Thing ({{Top}}[[chose) Lacan's discussion of 'the Thing' constitutes one of the]]{{Bottom}}
[[Lacan]]'s [[discussion]] of the "[[Thing]]" constitutes one of the central themes in the [[seminar ]] of 1959-60(''[[Seminars|L'éthique de la psychanalyse]]'' – "[[The Ethics of Psychoanalysis]]"), where he uses the [[French ]] term ''[[Thing|lachose]]'' interchangeably with the [[German]] term ''[[Thing|das Ding]]''. There are two main contexts in which this term operates.
chose interchangeably with ==Word-Presentations and Thing-Presentations==The first context is [[Freud]]'s [[distinction]] between "[[Thing|word-presentations]]" (''[[Thing|Wort-vorstellungen]]'') and "[[Thing|thing-presentations]]" (''[[Thing|Sachvorstellungen]]''). The distinction is prominent in [[Freud]]'s metapsychological writings, in which he argues that the German term das Dingtwo types of presentation are bound together in the [[preconscious]]-[[conscious]] [[system]], whereas in the [[unconscious|unconscious system]] only [[thing-presentations]] are found.<ref>{{F}} "[[Works of Sigmund Freud|The Unconscious]]", 19l5e. There are two main[[SE]] XIV, 161</ref>
contexts This seemed to some of [[Lacan]]'s contemporaries to offer an objection to [[Lacan]]'s theories [[about]] the [[linguistic|linguistic nature]] of the [[unconscious]]. [[Lacan]] counters such objections by pointing out that there are two [[words]] in [[German]] for "[[thing]]": ''[[Thing|das Ding]]'' and ''[[Thing|die Sache]]''.<ref>{{S7}} p. 62-3, 44-5</ref> It is the latter term which this term operates[[Freud]] usually employs to refer to the [[thing-presentations]] in the [[unconscious]], and [[Lacan]] argues that although on one level ''[[Thing|Sachvorstellungen]]'' and ''[[Thing|Wortvorstellungen]]'' are opposed, in the [[symbolic|symbolic level]] "they go together".
1Thus ''[[Thing|die Sache]]’’ is the [[representation]] of a [[thing]] in the [[symbolic]] [[order]], as opposed to ''[[thing|das Ding]]’’, which is the [[thing]] in its "dumb [[reality]]",<ref>{{S7}} p. 55</ref> the [[thing]] in the [[real]], which is "the beyond-of-the-[[signified]]."<ref>{{S7}} p.54</ref> The context of Freud[[thing-presentation]]s found in the [[unconscious]] are thus still [[linguistics|linguistic phenomena]], as opposed to ''s distinction between [[Thing|das Ding]]'word-presentations' (Wort-which is entirely [[outside]] [[language]], and [[outside]] the [[unconscious]].
vorstellungen) and 'thing-presentations' (Sachvorstellungen)<blockquote>"The Thing is characterised by the fact that it is [[impossible]] for us to imagine it. This distinction"<ref>{{S7}} p. 125</ref></blockquote>
is prominent in Freud[[Lacan]]'s metapsychological writings[[concept]] of the [[Thing]] as an unknowable x, beyond [[symbolisation]], has clear affinities with the [[Kant]]ian "thing-[[in which he argues that-itself]]".
