Objet Petit a: The Object-cause of Desire (Lacan and Zizek)

Evers Brothers Productions

30 Aug 202116:15

Summary

TLDRThe video delves into the concept of desire, using philosophical theories to explore how individuals are driven by unattainable ideals. It discusses the idea that desire is perpetually unfulfilled, as it is based on a lack within us. Through symbolic structures and fantasies, we attempt to satisfy this desire, but never truly can. The 'objet petit a' (the unattainable object of desire) is central to understanding human behavior, particularly in relation to societal constructs, fantasy, and the gap between what we seek and what is real.

Takeaways

📍 The video delves into the concept of desire, focusing on how it is perpetually elusive and always shifting.
🌟 Desire is linked to a fundamental lack, something we continuously seek but can never fully attain.
🧠 The 'object of desire' is not the real object itself but a representation of what is missing or lacking in one's life.
🔗 Desire is closely tied to symbolic structures in language, where prohibitions create a sense of longing or castration.
🌀 Fantasy mediates between symbolic structures and reality, shaping how we perceive desire and what we believe will fulfill us.
💭 The video explains that desire can never be fully satisfied because the objects we desire never fully bridge the gap in our sense of self.
🔍 The concept of the 'big Other' plays a key role in shaping desire, representing social and cultural expectations that influence our pursuit of fulfillment.
🚫 Castration, in the symbolic sense, refers to the limitations or restrictions placed on our desires by society and language.
🌀 Desire often shifts from one object to another, leading to a cycle of temporary satisfaction followed by renewed longing.
🎭 The 'object cause of desire' is the abstract force that generates desire in the first place, an ever-present gap that we continuously try to fill.

Q & A

What is the significance of the 'object of desire' mentioned in the transcript?
-The 'object of desire' represents something unattainable or missing that humans continually seek, but it can never fully satisfy or fulfill the void they feel. It drives human behavior, creating an ongoing cycle of desire.
What role does 'fantasy' play in relation to desire, as discussed in the video?
-Fantasy mediates between the symbolic structure of reality and the object of desire. It helps shape what we want and imagine, though it often masks the fact that we may never achieve the true object of desire.
How does the concept of 'castration' relate to desire?
-'Castration' here refers to the symbolic loss or restriction imposed by the 'Big Other' (society or authority). This limitation fuels desire because it reminds us of what we cannot have, thus perpetuating the cycle of seeking fulfillment.
What does the term 'Big Other' signify in this context?
-The 'Big Other' refers to societal norms, authority, or symbolic structures that regulate and influence individual desires. It creates boundaries and imposes restrictions, which shape and drive desire.
Why is the 'objet petit a' placed at the center of the discussion?
-The 'objet petit a' symbolizes the unattainable cause of desire. It occupies the central position because it is fundamental to understanding how desire operates within the symbolic order and our psychological framework.
How is 'surplus enjoyment' (or 'jouissance') connected to desire?
-'Surplus enjoyment' refers to the excess pleasure that comes from seeking something beyond simple satisfaction. This concept, aligned with Marx's surplus value in capitalism, reflects how desire always pushes for more, even when temporarily fulfilled.
What does the video imply about the pursuit of happiness through material achievements?
-The video suggests that material achievements, such as obtaining a degree or buying a car, offer temporary satisfaction but do not ultimately fulfill desire. Once achieved, new desires emerge, continuing the cycle of dissatisfaction.
What is the relationship between 'symbolic order' and desire?
-The symbolic order refers to the language and societal structures that shape our desires. Desire is influenced by these symbols, as we seek validation or approval through social constructs, but the symbolic order can never fully satisfy desire.
What does the video suggest about the nature of desire and fulfillment?
-The video suggests that desire is inherently unfulfillable. No matter what one achieves or attains, there will always be something more to desire. This perpetual lack is a core aspect of human existence.
How does the video describe the connection between desire and societal roles?
-Desire is intricately linked to societal roles and expectations, which are represented by the 'Big Other.' Our desires are shaped by what society deems acceptable or desirable, and the restrictions imposed by these roles fuel the ongoing pursuit of fulfillment.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 The Desire for Meaning and Realism

This paragraph delves into the complex relationship between desire, fantasy, and realism. It introduces the idea that desire perpetually fuels human actions and is linked to certain symbolic representations, such as coats of arms and rings. The discussion touches on how desire supports families and how our pursuit of what we seek—often an idealized form of reality—guides us. It also emphasizes the notion of desire being unending, shifting from one object to another.

05:01

🔄 Surplus Enjoyment and Desire's Endless Cycle

This section explores the concept of 'surplus enjoyment'—a form of pleasure mixed with pain, driven by a constant desire for more. It explains how people are always looking to fulfill desires, even though once they achieve a goal, they quickly move on to the next. This unending quest is often motivated by an illusory promise of satisfaction, driven by societal expectations. The paragraph concludes by highlighting that this constant pursuit is tied to both capitalism and the concept of 'castration'—the limitation of human fulfillment by external factors.

10:03

🚗 The Illusion of Satisfaction

This paragraph discusses how people often believe that obtaining certain things (like education or material goods) will bring happiness, but after achieving them, they realize something is still missing. This realization leads to a constant search for fulfillment, which is never truly attainable. The text uses the metaphor of buying a car to show how, even after acquiring it, one continues to feel a sense of void. It argues that this void is inherent to human desire, and that satisfaction is always just out of reach.

