Neither philosopher nor anti-philosopher: remarks on the role of philosophical references in the construction of lacan's psychoanalysis

Abstract

Lacan is a psychoanalyst whose intensive dialogue with philosophy has become a distinctive feature of his thought. At the same time, however, he agrees with Freud's rejection of philosophy and takes often an accentuated antiphilosophical position. This paper sets out to discuss this seeming contradiction and suggests that Lacan's use of philosophical references may perhaps be best understood in the context of a metaphorical conception of psychoanalytic theory which underlies his reconstruction of Freudian psychoanalysis.