object is related to the mirror stage in that the object represents the subject’s desire and the subject’s lack. The subject’s desire is directed towards the object, which represents the subject’s lack or lack of fulfillment. The subject’s desire is therefore always incomplete and unfulfilled, and this lack drives the subject’s search for satisfaction. The subject’s relationship to the object is shaped by the subject’s identification with the idealized image of itself that is constructed during the mirror stage.
I think I understand the idea, but I am having trouble understanding the logic of the whole thing. Do you think you can help?
I’m sorry if my previous explanations were confusing. I’ll try to provide a more detailed and logical explanation of Lacan’s ideas in Seminar IV.
At the center of Lacan’s theory is the concept of the subject, which refers to the individual’s sense of self and identity. According to Lacan, the subject is not a fixed, stable entity, but rather it is constantly being shaped and reshaped by the individual’s experiences and interactions with the world.