Library Talk: "Negativity in Psychoanalysis: Theory and Clinic."

Dr. Leon S. Brenner and the distinguished co-editors Dr. Duane Rousselle and Mark Gerard Murphy on their collaborative work, "Negativity in Psychoanalysis: Theory and Clinic."

Join us at the International Psychoanalytic University Library Talk for an insightful talk with Dr. Leon S. Brenner and the distinguished co-editors Dr. Duane Rousselle and Mark Gerard Murphy on their collaborative work, "Negativity in Psychoanalysis: Theory and Clinic." This session promises a deep dive into the multifaceted role of negativity within psychoanalytic theory and its practical implications in clinical settings.

"Negativity in Psychoanalysis" brings to light the critical yet often overlooked role of negativity in the foundations of psychoanalytic thought and practice. By assembling a formidable group of psychoanalytic theorists and clinicians, the volume embarks on a comprehensive exploration of Freudian and Lacanian perspectives, addressing contemporary clinical and cultural issues. It further delves into how psychoanalytic negativity intersects with social, theological, and philosophical discussions, making it a pivotal read for those engaged in psychoanalytic, critical, and cultural theory, as well as continental and post-continental philosophy and sociology.

The talk will cover key sections and themes of the book, including foundational theories, the dynamics of drive and desire, clinical implications, and broader societal impacts. Highlights include discussions on Lacan's resistance, Freud's notion of "Negation," the ethics of the death drive, and the concept of non-negativisable jouissance, among others. This discourse aims to articulate the dual nature of negativity in psychoanalysis—not only as a philosophical concept but as a core element of psychoanalytic experience and social reality.

This engaging event is an essential opportunity for practicing psychoanalysts, trainees, academics, and scholars with interests at the intersection of clinical practice and theoretical exploration. It promises to offer profound insights into the complexities of negativity, challenging attendees to rethink the role of the death drive, resistance, and the ethics of psychoanalytic practice.

Duane Rousselle is a practicing psychoanalyst and is Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Research) at Aga Khan University.

Mark Gerard Murphy, a Lecturer at St Mary’s University, Scotland, Gillis Centre, convening courses in ethics, philosophy, and spirituality. He is also an editor for the political journal and blog, Taiwan Insight. His current research focuses on the relationship between psychoanalysis and mystical theology. Murphy has published in the Journal for Cultural and Religious Theory and the European Journal of Psychoanalysis. He is the author of The Direction of Desire: John of the Cross, Jacques Lacan and the Contemporary Understanding of Spiritual Direction.
https://www.routledge.com/Negativity-in-Psychoanalysis-Theory-and-Clinic/Rousselle-Murphy/p/book/9781032452098

Dr. Leon S. Brenner is a lecturer at the International Psychoanalytic University, Berlin. He is a member of the APPI, LOB, and a founder of Lacanian Affinities Berlin (laLAB) and Unconscious Berlin. His latest book on the subject of the psychoanalysis of autism is called The Autistic Subject: On the Threshold of Language, where he presents a novel account of autistic subjectivity from a Lacanian psychoanalytic perspective.