"Psyche is extended": from Kant to Freud

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalysis
• Philosophy of Mind
• History of Psychology

Background:

• Explores Freud's late aphorism: "Psyche is extended; knows nothing about it."
• Traces the influence of Immanuel Kant's philosophy on Freud's concept of the psychic apparatus.
• Examines the historical context of Freud's discussions with Marie Bonaparte in 1938.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reconstruct the historical background of Freud's concept of extended psyche.
• To demonstrate the profound influence of Kantian philosophy on Freud's thought.
• To elucidate Freud's non-dualistic view of the mind-body relationship.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of Freud's writings and correspondence.
• Philosophical exegesis of Kantian concepts.
• Tracing intellectual influences from Kant to Freud via Naturphilosophie.

Main Results:

• Freud's concept of psychic extension is linked to Kant's a priori categories.
• Freud's thought on body-psyche relationship shows significant Kantian influence.
• Freud's later ideas reflect a non-dualistic, embodied conception of the mind.

Conclusions:

• Freud's "extended psyche" aphorism aligns with Kant's pre-Critique philosophy.
• Kantian philosophy profoundly shaped Freud's views on mind, body, space, and time.
• This study highlights the enduring impact of Kant on psychoanalytic theory.