COURSE NINE – Philosophical Aspects of Lacanian Psychoanalysis

Course Coordinator: Judith Hamilton

Course Leaders: Carlos Rivas, Alireza Taheri

Thursdays, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm: April 7, 14, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 2022. (6 evenings)

Fee: $360

Deadline for registration is March 31, 2022
Preregistration is required.

** DISTANCE PARTICIPATION ONLY – This course will be conducted online.

Jacques Lacan’s work is known for spanning an incredibly broad range of interests. Lacan was inspired by a vast array of disciplines from linguistics, anthropology, topology, and philosophy (to name a few) and, likewise, his own work influenced a very wide array of fields (film, literary and architectural theory, philosophy, anthropology). In this course, we will consider Lacan’s relation to philosophy by focusing on the genealogy of his thought in phenomenology, Hegelian dialectics, structuralism, and the philosophy of science. Moreover, we will also consider the vicissitudes of his influence on subsequent philosophy. In this regard, we will reflect on the contributions made to contemporary philosophy by the thinkers of the Ljubljana School (Zizek, Dolar, Zupancic). Also, pertinent here will be the work of Lorenzo Chiesa, Joan Copjec and Alain Badiou. The various philosophical themes (to name a few) that will be studied will include the following: Hegel’s master and slave dialectic (as appropriated by Kojève), the influence of Koyré’s reflections on modern mathematical science, Lacan’s relation to Heidegger (with respect to language) and Merleau-Ponty (in relation to perception and hallucination), the work of Miller in formalizing a Lacanian epistemology, Badiou’s extension of Lacan’s involvement with logic and mathematics, the critique of post-structuralism put forward by the Ljubljana School. As we make our way into the 21st century the influence of Lacan’s thought will be increasingly felt not only in psychoanalytic theory and practice but also in the burgeoning of new philosophical perspectives founded on a Lacanian conception of the subject.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the course the participants will be able to:

1. Outline the genealogy of Lacan’s thoughts on philosophy.
2. Consider Lacan’s influence on later, contemporary philosophers, especially as they make use of his conception of the subject.
3. Discuss the influences of Lacan’s thought on contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice.

Judith Hamilton, MD, FRCP, (Psych)

Psychiatrist/Psychoanalyst in Private Practice. She teaches in the ATPPP and in the Extension Program of the TPS. She is a co-founder of Lacan Toronto. Faculty TPS&I.

Carlos Rivas, RP

Studied psychology, philosophy, and social sciences in Venezuela. He trained in Gestalt Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Motivational Interviewing, Focusing, and EMDR, and in 2005 was the recipient of the Venezuelan National Award for Research in Psychotherapy. He has a private practice in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Member of Lacan Toronto; Guest of the TPS.

Alireza Taheri, PhD, RP

Wrote his dissertation for the University of Cambridge on Nietzsche, Freud, and Lacan. He also holds an MA in philosophy from Essex and an MSc in psychoanalytic thought from University College London. He has done psychoanalytic work in London (UK). He works in private practice in Toronto. Candidate at TIP.