Philosophy & Psychoanalysis Study Group

 

Introduction

The group has met since 1999, convened by Louise Braddock together with David Bell (until Summer 2010) and now with Denis Flynn. It became a Study Group of the Institute in 2010. Members include psychoanalysts and academic philosophers, also occasionally trainees or graduate students. The group works through the medium of inter-disciplinary conversation. The principal focus for psychoanalysis is on its philosophical claims and ideas, its epistemology and methodology and its conceptual problems. For philosophy the main contributions are philosophical ideas and theories relevant to psychoanalysis, and philosophical critique. The ethos of the group is to be a safe place for disagreement. The group’s output is largely that of its individual members (for which see Members’ web-pages), though it has contributed to the academic work of the Institute through the CAPS seminar series, talks given at Applied Section meetings, and meetings of the Psychoanalytic Forum. Queries about the group and its work can be addressed to the conveners. 

Events: Lectures, seminars & workshops past and present

By the group itself

  • Institute of Psychoanalysis Conference 2003. ‘Philosophy and Psychoanalysis: a Dialogue’ March 2003
  • Institute of Psychoanalysis Conference2005.  Art, Emotion and Psychoanalysis: a tribute to Richard Wollheim’
  • nstitute of Psychoanalysis Centre for Advanced Psychoanalytic Studies 2009: Five seminars on Philosophy and Psychoanalysis.

By group members

  • Tavistock Centre 2010-2011. ‘Meaning and Mindedness: Encounters between Philosophy and Psychoanalysis’. Seminar series. Organiser Edward Harcourt (with Sarah Majid, Adult Department, The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust).
  • Institute of Psychoanalysis Applied Section, February 2011:  open meeting on Psychoanalysis as a Science. Speakers: Jim Hopkins, Michael Lacewing, with Mary Target (Professor of Psychoanalysis, UCL).
  • Institute of Psychoanalysis Psychoanalytic Forum September 2011: ‘Thinking about Projective Identification’. Speakers Louise Braddock, Priscilla Roth (British Psychoanalytical Society)