15:05

💡 The Symbolic Order and Desire

This part emphasizes the role of the symbolic order (language, social rules, and norms) in shaping human desire. It explains how desire is formed and manipulated by these external structures, leading people to continually pursue objects that never fully satisfy them. The concept of 'the big Other'—society or authority—also plays a crucial role in guiding what people desire. The paragraph suggests that humans unknowingly sacrifice a part of themselves to fit into this symbolic order, and this sacrifice is central to the structure of desire.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Object of Desire

The 'Object of Desire' refers to what individuals are constantly seeking but can never fully attain. In the video, it is presented as something elusive, like fame or material success, that people chase in hopes of fulfillment. However, the video emphasizes that once attained, this object doesn’t truly satisfy, leading to a perpetual cycle of desire. This ties into the theme that human desire is driven by an internal void that can't be permanently filled.

💡Castration

'Castration' in the context of this video refers to the symbolic process of limiting or restricting desire. The term originates from psychoanalytic theory, where it denotes the idea of losing or sacrificing something to conform to societal norms, like the 'Big Other' or law. The video suggests that the suppression of desires by these external forces, such as the father or society, leads to the creation of new desires.

💡Big Other

The 'Big Other' represents societal rules, norms, or an authoritative force that structures desire. In the video, it is linked to institutions or ideologies that enforce restrictions, guiding how people should behave or what they should want. The 'Big Other' plays a critical role in creating the framework within which people experience castration and subsequently desire something beyond the acceptable boundaries.

💡Surplus Enjoyment

'Surplus Enjoyment' refers to the excess pleasure one seeks after satisfying a basic desire. It goes beyond just fulfilling a need; it represents the additional pleasure derived from the pursuit or possession of something. The video discusses how people constantly chase more, driven by surplus enjoyment, and how this parallels capitalist consumption, where the drive for surplus is never-ending.

💡Fantasy

In the video, 'Fantasy' serves as a mediator between symbolic structures and individual desires. It creates an idealized image of what people believe will fulfill them, but this fantasy is ultimately unattainable. The video suggests that fantasy is what makes individuals desire specific objects, like wealth or fame, while never addressing the real underlying void that drives these desires.

💡Symbolic Order

The 'Symbolic Order' refers to the set of cultural norms, laws, and language that shape how individuals understand their desires and reality. In the video, it is the realm that imposes structure on human life and interactions, making sense of desires through language and symbols. It also discusses how individuals navigate the symbolic order while still trying to fulfill desires that may be impossible to achieve.

💡Lack

'Lack' is a central concept in the video, describing the fundamental emptiness or void that drives human desire. It is the realization that something essential is missing, and this absence fuels the pursuit of objects, relationships, or achievements. The video emphasizes that this lack is never truly filled, and it is the continuous recognition of this gap that keeps desire in motion.

💡Melancholia

'Melancholia' refers to the emotional state resulting from the inability to fully process or let go of a lost object of desire. In the video, it is linked to a fixation on something unattainable, preventing the individual from moving forward. It contrasts with mourning, where a person can move on from a loss. Melancholia highlights the tragic aspect of desire: the inability to resolve the internal void.

💡Imaginary

The 'Imaginary' in the video refers to the realm where individuals project idealized versions of themselves and their desires. It is closely linked to fantasy and is the space where people can imagine their desires being fulfilled. However, the video points out that these imagined fulfillments are illusions, as the real world (symbolic and real orders) cannot provide the satisfaction that the imaginary promises.

💡Object Cause of Desire

The 'Object Cause of Desire' refers to the underlying reason or trigger for why people desire certain things. It is not the object itself but rather the function it serves in filling the void of 'lack.' In the video, this concept helps differentiate between what people consciously desire and the deeper psychological forces driving that desire. It underscores the idea that the pursuit of an object is more about addressing the absence it represents than the object itself.

Highlights

The concept of 'desire' is central to the discussion, focusing on how human desires are never fully satisfied, and we always seek something beyond what we currently have.

Desire is driven by a 'lack,' which is symbolized by the 'object a,' an unattainable entity that drives people to constantly search for fulfillment.

Castration is introduced as a symbolic process, where people are restricted from reaching total satisfaction due to social and psychological barriers.

The 'big Other' plays a crucial role in shaping desires, representing the societal and cultural norms that limit and guide human behaviors and wants.

Fantasy functions as a mediator between symbolic structures and reality, helping individuals visualize their desires, but always in an unattainable form.

Melancholia is explored as a state where one fixates on a lost object, unable to move past it, contrasting with mourning, which allows for recovery.

Desire in capitalism is tied to surplus value, where people are driven to pursue more possessions, wealth, or status, but this always leaves them unsatisfied.

The symbolic order is emphasized as a framework through which desires are articulated and pursued, with language playing a key role in this process.

The unattainable 'object a' is compared to sublime, idealized objects or goals, which are never fully reachable, yet constantly desired.

Reality and fantasy are intertwined, with the real being the place where one's desires can never be fully satisfied, highlighting a constant gap.

The structure of desire is said to be built on a fundamental lack, which propels human beings to continue seeking new desires throughout life.

The 'object a' is presented as both a cause of desire and an unattainable goal, driving the continuous cycle of wanting and frustration.

The video emphasizes the relationship between symbolic structures and desires, noting how language and symbols play a part in shaping one's sense of self.

Surplus enjoyment is introduced as the excess pleasure that comes from the pursuit of desires, linking it to the concept of the drive in psychoanalysis.

The discussion concludes with the idea that desire is infinite, with people always moving from one unattainable goal to another, driven by a fundamental lack within the symbolic order.