Deconstructing and Developing Freud’s Drive Theory: Lacan’s Philosophical Perspective

Join us for this fascinating online talk with Dr Yi Lu.

This talk explores Jacques Lacan’s critical engagement with and development of Freud’s drive theory, a central yet evolving and often ambiguous notion in Freudian psychoanalysis. I will examine Lacan’s rejection of the natural scientific interpretations postulated by Freud’s successors and his emphasis on the intrinsic connection between the drive and language, a connection first hinted at by Freud himself. My work suggests that Lacan’s theoretical construction, notably his notion of sublimation, recontextualises the drive within ontological and ethical dimensions. This talk aims to elucidate the implications of Lacan’s reinterpretation of Freud’s drive in shifting the psychoanalytic paradigm and extending its influence into broader philosophical discourse. 

This talk will be delivered in Chinese with English translation and slides in English.

The Speaker 

Dr. Yi Lu, associate professor, Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University. His main research areas include psychoanalysis and contemporary French philosophy. He is the translator of the Chinese edition of "Freud's Essays on Psychology of Love" and "Jacques Lacan's Seminar VII: The Ethics of Psychoanalysis".