An Interrogation of the Relational Turn A Discussion With Stephen Mitchell

The point of this commentary is to engage in a discussion about relational ideas with the leading exponent of this position, S. Mitchell (1998). He has set forth important views that are recognized and discussed by contemporary analysts. The author' s engagement in this dialogue grows out of her interest in increasing clarity, consistency, and greater warrant and rationality for the position that ultimately emerges. The author initially addresses the writings of a couple of important hermeneutic philosophers to highlight their ties to an Enlightenment tradition, a tradition that Mitchell suggested most contemporary philosophers eschew. She then takes up the issue of validity and utility because it is believed that these issues are often entangled in the psychoanalytic discourse. Lastly, the author addresses what she thinks is a serious divergence of views; her interest is in establishing psychoanalysis on an empirical base, one that is consistent with data emerging from the neurobiological sciences, and she stresses the need to join both the hermeneutic and scientific aspects of psychoanalysis.