Ethics of the Real: Kant with Lacan

The objective of this workshop was to equip students with conceptual apparatus for advanced understanding of the Kantian and Psychoanalytical/Lacanian ethics. After the workshop students should be able to analyse similarities and differences between these two ethical positions and should be able to use Lacanian concept of the Real for a new interpretation of Kantian ethics – “ethics of the Real” as developed in Ljubljana Lacanian school by Alenka Zupančič.

Students were discussing controversial and paradoxical parts of Kantian conceptual apparatus (theoretical/practical, pathological, pure form, legality/morality) and were briefed with the main ethics-related concepts from Lacanian psychoanalysis (desire, pleasure, signifier, Imaginary/Symbolic/Real, quilting point, object petit a, identification). Students were learning how Lacanian concept of the Real can provide very useful backdrop to the new interpretation of Kantian ethics – “ethics of the Real” as developed in Ljubljana Lacanian school by Alenka Zupančič.

Before the workshop student read 1 primary source philosophy texts.
During the workshop they 1) were listening the frontal lecture, 2) actively participated in moderated discussion and brainstorming and 3) wrote a short argumentative essay on the following topic: "“I propose then that, from an analytical point of view, the only thing which one can be guilty of is of having given ground relative to one’s desire” (Lacan)
Students wrote short essays (90 min, 700 words) in the last part of the workshop. After the workshop students received written and oral feedback on their essays by their teacher.

Mandatory preliminary readings: The Ethics of Psychoanalysis (Lacan): chapter VII
Further recommended readings: Ethics of the Real: Kant and Lacan (Alenka Zupančič): chapters VII and VIII
Essay Title: “I propose then that, from an analytical point of view, the only thing which one can be guilty of is of having given ground relative to one’s desire” (Lacan)

International School Bežigrad, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

December 2017 (4 hours)

The teacher was lecturing frontally and was moderating the discussion and students' brainstorming. In the second part of the workshop teacher was supervising the essay writing. After the workshops teachers assessed the essays and provided feedback for students.

Workshop was made with the group of 7 students who were preparing for IPO 2018 national selection competition. All seven students were listening the frontal lecture together and all of them were included in moderated brainstorming and discussion. In the last part of the workshop they wrote their essays individually without any communication with the teacher or other students.

The workshop was organised as a part of Preparation course for IPO 2018 national selection competition.