Dear Sirs,

Joel Whitebook (2004) has provided a rich and scholarly exegesis of Hans Loewald's contributions, rightfully situating Loewald at the center of current debates within psychoanalysis. It was because I found myself largely in agreement with Whitebook's analysis that I was astounded and dismayed by his serious misreading of my own work. Whitebook suggests that in Aron (1996), I exploit the postmodern critique of foundationalism for the purpose of building a psychoanalytic movement, and that I assume that, since there are no ultimate criteria for choosing between conceptual schemes, we need not be concerned with truth or validity. According to Whitebook, I therefore advocate choosing between theoretical models on the basis of practical and political consequences.