Friday, June 8, 2012

Lacanian Terminology: The Dialectic of Knowledge – Definition and Explanation


"The Dialectic of Knowledge" is notion my Jacques Lacan which describes the manner in which knowledge, any form of knowledge, is organized. According to Lacan knowledge is always dialectic by being organized in a set of oppositions (Lacan took this notion from thstructuralist thought). Lacan distinguishes Savoir, knowledge, and Connaissance, consciousness. Knowledge is part of the Symbolic Order while consciousness is associated with Imaginary Order. This means that there is always an inner gap in everything we know, and that all knowledge is always dis-knowledge and conscious and always also mis-conscious. 

Some additional books to help you better your understanding of Lacan's theory and terminology: