Death drive in Lacan (3): Symbolic mortification

in what way can we say that the symbolic order is deathly? We think a little bit about the particular forms of repetition and insistence that are enabled by language. We also ask - via the examples of genocide, the haunted quality of language, and the idea of language over-writing vitality - how the symbolic enables a more profound form of negation than might otherwise be possible. We also touch on the topics of cancellation culture, Hegel's idea that 'the word is the murder of the thing', and ask: are ghosts made possible by language.
Link to board:
drive.google.c...

[@macguffin8540]

Thanks for this, love your point about a greater power of negation. Your videos and your writing are valued resources.

[@ReasonTatters]

Thanks! Great examples and performance of theory!

[@nikk9277]

The incessant production of the symbolic seems to be centred in the crosshairs of recently popularised forms of meditation (like body scans, breath work and mindful breathing/listening/eating etc..) Is it naive to see these practices as an attempt to quell or temporarily pacify the death drive by reprioritising the phenomenological and more vital forms of living? If not, do you think they stand a chance?
Also, thanks so much for the staggering amount of educational content, I’m really quite grateful!

[@derekhookonlacan]

I think that's an interesting observation. My answer is, possibly. But bear one possibility in mind, those contemplative practices can themselves be subject to a habit forming repetition.

[@wadesharp8017]

I’m having trouble understanding where repetition comes in

[@the_reality_of_the_virtual3212]

Thanks for this great Educational content. Keep on going. ✌️✌️✌️

[@MrKrisstain]

Words will not replace us! Words will not replace us!

[@deathdrivedialectics]

excellent video very helpful

[@inco9943]

Great lecture

[@bradnelsonUS]

Thank you for this!!!

[@quantumastrologer5599]

Outstanding!

[@OH-pc5jx]

I agree that the signifier splits Lacan apart from a certain kind of phenomenology, based on a ‘pure’ or ‘immediate’ or even ‘authentic’ relation of bodies directly to bodies, but on another level you could say that ‘phenomeno-logy’ - the overwriting of the phenomenal world by logos, by the word - stands precisely for the challenge lacan makes to this naive view

[@yngdav9784]

Thank you for this very stimulating lecture. I was thinking about the ubiquity of the symbolic order you mentioned. My two cents are as follows: If there's any way in which we can have "direct access" to the world independent of the symbol, it would have to be my means of mindfulness meditation. Successfully done, there are no symbols present within the field of consciousness.

[@genuineletter]

i dont see fat, i see hair ;)

[@derekhookonlacan]

You made me laugh - thank you!