Jacques Lacan

Date of Birth: April 13, 1901

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: September 9, 1981

Biography

Jacques Lacan was a prominent French psychoanalyst and psychiatrist, known for his reinterpretation of the work of Sigmund Freud. Born on April 13, 1901, in Paris, Lacan was a significant figure in the psychoanalytic movement during the mid-20th century. He pursued his medical degree at the University of Paris, specializing in psychiatry. Lacan’s work spanned various disciplines, including philosophy, linguistics, and literary theory, making substantial contributions to the understanding of the human psyche and the unconscious. In 1932, Lacan completed his doctoral thesis on paranoid psychosis, which marked the beginning of his influential career in psychoanalysis. His most notable work, “Écrits,” published in 1966, compiled his major theoretical contributions and lectures. Lacan’s seminars, held annually from 1953 until his death, attracted a wide range of intellectuals and students, further solidifying his influence. Lacan’s theories, often complex and controversial, introduced concepts such as the “mirror stage,” the “Other,” and the “Real, Imaginary, and Symbolic” registers. He emphasized the importance of language in the formation of the unconscious and the subject. Lacan passed away on September 9, 1981, but his work continues to inspire and provoke debate within psychoanalysis and beyond.

5 Interesting Facts about Jacques Lacan

1. Lacan was heavily influenced by the structuralist linguistics of Ferdinand de Saussure and the anthropology of Claude Lévi-Strauss.

2. His concept of the “mirror stage” suggests that a child’s development of self-awareness is fundamentally shaped by their reflection in the mirror.

3. Lacan was known for his enigmatic and often impenetrable style of writing and speaking, which has both intrigued and frustrated scholars.

4. He founded the École Freudienne de Paris (Freudian School of Paris) in 1964, which became a central institution for psychoanalytic training in France.

5. Lacan was married twice and had three children, one of whom, Judith Miller, became a notable psychoanalyst.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jacques Lacan

1. “The unconscious is structured like a language.”

2. “Desire is the essence of man.”

3. “The mirror stage is a drama whose internal thrust is precipitated from insufficiency to anticipation.”

4. “I think where I am not, therefore I am where I do not think.”

5. “Love is giving something you don’t have to someone who doesn’t want it.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Jacques Lacan’s highest net worth is not well-documented as most of his wealth was in the form of intellectual capital rather than financial assets. However, his influence and legacy in psychoanalysis are considered invaluable.

Children

Jacques Lacan had three children: Caroline, Thibaut, and Judith. Judith Miller, born in 1941, followed in her father’s footsteps and became a prominent psychoanalyst.