The Lacanian Delusion

Book excerpt: The ODÉON Series, General Editors: Josue V. Harari, Vincent Descombes, and Greg Sims A multidisciplinary series, ODÉON will serve as a transfer point--much as the station ODEON in the Paris metro--for the many provocative lines of thought that enliven contemporary cultural criticism. ODÉON will publish original works and translations that enhance the intellectual exchange between Europe and the English-speaking world in the areas of literature, philosophy, and historical and political reflection. In this critical exposition, Roustang addresses the question of the Lacanian legend and how it has functioned over the last twenty years. Exploring how it came to be disseminated, Roustang first situates Lacan's influence in the context of the social explosion of the 1960s. What attracted people to Lacan? Roustang argues that beyond a fascination with his extraordinary personage, his linguistic inventiveness, and his vast culture, it was Lacan's all-encompassing discourse that held his audiences spellbound. Lacan offered a highly original mix of philosophy, mathematics, linguistics, ethnology, theology, and more, assembled and reorganized under the aegis of a psychoanalysis that convinced disciples they had a firm hold on the reins of knowledge. Roustang analyzes this knowledge, focusing on the nature of the "Lacanian delusion," the nature of Lacanian discourse, the nature of Lacanian truth, and the reasons for Lacan's success.