The Failure and Reality of Sublimation: Psychoanalytic Ontology and Revolution

Occupying a privileged position in psychoanalytic thought, sublimation—the process which the sexual instinct becomes social—is notably undertheorized and notoriously criticized, to some extent as embodiment of methodology politics psychoanalysis. As way elucidating concept, this article addresses political critiques sublimation by situating it Freud's metapsychology elaborating its speculative theorization. Critics put psychoanalysis context power structures that takes for granted real show imposes on subject failure accede reality desire—a double bind supposedly finalized sublimation. In contrast, expositors draw positing more complex relation between assert libidinal. Even may be other means, however, is premised libido's shape social reality. Seemingly compromising it, sublimation's repetition condition supposed solve fact hints at definition beyond ostensibly upholds. Freud illustrates his analysis Leonardo, I reread highlight realization desire reflecting common sense embed indeed realize through another bearing foreclosed desires.