Famous quote by Jacques Lacan

"We emphasize that such a form of communication is not absent in man, however evanescent a naturally given object may be for him, split as it is in its submission to symbols"

About this Quote

Jacques Lacan, a popular figure in psychoanalysis, is understood for his complex ideas and dense composing style. In this quote, he attends to the function of language and signs in human interaction and perception. Breaking it down, Lacan stresses that people are certainly capable of a particular form of interaction-- most likely one that is more directly connected to the unconscious mind or inherent experiences-- but that our perception of this kind of interaction is frequently short lived or "evanescent.".

The expression "naturally offered object" can be analyzed as describing the raw, pre-symbolic experiences or truths that people come across. These are elements of existence that are understood straight through understanding and experience before being moderated by language and cultural analysis. However, these direct encounters are ephemeral since they rapidly end up being "split" or divided through the act of symbolization.

Language, in Lacanian theory, is a double-edged sword. It enables people to communicate complex ideas and feelings and construct sophisticated social realities, however it likewise ranges us from our direct, unmediated experiences of the world. Each naturally offered item or experience is "split" as it is transformed into words and signs. This change dilutes the immediacy of the experience because signs can just represent reality, not reproduce it.

In essence, Lacan is arguing that while human beings are capable of experiencing reality in its purest form, the act of equating these experiences into symbols (language) inherently alters them. The ramification is that our conscious understanding and interaction of experiences are constantly rather eliminated from the actual, natural truths of those experiences. This shows Lacan's broader theory that the unconscious is structured like a language, impacting how our deepest thoughts and experiences are always intertwined with and modified by symbolization.

About the Author

France Flag This quote is written / told by Jacques Lacan between April 13, 1901 and September 9, 1981. He/she was a famous Psychologist from France. The author also have 18 other quotes.
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