You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
As Govrin observes, philosophy has deeply influenced psychoanalysis over time, shaping it to varying extents and in different ways: “When the scientific ethos was dominant, psychoanalysis was ‘scientific.’ When modern hermeneutics became popular, it became ‘hermeneutic.’ When the influence of postmodernism was evident, psychoanalysis became ‘postmodern’” (p. 192). This underscores the necessity of engaging with philosophy when discussing psychoanalysis. Philosophy, as a pursuit of the “love of wisdom,” is fundamentally concerned with examining unexamined premises. In his book, Govrin integrates significant contributions from the philosophy of science and systematically examines psychoanalysis through the lens of Freud's theories, classical psychoanalysis, self psychology, the intersubjective approach, the relational approach, and neuropsychoanalysis, presenting these in chronological order and offering profound analyses. Notably, Govrin points out that “most analysts have no background or training in philosophy” (p. 164), leaving them unaware of how these unexamined premises influence their theoretical frameworks and clinical practices. In this sense, the book offers analysts a valuable opportunity to develop new perspectives and refresh their understanding of their discipline's foundational concepts. When I came across the book's contents, I was immediately captivated by its approach and scope.
In the introduction, the author employs a metaphor to illustrate the relationship between psychoanalysis and philosophy,
One of the children (i.e., psychoanalysis) has chosen to turn away from the family (i.e., philosophy) in order to find itself a new family (in the shape of medical and biological science). [However,] perceived as a foreign body and a stepchild, the child does not truly fit in with its chosen family. (p. 7)
In my view, this metaphor aptly captures the complexity of their relationship. Philosophy, often regarded as the mother of all disciplines, has given rise