Jean Laplanche Books

Focusing on the intersection of biology and sexuality, this major monograph delves into Freud's theories and critiques the biologizing tendencies in understanding human sexuality. Laplanche examines the implications of these ideas for psychoanalysis and offers a nuanced perspective on sexual development and identity. Originally published in 1987 and later republished, the work reflects significant developments in Laplanche's thought, making it a pivotal text for those interested in psychoanalytic theory and sexual discourse.

The book highlights a pivotal five-year period in Laplanche's intellectual journey, beginning with the release of New Foundations for Psychoanalysis in 1987. During this time, he developed key concepts that shaped his theories, alongside significant seminars that explored intricate topics such as après-coup and Freud's theories on sexuality. These works, including Problématiques VI and VII, showcase Laplanche's critical engagement with psychoanalytic thought and his innovative contributions to understanding human sexuality and its biological implications.

The book offers a comprehensive dictionary of Freud's concepts, presenting an authentic account of their evolution rather than just definitions. Through extensive research, the authors include relevant excerpts from Freud's writings, enriching the understanding of each concept's context and development. This approach provides readers with deeper insights into Freud's theories and their significance in psychology.

The lectures from the 1989-90 seminar on après-coup showcase Laplanche's significant contributions to psychoanalysis during a peak of his creative output. This volume completes the English translations of his major works, alongside two additional essays, "Time and the Other" and "Temporality and Translation," also translated by Luke Thurston. These texts delve into complex themes of temporality and the interplay of translation within psychoanalytic theory, enriching the understanding of Laplanche's innovative ideas.

Focusing on the intellectual evolution of Jean Laplanche, this work highlights a pivotal five-year period beginning in 1987, marked by his seminal text New Foundations for Psychoanalysis. During this time, he developed key concepts through various seminars, including the exploration of après-coup and critiques of Freud's biological interpretations of sexuality. The text encapsulates Laplanche's innovative contributions to psychoanalytic theory, showcasing his profound impact on the field and the ongoing dialogue surrounding Freud's legacy.

For this volume Jean Laplanche selected his principal writings from 1992 to 1998, a period in which he demonstrated the power and range of his psychoanalytic and philosophical inquiry, including his 'return to Freud' and his General Theory of Seduction. Some of the essays are here published in English translation for the first time. Forty years after his masterful translation of Laplanche's Life and Death in Psychoanalysis, Jeffrey Mehlman once again provides an elegant and insightful translation, which preserves the clarity and rigor of Laplanche's essays.

Challenging conventional interpretations, this work by Jean Laplanche delves into the complexities of Freud's theories on sexuality. Laplanche contends that Freud's ideas have been oversimplified, revealing a richer and more nuanced understanding of sexuality than typically acknowledged. Through this exploration, the author seeks to clarify and expand upon Freud's original concepts, offering fresh insights into psychoanalytic theory and its implications for understanding human sexuality.

Highlighting the concept of "otherness," this collection features key essays by Laplanche, now available in English for the first time. It offers a comprehensive overview of his influential ideas, making it an essential resource for understanding his contributions to psychoanalysis and philosophy.

Winner of the Prix Femina and considered a masterpiece of autobiography, this is J. B. Pontalis' lyrical meditation on his own life. One of France's pre- eminent psychoanalysts, he is co-author of the classic The Language of Psychoanalysis and he has also been a member of the editorial committee of Les Temps Modernes.

At once a memoir and a personal version of the author's highly influential Language of Psychoanalysis, this title offers an autobiographical perspective on the private vocabularies that develop between analyst and patient.