Libidinal Symptomatology in Deleuze's Masochism – Coldness and Cruelty

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Gaudlitz
Keyword(s):  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
World History ◽  
Literary Genre ◽  
The Unconscious ◽  
Literary Practice ◽  
The Senses ◽  
The Law

In taking up Deleuze's differential diagnosis by observing Masoch's literary practice and extracting his libidinal principles of imperatives, contracts, fetishism and rituals, I demonstrate Deleuzian libidinal symptomatology as a specific semiotics in the service of schizoanalysis. I shall argue that in Masoch the schizoanalytic curettage of the unconscious is executed as schizoid waiting where the fleeting outer symptoms of pain–pleasure reveal the masochist's desired inner splitting of the senses. Several critical-clinical inroads to the schizoanalytic project can be envisaged. Initially, Masoch's visionary concept of sexualised world history is supported by his strategic move to the law of the oral mother, yet then extended by Deleuze's concept of (inter)maternal symbolic which speculates on the fantasised rebirth of a sexless or hermaphroditic man. Finally, the parodic enactment of eros and thanatos functions as technique of dialectical disguise within the masochist's scheme of practising libidinal liberation. Masochism considered as a state of bodily experimentation which turns the oedipal law upside down, emerges as a distinct literary genre in Deleuzian aesthetics.

Omnipotence and the Law: A Psychoanalytically Oriented Analysis

1988 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-458
Author(s):  
C. G. Schoenfeld
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Judicial Review ◽  
Court Decisions ◽  
The Unconscious ◽  
The Public ◽  
Legal Studies ◽  
Dred Scott ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Law ◽  
Infants And Young Children

This article seeks to illuminate the effect of unconscious infantile omnipotence fantasies upon the law and some of its major officials. First, psychoanalytic discoveries about the omnipotence ideas of infants and young children are detailed, and an attempt is made to relate these ideas to the current overestimation of the status and effectiveness of international law. Then the possible relationship between such infantile notions and today's incredible litigiousness is discussed. Considered next in the light of infantile omnipotence beliefs is a series of landmark Supreme Court decisions since 1793—including the disastrous Dred Scott decision that helped to precipitate the Civil War. One of the possibilities raised is that the acceptance of the antimajoritarian concept of “judicial review” reflects the displacement of unconscious omnipotence fantasies from parents onto judges. Discussed next is the implicit logic of currently popular (but clearly unsound) Critical Legal Studies doctrines that, in effect, assign “omnipotence” both to judges and to the law they are presumably free to manipulate in the service of political goals. Finally, an attempt is made to understand why the public tends to ascribe “omnipotence” to judges and prosecutors and why the unconscious omnipotence notions of judges, prosecutors, and policemen are likely to affect their own official behavior.

scholarly journals ‘Looting killed’ the audience: Africanlanguage writing, performance, publishing and the audience

Literator ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 59-74
Author(s):  
T. J. Selepe
Keyword(s):  
World History ◽  
African Language ◽  
Oral Literature ◽  
Critical Practice ◽  
Literary Practice ◽  
Writing Performance ◽  
Language Problem ◽  
Direct Bearing ◽  
Language Writing

This article examines the role played by African-language writing, performance and publishing, including critical practice, in the demise of the indigenous audience in African-language literary practice. Using implicit materialism the argument is premised on the developments wrought by the era of Modernism that has lead to a univocal writing of world history, and the era of Postmodernism that has ushered in the era of a multivocal writing of world history. The transition from oral literature to written literature will also be used to advance the argument about the subsequent exclusion of the indigenous African- language audience from literary practice. This exclusion is considered to have a direct bearing on the under-development of African societies. Finally, possible solutions will be sought by revisiting some of the causes that characterize the African language problem as a medium of communication and research.

scholarly journals Μιχαήλ Ψελλός: η ματιά του φιλότεχνου

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Χρ. ΑΓΓΕΛΙΔΗ
Keyword(s):  
Literary Genre ◽  
Work Of Art ◽  
Bronze Sculpture ◽  
Works Of Art ◽  
Conceptual Background ◽  
Byzantine Period ◽  
The Senses ◽  
Artistic Product ◽  
Important Shift

