"[[pleasure principle ]]" ([[Fr]]. ''[[principe de plaisir]]'') Even when Lacan uses the
Even when [[Lacan]] uses the word '"[[pleasure' ]]" on its own, he is always referring to the [[pleasure principle|pleasure ''principle'']], andnever to a sensation.
never to a sensation.--
The [[pleasure principle ]] is one of the '"two principles of mental functioning'" posted by [[Freud]] in his metapsychological writings (the other being the [[reality principle]]).
posited by Freud in his metapsychological writings (the other being the The [[Reality Principlepleasure principle]]). The pleasure principle aims exclusively at avoiding [[unpleasure ]] andobtaining [[pleasure]].
obtaining pleasure.--
[[Lacan]]'s first extended discussion of the [[pleasure principle ]] appears in the[[seminar]] of 1954-5.
seminar of 1954-5. Here [[Lacan ]] compares the [[pleasure principle ]] to a homeohomeostatic device that aims at maintaining excitation at the lowest function level.<ref>{{S2}} p.79-80</ref>
static device This accords with [[Freud]]'s thesis that aims at maintaining [[unpleasure]] is related to the increase of quantities of excitation at the lowest functional level, and [[pleasure]] to their reduction.
[[Lacan]] opposes the [[pleasure principle]], which he dubs the "restitutive tendency," to the [[death drive]] (S2the "repetitive tendency"), 79-80). This accords in accordance with [[Freud]]'s thesis view that unpleasure the [[death drive]] is related to "beyond thepleasure principle."<ref>{{S2}} p.79-80</ref>
increase of quantities of excitation, and pleasure to their reduction. Lacan--
opposes In 1960, [[Lacan]] develops what soon comes to be an important concept in his work; the idea of an opposition between [[pleasure principle, which he dubs the ]] and ''[[jouissance]]'restitutive tendency', to.
the death drive (the 'repetitive tendency'), in accordance with Freud[[Jouissance]]''s viewis now defined as an excessive quantity of excitation which the [[pleasure principle]] attempts to prevent.
that The [[pleasure principle]] is thus seen as a [[symbolic]] [[law]], a commandment which can be phrased "Enjoy as little as possible" (which is why [[Freud]] originally called it the death drive is 'beyond the pleasure 'unpleasure'' principle' (S2).<ref>[[Freud|Freud, 79-80)Sigmund]]. SE V. 1900a. p.574</ref>
In 1960, Lacan develops what soon comes [[Pleasure]] is the safeguard of a state of homeostasis and constancy which ''[[jouissance]]'' constantly threatens to be an important concept in hisdisrupt and [[trauma]]tize.
work; <blockquote>The function of the pleasure principle is, in effect, to lead the subject from signifier to signifier, by generating as amny signifiers as are required to maintain at as low a level as possible the idea tension that regulates the whole functioning of an opposition between pleasure and [[Jouissance]]the psychic apparatus.<ref>{{S7}} p. ,ÕOMiSS¸flCÄ iS119</ref></blockquote>
now defined as an excessive quantity of excitation which Put another way, the [[pleasure principle]] is the [[prohibition]] on [[incest]], "that which regulates the distance between the subject and ''das Ding."<ref>{{S7}} p.69</ref>
attempts to prevent. The pleasure principle is thus seen as a When the [[Symbolicsubject]] lawtransgresses this prohibition, a commandment which can be phrased 'Enjoy as little as possible' (which is why Freud originally called it gets too near to the unpleasure principle; see Freud[[Thing]], 1900a: SE V, 574)then he suffers. Pleasure is the safeguard of a state of homeostasis and constancy
Since it is the drives which jouissance constantly threatens permit the subject to disrupt and traumatisetransgress the pleasure principle, it follows that every drive is a death drive.
The function of the pleasure principle is, in effect, to lead the subject from--
signifier Since the pleasure principle is related to signifierprohibition, by generating as many signifiers as are required tothe law, and to regulation, it is clearly on the side of the symbolic, whereas ''jouissance'' is on the side of the [[real]].
maintain at as low a level as possible The pleasure principle is thus "nothing else than the tension that regulates dominance of the wholesignifier."<ref>{{S7}} p.134</ref>
functioning This involves Lacan in a paradox, since the symbolic is also the realm of the psychic apparatus[[repetition compulsion]], which is, in [[Freud]]'s terms, precisely that which goes ''beyond'' the pleasure principle.
(S7Indeed, 119)some of Lacan's descriptions of the pleasure principle make it sound almost identical to the repetition compulsion.
Put another way, the pleasure principle is the prohibition of incest, 'that whiÁh
regulates the distance between the subject and das Ding' 69; see nugä When the subject transgresses this prohibition, gets too near to ife Thing, then he suffers. Since it is the drives which permit the subject to transgress the pleasure principle, it follows that every drive is a [[Death Drive]]. Since the pleasure principle is related to prohibition, to the law, and to regulation, it is clearly on the side of the [[Symbolic]], whereas jouissance is on the side of the [[Real]]. The pleasure principle is thus 'nothing else than the dominance of the signifier' (S7, 134). This involves Lacan in a paradox, since the [[Symbolic]] is also the [[Real]]m of the REPETITION compulsion, which is, in Freud's terms, precisely that which goes beyond the pleasure principle. Indeed, some of Lacan's descriptions of the pleasure principle make it sound almost identical to the repetition compulsion: '<blockquote>"The function of the pleasure principle is to make man always search or for what he has to find again, but which he will never attain' (."<ref>{{S7, }} p.68).</ref></blockquote>
Also, the pleasure principle refers to the prohibition of incest, “that which regulates the distance between the subect and das Ding.” When the subject transgresses this prohibition, gets too near to the Thing, then he suffers. Since it is the drives which permit the subject to transgress the pleasure principle, it follows that every drive is a death drive. Since the pleasure principle is related to prohibition, to the law, and to regulation, it is clearly on the side of the symbolic, whereas jouissance is on the side of the real.
==See Also==
* [[Death drive]]
* ''[[Jouissance]]''
* [[Reality principle]]
* [[Repetition compulsion]]
==References==
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[[Category:Dictionary]]
[[Category:Jacques Lacan]]
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Concepts]]
[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]
== References ==
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