Analysing psychoanalysis

Justin Clemens’ Psychoanalysis is an Antiphilosophy is a fascinating journey into the emergence and convergence of the discourses of psychoanalysis and philosophy, and analyses how their identity is inextricably linked to science and literature in similar and dissimilar ways. 

Their shared obsession for slavery, alienation and above all else, love, is captured among the seven carefully crafted essays which had been originally published in one form or another over a decade and whose narrative is woven together by the idea of antiphilosophy. 

Antiphilosophy is often defined by what it is not: it is most often understood as an intellectual hostility to philosophy. 

Each chapter dedicates itself to an analysis of an issue or an esteemed psychoanalytic or para-psychoanalytic thinker such as Sigmund Freud or Giorgio Agamben.  In analysing an issue, an intellectual-practical situation is given and the author proceeds to draw out key themes and concepts as they relate to the specificities of the situation. 

This is a novel and practical way of dealing with the subject matter and makes for hearty and varied reading – each chapter is markedly different yet the general underlying thread holding them together is antiphilosophy.

Of particular interest are the chapters ‘Torture, Psychoanalysis and Beyond’ which dissects the dimensions of torture through a study of key Georgio Agamben texts and ‘Love as Ontology; or Psychoanalysis against Philosophy’ which deals with themes such as transference and ultimately, love. 

The analysis of torture is not limited to referencing old heavyweights such as Michael Foucault or Friedrich Nietzsche, indeed Donald Rumsfeld’s now infamous note about Guantanamo Bay detainees scrawled on the bottom of a memo authorising torture is included as part of commentary on the socio-political changes in society post 9/11.

Clemens illustrates how the relationship between science and literature affects the psychoanalyst or philosopher and governs their responses to and understanding of ideas, events and concepts. 

www.culture-communication.unimelb.edu.au