==''Jouissance''==The second context is ''[[jouissance]]''. As well as the two types [[object]] of presentation are bound together [[language]], ''[[Thing|das Ding]]'' is the [[object]] of [[desire]]. It is the [[castration|lost]] [[object]] which must be continually refound, it is the prehistoric, unforgettable [[Other]]<ref>{{S7}} p.53</ref> - in other words, the [[forbidden]] [[object]] of [[incest]]uous [[desire]], the [[mother]].<ref>{{S7}} p. 67</ref> The [[pleasure principle]] is the [[law]] which maintains the [[subject]] at a certain distance from the preconscious-conscious[[Thing]],<ref>{{S7}} p. 58, 63</ref> making the [[subject]] circle round it without ever attaining it.<ref>{{S7}} p. 95</ref>
systemThe [[Thing]] is thus presented to the [[subject]] as his Sovereign [[Good]], but if the [[subject]] transgresses the [[pleasure principle]] and attains this Good, it is experienced as [[suffering]]/evil,<ref>[[Lacan]] plays on the [[French]] term ''mal'', which can mean both suffering and [[evil]]; {{S7}} p. 179</ref> because the [[subject]] "cannot stand the extreme good that ''[[Thing|das Ding]]'' may bring to him."<ref>{{S7}} p. 73</ref> It is fortunate, then, whereas in that the unconscious system only thing-presentations are found[[Thing]] is usually inaccessible.<ref>{{S7}} p. 59</ref>
(Freud==''Objet petit a''==After the [[seminar]] of 1959-60, 19l5e)the term ''[[das Ding]]'' [[disappears]] almost entirely from [[Lacan]]'s [[Work of Jacques Lacan|work]]. This seemed to some However, the [[ideas]] associated with it provide the essential features of the new developments in the concept of the ''[[objet petit a]]'' as [[Lacan]] develops it from 1963 onwards. For example the ''[[objet petit a]]'' is circled by the [[drive]]<ref>{{S11}} p. 168</ref> and is seen as the [[cause]] of [[desire]] just as ''[[thing|das Ding]]'' is seen as "the cause of the most fundamental [[human]] [[passion]]."<ref>{{S7}} p. 97</ref> Also, the fact that the [[Thing]] is not the [[imaginary]] [[object]] but firmly in the [[register]] of the [[real]], <ref>{{S2}} p. 112</ref> and yet is "that which in the real suffers from the [[signifier]],"<ref>{{S7}} p. 125</ref> anticipates the transition in [[Lacan]]'s contemporaries to offer an[[thought]] towards locating ''[[objet petit a]]'' increasingly in the [[register]] of the [[real]] from 1963 on.
objection to Lacan==See Also=={{See}}* 's theories about the linguistic nature of the unconscious.'[[Jouissance]]''* [[Language]]||* ''[[Objet petit a]]''* [[Unconscious]]{{Also}}
Lacan counters such objections by pointing out that there are two words in
German for 'thing'==References==<div style="font-size: das Ding and die Sache (see S7, 6211px" class="references-3, 44-5). It is the lattersmall"><references/></div>[[Category:Psychoanalysis]][[Category:Jacques Lacan]][[Category:Symbolic]][[Category:Imaginary]][[Category:Real]][[Category:Dictionary]][[Category:Concepts]][[Category:Terms]]
term which Freud usually employs to refer to the thing-presentations in the__NOTOC__
unconscious, and Lacan argues that although on one level Sachvorstellungen and Wortvorstellungen are opposed, on the symbolic level 'they go together'. Thus die Sacheis the representation of a thing in the sym˛olic order, as opposed to das Ding, which is the thing in its 'dumb reality' ($7, 55æthe thing in the real, which is 'the beyond-of-the-signified' (S7, 54) The thing-presentations found in the unconscious are thus still linguistic phÈnomena, as opposed to das Ding which is entirely outside language, and outside the unconscious. 'The Thin is characterised by the fact that it is impossible for us to imagine it' (87, 12 . Lacan's concept of the Thing as an unknowable x, beyond symbolisation, has clear affinities with the Kantian 'thing-in-itself'. 2. The context of JOUISSANCE. As well as the object of language, das Ding is the object of desire. It is the lost object which must be continually refound, it is the prehistoric, unforgettable Other (S7, 53) <!- in other words, the forbidden object of incestuous desire, the mother (S7, 67). The pleasure principle the law which maintains the subject at a certain distance from the Thing (S7, 58, 63), making the subject circle round it without ever attaining it (S7, 95). The Thing is thus presented to the subject as his Sovereign Good, but if the subject transgresses the pleasure principle and attains this Good, it is experienced as sufferinglevil (Lacan plays on the French term mal, which can mean both suffering and evil, see S7, 179), because the subject 'cannot stand the extreme good that das Ding may bring to him' (S7, 73). It is fortunate, then, that the Thing is usually inaccessible (S7, 159). After the seminar of 1959-60, the term das Ding disappears almost entirely from Lacan's work{{Encore}} p. However, the ideas associated with it provide the essential features of the new developments in the concept of the objet petit a as Lacan develops it from 1963 onwards. For example the objet petit a is circled by the drive (Sll, 168), and is seen as the cause of desire just.asdas Ding is seen as 'the cause of the most fundamental human passion' (S7, 97). Also, the fact that the Thing is not the imaginary object but firmly in the register of the reaL(S2, l 12), and yet is 'that which in the real suffers from the signifier' (S7, 125), anticipates the transition in Lacan's thought towards locating objet petit a mcreasingly in the register of the real from 1963 on. == [[Kid A In Alphabet Land]] ==[[Image:Kida_t.gif |right|frame]]'''Kid A In Alphabet Land Trounces Another Two-Ton Travesty 100 - The Traumatic Thing!''' It's A Freudian Thing - You Wouldn't Understand.[[Category:Kid A In Alphabet Land]]>
