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Matti Harris: I don't think I need to introduce Doctor Bion to most of you here. We are immensely privileged and delighted that he is able to continue his series of talks he gives around this time every year, giving us the opportunity to share his on-going thinking and development – in so far as we are able. I think he would like me to emphasize again that he is utterly willing, and even eager, to be interrupted at any moment by any questions however “wild” they may be (as some people felt theirs were last time). Those of you who have had this experience will know that you will always get an unexpected answer which may seem extremely enigmatic, but afterwards may be very illuminating – and sometimes incredibly obvious.
Bion: The problem that seems to me to be extremely important and, I think, more important every day, is one of observation. I get so sick and tired of hearing about the various different schools of psychoanalysis and their great superiority to the other one – whichever it is. The possibility of arguing about their various merits is simply endless – as long as you don't anchor any of it to facts. I don't know of any scientific work that is not based on observation; it is a great comfort, because if you can base it on observation, then you have something to go on that is as near to fact as you are likely to get in this extraordinary subject.
If an individual finds that he cannot see, then the chances are that he will use a stick that he waves about, prods the ground, and seems to rely upon it to give him information. He learns how to use it and appears to be able to diagnose or interpret what he gets from striking other objects or feeling that the ground is soft or sandy.
What kind of stick or instrument do we use when we are concerned with what is supposed to be the human mind in order to supply us with facts we might be able to interpret? Psychoanalysis is alleged to be one of them. Of course I went through the considerable training courses both in the