Powers of Simulation and Hysterisation in Foucault and Lacan

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Hysteria: A Historical Overview
• Discourse of the Hysteric: Foucault and Lacan

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation analyzes the figure of the hysteric in the works of Foucault and Lacan, arguing that simulation (Foucault) and hysterisation (Lacan) can be productively understood as demands for truth. The analysis aims to reveal the power dynamics inherent in the hysteric's relationship with the Master/Other, exploring how the hysteric's position exposes the limitations of dominant discourses and knowledge systems.

• The hysteric's demand for truth as a mechanism of power and resistance.
• The interplay between simulation and hysterisation in challenging established power structures.
• The historical evolution of the understanding of hysteria and its relationship to truth.
• The paradoxical position of the hysteric as both perpetuator and challenger of the Master/Other.
• The potential for liberation and authentic relation to truth through the hysteric's discourse.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Introduction: This introductory chapter lays out the central argument of the dissertation: that simulation (in Foucault) and hysterisation (in Lacan) function as demands for truth, revealing the power dynamics between the hysteric and the Master/Other. It establishes the core thesis that the hysteric, through these strategies, exposes the impotency of the Master/Other by creating a perpetual cycle of knowledge production and failure. The introduction also foreshadows the conclusion's discussion of overcoming the "hysterical trap" to achieve authentic engagement with truth.

Hysteria: A Historical Overview: This chapter provides a historical overview of hysteria, tracing its understanding and treatment across millennia. From ancient Egyptian texts to 19th-century psychiatry, the chapter illustrates the ever-shifting interpretations of hysteria, highlighting its elusive nature and its deep connection to truth, both societal and personal. The evolution of its treatment, ranging from ancient remedies to brutal 19th-century practices, emphasizes the power dynamics inherent in the societal construction of female illness. The chapter uses examples such as the Kahun Papyrus, Hippocrates's theories, and the practices of 19th-century psychiatry at Salpêtrière to illustrate the changing cultural contexts that shaped the understanding of hysteria. Crucially, it connects this history to the concept of the "half-saying," introducing Lacan’s concept of mi-dire as a framework for understanding the enduring mystery of hysteria.

Discourse of the Hysteric: Foucault and Lacan: This chapter delves into the theories of Foucault and Lacan concerning the hysteric. It contrasts Foucault's perspective on simulation as a form of resistance against psychiatric power with Lacan's concept of hysterisation as a demand for truth. The chapter explores the hysteric's discourse as a challenge to the Master/Other's discourse, emphasizing its subversive potential to expose the inadequacies and contradictions of dominant narratives. By examining Lacan's "Presentation on Transference," the chapter highlights the hysteric's role in producing social bonds and reveals how the "What am I?" question functions as a relentless interrogation of the Master/Other, forcing a perpetual cycle of knowledge production in an attempt to answer the inherent unsatisfiability of the question itself. The chapter integrates the ideas of simulation and hysterisation, showing how they represent different facets of the same subversive strategy.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Hysteria, Foucault, Lacan, simulation, hysterisation, truth, power, Master/Other, discourse, resistance, knowledge, psychoanalysis, feminine speech, critical distance.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

What is the main topic of this language preview?

This language preview outlines a dissertation analyzing the figure of the hysteric in the works of Michel Foucault and Jacques Lacan. It explores how simulation (Foucault) and hysterisation (Lacan) can be understood as demands for truth and how the hysteric's position challenges dominant power structures.

What are the key themes explored in the dissertation?

The key themes include: the hysteric's demand for truth as resistance, the interplay between simulation and hysterisation, the historical understanding of hysteria and its relationship to truth, the paradoxical position of the hysteric, and the potential for liberation through the hysteric's discourse.

What does the dissertation argue about simulation and hysterisation?

The dissertation argues that simulation (in Foucault) and hysterisation (in Lacan) function as demands for truth. They are strategies used by the hysteric to expose the limitations of dominant discourses and knowledge systems, thereby revealing the power dynamics between the hysteric and the Master/Other.

What is the focus of the "Hysteria: A Historical Overview" chapter?

This chapter provides a historical overview of hysteria, tracing its understanding and treatment from ancient times to the 19th century. It highlights the changing interpretations of hysteria and its connection to truth, societal power dynamics, and the construction of female illness. It introduces Lacan's concept of "mi-dire" (half-saying) as a framework for understanding the enduring mystery of hysteria.

What is the focus of the "Discourse of the Hysteric: Foucault and Lacan" chapter?

This chapter examines the theories of Foucault and Lacan concerning the hysteric. It contrasts Foucault's view of simulation as resistance with Lacan's concept of hysterisation as a demand for truth. It explores the hysteric's discourse as a challenge to the Master/Other, highlighting its subversive potential to expose the inadequacies of dominant narratives and interrogating the question "What am I?".

Who are the key figures discussed in this dissertation?

The key figures discussed are Michel Foucault and Jacques Lacan, with a central focus on their theories related to hysteria, power, discourse, simulation, and hysterisation.

What are the keywords associated with this dissertation?

The keywords include: Hysteria, Foucault, Lacan, simulation, hysterisation, truth, power, Master/Other, discourse, resistance, knowledge, psychoanalysis, feminine speech, critical distance.

What does the introduction conclude?

The introduction foreshadows the conclusion's discussion of overcoming the "hysterical trap" to achieve authentic engagement with truth.