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If we close our eyes and imagine philosophers Alasdair Maclntyre and John Dewey sitting together by the fire and reading this anthology, we would probably assume that Maclntyre, who lay strong emphasis on communitarianism and tradition, would react with satisfaction, while Dewey might shift uneasily in his armchair—maybe wondering why psychoanalysis and its institutions had become so segregated, or even “sectarian and seminarian,” as Douglas Kirsner described (McDougall, 1995; Kirsner, 2000, p. 5).
And indeed, an anthology, “a collection of blossoms” in its Greek literal sense, calls for exactly these kinds of philosophical reflections, as it does not only indicate the manifested collective nature of a particular school, but also implies something about its undeclared ways of determining what is considered appreciable and right.
Nineteen papers of analysts from the British Contemporary Freudian Group are gathered in this volume. Most were previously published while others are new, both organized by the editors Ken Robinson and Joan Schächter exploring five themes: the unconscious, psychic development, the body and psychosexuality, destructiveness, and psychoanalytic technique. Akin to Maclntyre's philosophy, this collection certainly demonstrates how turning to Freudian thought can still be fruitful. One evolves through deep acquaintance with traditional cogitation as well as by strong commitment to its practice, claims Maclntyre, paving the road to reaching excellency in intellectual and practical fields. Accordingly, it seems that all writers included here share a true love for Freudian thinking, perceiving it as a spring of new ideas. Almost all the main cornerstones in Freud's writings are elaborated upon and addressed in various clinical vignettes.
Freud's citation about a second censorship between the unconscious and the preconscious constitutes a starting point for Joseph and Anne-Marie Sandler, in the paper entitled, “Phantasy and its transformations: A Contemp