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As Vassalli states in the abstract to his paper, his intention is to demonstrate how the creation of psychoanalysis had a methodological origin in the Greek concept techne (Aristotle's ‘rhetoric’). He employs this concept as ‘technique’ or ‘methodology’ and states in the discussion: the purpose of my article was to represent the epistemological position of psychoanalysis that Freud understood primarily in terms of technique.
This paper follows on well from an earlier internet discussion paper (Sandell et al., 2000), as a common theme is the question of whether psychoanalysis can be considered an empirically based ‘natural science’ with a testable body of theory, or a method of treatment with its own particular techniques for exploring the unconscious mind. ‘In Freudian observation it is more than simple facts that are seen’, Vassalli states in his discussion contribution.
An examination such as that offered by Vassalli of the origins of psychoanalytic methodology is valuable in enabling a reconsideration of its foundations, intentionality and legitimacy.
In emphasising the centrality of the use of language to the methodology— ‘words are the essential tool of treatment’ (Freud 1890, p. 283)—the article contains many references to the etymology of Greek and German terms, and therefore requires a careful reading.
An example is the German erraten, which translates as to guess in English, has an origin in the Greek rhetorical technique of Aristotle, and may be thought of as a ‘hunch-based’ or ‘hunch-following’ but precise form of interpretation. To accept guessing as a precise act requires some rethinking for those accustomed to its English usage. Translators have preferred to detect or to make out, as being more in the positivist style.
Vassalli states that the neglect of the term erraten by analysts ‘has thrown an increasing shadow over the understanding of analytic technique’ and led to ‘a breach developing almost unnoticed between treatment and investigation’ (20