In the Lacanian proper you form study groups which have the regretful name of cartel. One is loathed to use the word, because of its current negative association, but a cartel is simply a group of at least 3 people plus one (the plus one presents, and has more knowledge, on the subject at hand) in which one studies as equals together with the hope of making a construction. PLACE, were I work, puts its attention on topology as the proof of the construction. I am currently in two cartels, and in the seminar, at the clinic, and topology is used in all. In the cartel I came from last night, we are working with Freuds Civilization and its Discontents. One would think at first the text is elementary, but we spent the greater amount of time, in the group last night, trying to define the psychoanalytic difference between the word culture and civilization (because in the German original the word can be used to mean both) without ending in social science. I say this without false humility because it is true; if the group is a shed I am the dullest tool. There is a young man, whom I have nicknamed Rilke, because he not only asks the best questions, he is living them. He is a serious worker, and in comparison to him I experience my sophistry as symptom, which is at once revolting to me, but useful. Frustration is the single opportunity when doing this work, because in the symptom is a logic trying to present itself, and become known. It is always the sophist who trying to hide the fact of an idiocy, impatiently wants to get to the point. The one who is living the question, is the one in the room, who is qualified, towards the possibility, of a truthful construction.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:00:23 +0000