Freud, Wittgenstein, and the Unconscious

This conference takes up the Wittgenstein-Freud connection from a conceptual rather than an historical point of view. Wittgenstein famously criticized Freud’s notion of the unconscious as part of his general critique of scientism. In this conference we explore three main questions and other themes related to the unconscious:

1.     Is a viable notion of the unconscious salvageable from Wittgenstein’s criticisms of Freud’s formulations of the unconscious? And, if so, what is its role in philosophy, psychoanalysis, or social critique?

2.     What further insights about philosophy or psychology can be gleaned from rethinking Wittgenstein’s critique of Freud?

3.     Can Wittgenstein’s own work be seen as presupposing or dependent upon a notion of the unconscious? If so, what importance does that have for his philosophy?

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Naomi Scheman (Minnesota); Stephen White (Tufts)

FOR THOSE OUTSIDE OF SYDNEY: remote access is available via Zoom. Please email [email protected] to access a link. 

THIS CONFERENCE IS FUNDED AND SUPPORTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOANALYTICAL ASSOCIATION.