Psychoanalytic lexicography: notes from two "harmless drudges"

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalysis
• Lexicography
• Philosophy of Language

Background:

• The American Psychoanalytic Association's "Psychoanalytic Terms and Concepts" is undergoing revision.
• Previous editions were last updated in 1990.
• Contemporary psychoanalysis faces significant theoretical pluralism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To recount the experiences of editing a new edition of "Psychoanalytic Terms and Concepts."
• To address the challenges of defining psychoanalytic terminology in the 21st century.
• To establish a balanced perspective on psychoanalytic language within current academic debates.

Main Methods:

• The abstract describes the editorial process and challenges faced.
• It involves navigating diverse theoretical viewpoints within psychoanalysis.
• It engages with postmodern critiques of lexicography and language.

Main Results:

• The editors acknowledge the difficulty of defining psychoanalytic concepts due to the subjective nature of the mind.
• They recognize the shift from seeking "correctness" to understanding terms within specific "language-games."
• The editorial team has not adopted nihilistic views on dictionary-writing but seeks a balanced approach.

Conclusions:

• Editing a psychoanalytic dictionary requires addressing linguistic pluralism and the nature of psychoanalytic knowledge.
• The project aims to provide a valuable resource despite postmodern critiques of lexicography.
• The editors strive for a nuanced stance on defining psychoanalytic terms in contemporary discourse.