Psychoanalysis confronting the new future of an illusion

Abstract

Taking as a starting point Freud’s 1927 inquiry into the trajectories and development of culture, and immersed in the recent transformations brought about by the consolidation of hyper-individualization and hyper-segmentation ideals within neoliberal capitalism, this study seeks to reflect on how psychoanalysis can sustain itself and adapt to contemporary shifts without compromising its foundational principles. This research draws upon psychoanalytic theoretical frameworks and the insights of South Korean philosopher Byung-Chul Han to conduct a critical reflection on capitalist logic and the new modalities of suffering that permeate the contemporary subject. The study concludes that the analyst’s discourse must remain grounded in an unwavering commitment to the unconscious and the work of speech, thereby upholding the Freudian legacy of fostering new ways of speaking, desiring, and existing.