  <p>Christine G. Angelidi</p><p> Michael Psellos: The Eye of the Connoisseur </p><p>The descriptions of works of art of the middle Byzantine period are more or less accurate in regard to the reconstruction of the objects as perceived by their authors. However, whatever literary genre they belong to, the <em>ekphraseis</em> usually concentrate on specific parts of religious works of art and their theological explanation. Thus, the artistic product is never perceived as a whole nor do the authors investigate the connexion between the accomplished creation and its conceptual background. As for the descriptions of antique sculptures dating from the same period, the authors seem to have used those particular themes only in an attempt to stress their own literary skills. </p><p>An interesting exception is, once again, provided by the <em>ekphraseis</em> of Michael Psellos and namely his ‘Description of a sculpture representing the resting Cupid'. In this brief article we argue that Psellos' text marks out an important shift from the traditional perception and commentary of the work of art and specifically of an antique one. Not only does he describe in detail this marble sculpture (probably a marble copy of a hellenistic or imperial bronze sculpture), but also deals with the choice of the material as well as the choice of this particular type of Cupid. Furthermore, he stresses the perfection of the artist's achievement, which enables the connection between the form of the sculpture and its theoretical content. For his commentary, Psellos draws material from Plato's dialogues, combining platonic concepts in order to define his own theory of Beauty and Love. </p><p>Two more points of Psellos' <em>ekphrasis</em> are discussed: the value of the sight as the first of the senses leading to philosophy, and the importance of the infant's body as a symbol of purity. Those two characteristics connect our text to the brief praise Psellos dedicated to his grandson ca. 1070.</p><p> </p>

The Jurisprudence of Unconscious Intent

1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-580
Author(s):  
Daniel I. A. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Civil Liability ◽  
Mental Process ◽  
The Unconscious ◽  
Current Definition ◽  
The Law ◽  
Unintentional Acts ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Intentional Acts ◽  
Unconscious Mind

Intention is a most difficult and illusory mental process. It is our contention that the law would become more functional and less convoluted (while not decreasing injustice) by abandoning distinctions based on this unprofitable phantasm. To this end, we first offer a paradigmatic definition of intention against which we survey its philosophical meaning and explore its boundaries. We examine the possibility that seemingly unintentional acts are, in fact, generated by the deliberations of the unconscious mind. We explore the consequences of bringing the jurisprudential concept of intention into harmony with Freudian doctrine. This, we conclude, necessitates expanding criminal and civil liability for one's actions from those called intentional under the current definition to include also those actions intentionally generated by the unconscious mind. Whatever benefit there is to society in holding one liable for consciously intentional acts extends, correspondingly, to unconsciously intentional acts as well. We explain how this may be done in practice.

Law, the Humanities and Political Incertitude in a Time of Climate Change

Legalities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-115
Author(s):  
Matteo Nicolini
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Literary Genre ◽  
The Law ◽  
And Migration ◽  
The One

This article addresses how climate change triggers relevant transformations in the realm of the law and affects our politico-legal paradigms. To this end, it delivers cross-disciplinary research by focusing on a non-fictional literary genre, i.e. climate-change pop-science, which has arisen very recently. The article also explores the concept of ‘strategic formalism’, i.e. a strategic legal device unable to govern societal concerns. On the one hand, it shapes our approach to climate change and migration; on the other, it adapts ecological issues to the ‘traditional’ legal framework. Against this background, the article argues that non-fictional texts also reflect the ideas of the most active forces within society, and fuel dynamism when tackling the ecological crisis. In a time of climate change, these forces stir strategic formalism, and make the law act as a bridge linking our troubled reality to an inclusive future.

Reading Kant’s Rechtslehre: Some Observations on Ripstein’s Kant and the Law of War

2021 ◽  
pp. 43-51
Author(s):  
Thomas Mertens
Keyword(s):  
Just War ◽  
World History ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
Law Of War ◽  
Legal Problems ◽  
Just War Tradition ◽  
The Law

The chapter puts forward a semantic observation which he claims reflects not only Ripstein’s Kant interpretation, but also his own perspective as a long-term reader of Kant. Mertens observes that Kantian scholarship has become to a large extent an Anglo-Saxon affair, and Kant is read and interpreted against the background of political and legal problems of that world. History has shown that several readings of Kant are possible, and Ripstein presents a new, powerful reading of Kant which is indebted to that Anglo-Saxon background. Mertens discusses several intriguing questions, inter alia, Ripstein’s interpretation of Kant’s view on the law of war is the distinction between the just war tradition and the regular war tradition and Kant’s departure from both traditions.

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