The antiphilosophical operation of Lacan’s theory of signifier

Abstract

This paper examines the theory of the signifier as conceptualized by Lacan, along with the philosophical dimensions that his proposal raises. Our thesis is that there is an antiphilosophical operation in the way how Lacan assimilates the concept of signifier. We argue that a better understanding of the radical nature of this assimilation requires a critique of the history of philosophy, particularly within the metaphysical tradition. Thus, we first explore the notion of antiphilosophy in Lacan through the work of philosopher Alain Badiou. Our aim in this presentation is to explore the epistemological consequences of the signifier and the issues raised by Lacanian anti-philosophy. To achieve this, we will trace the historical development of the Lacanian conception of the signifier and engage in a debate with central themes such as meaning, the unconscious, metaphor, and metonymy. We argue that the relationship between philosophy and psychoanalysis, within the framework of anti-philosophy, does not merely reflect a critique or rejection of the philosophical tradition, rather, it signifies the potential for a form of reason or truth that acknowledges the significance of determination.