No abstract

This thesis aims to reaffirm the necessity of the debate about the status of truth in the context of knowledge production about psychic suffering. It states, first and foremost, that 'truth' is employed in two different outlines: on one hand, it is employed to legitimize produced knowledge, thus establishing normative patterns; while on the other hand it is presented as a disruptive element, working as a critical instance to established knowledge. Considering truth in such terms locates knowledge in terms both of its necessary as its variable character, and the term 'truth' itself stand dependent on epistemological, ontological, ethical and political elements. This standpoint articulates with Ian Hacking's historicized understanding of science, which enables the consideration of contingent bases to scientific practice but still producing knowledge that must be considered as necessary. In this sense, it is possible to establish a field in which normative understandings about scientific praxis might be criticized without resulting in any kind of refusal or disqualification of the produced knowledge. In addition, his proposition of a "historical ontology" and of a "dynamic nominalism" presents an important contribution to understand the workings of knowledge production in the context of psychical suffering, by introducing into the debate the consideration of the ontological effects of produced knowledge. Taking these issues into account the thesis moves on to the matter of the way in which the concept of truth is construed within Lacanian psychoanalysis, focusing on three main elements: 1. truth's autonomy toward the subject (truth speaks), 2. the opposing and temporary character of a positivized truth facing established knowledge (truth as critique), and 3. the negative dimension of truth, which relates to the inexhaustibility of this dialectical process of negations (truth as radical difference). It is argued that it is possible to sustain a particular reasoning style (in Hacking's terms) for psychoanalysis, based on a radical conception of negativity. Also, both rationalities (Lacan's and Hacking's) work with a historicized understanding of knowledge that does not have any external (nor internal) criteria to warrant its truth. However, psychoanalysis takes negativity beyond Hacking's philosophy of science, offering a wider range of possibilities when thinking about causality for psychic suffering. Both ways (albeit with different intensities) lead to a consideration of the necessary ethical and political implication in knowledge production and deploymentonce there is no epistemological warranty to knowledge, its production value is tied to social agreements and ethical positionings. There is, therefore, the necessity of considering power relations.

Even beyond the dramatic social and health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, one can affirm that the manner in which the pandemic was and is being handled in Brazil involves more than mere questions of public health. This article focuses on the negationist discourse that emerged in Brazil, and proposes that its roots are to be found in a previous process of dismantling established knowledge and identifications. This process is observed in the government’s handling of the pandemic. To support this idea, we refer to two main clinical and theoretical frameworks, the first of which involves a psychoanalytic understanding of the place of truth in discursivity and in identification processes; this will be employed to shed light on a particular functioning of negationist discourses. Second, the idea of historical ontology is introduced from the philosophy of science to gain a further understanding of the effects of this process on identification.

Cet article discute l’introduction, l’acceptation et le refus des théories sur le genre par la psychanalyse. L’axe central consiste à aborder l’articulation entre psychanalyse et études de genre dans une perspective ample, en mobilisant des débats spécifiques pour interroger la manière dont ces questions sont traitées au sein de la théorie psychanalytique. Le problème initial découle de la reconnaissance que les débats psychanalytiques sur les questions de genre sont souvent peu développés et se résument à des approches limitées et fréquemment caricaturales. Une question directrice pourrait donc être définie en ces termes : « les questions liées au genre sont-elles prises dans leur plein potentiel disruptif par les psychanalystes ou la communauté psychanalytique a-t-elle pris des positions défensives afin d’éviter un débat inconfortable » ? Ce type de questionnement conduit à réfléchir au-delà du contenu des avancées théoriques réalisées au cours des dernières décennies, pour ainsi envisager la fonction que de tels débats jouent dans la communauté psychanalytique. Cela signifie qu’analyser la manière dont ces discussions sont proposées et ont lieu pourrait indiquer des signes d’ouverture ou de refus de la psychanalyse à l’égard de ces questions. Comprendre les raisons de ce positionnement sur un sujet aussi crucial est une tâche essentielle pour les psychanalystes qui s’engagent dans la construction d’une praxis psychanalytique à la fois présente dans la culture et politiquement impliquée.

O objetivo deste artigo é discutir alguns pontos que envolvem o trabalho psicanalítico em situações de vulnerabilidade e violência social. Propostas nessa direção têm ganhado corpo em diversas iniciativas, e daremos foco aqui ao trabalho que vem sendo realizado pelo Núcleo de Estudos e Trabalhos Terapêuticos (NETT). Entre as muitas questões que poderiam ser assinaladas, daremos especial atenção à compreensão dos atravessamentos de questões sociais no processo analítico, em particular o lugar social do saber e sua relação com o estabelecimento da transferência. Será discutido como a circulação da clínica psicanalítica em lugares historicamente não habitados por ela parece simultaneamente demandar o aprofundamento de certas temáticas, e oferecer possibilidades de avanços a outras.