Stupidity and the Collapse of Thirdness: A Discussion of Gregorio Kohon’s Paper

Journal title PSICOANALISI
Author/s Patricia Grieve
Publishing Year 2023 Issue 2023/1
Language Italian Pages 6 P. 77-82 File size 129 KB
DOI 10.3280/PSI2023-001005
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When narratives become fixed, not open to change or modification, they are expressions of stupidity, as described by Kohon, be it in pathology, psychoanalysis, political discourse, or the present upsurge of identity politics: a symbolic impoverishment that amounts to a collapse of thirdness. The longing for certitudes based on the illusion of completeness, present in all of us, is linked to the ideal ego, an archaic narcissistic fusion with an omnipotent mother. In our work, our identification with Freud as an ego ideal prevents any incestuous acting out of the transferential bond by introducing a symbolic third, difference, and the world of culture.

Keywords: Certainty, Ego ideal, ideal ego, identity, identity politics, illusion of completeness, stupidity, symbolic impoverishment, thirdness, transgender narrative.

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Patricia Grieve, La stupidità e il crollo della terzietà. Discussione sull’articolo di Gregorio Kohon "‘Come ho potuto essere così stupido?’. L’impoverimento simbolico e la questione degli ideali" in "PSICOANALISI" 1/2023, pp 77-82, DOI: 10.3280/PSI2023-001005