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The subject matter of this paper comprises the problem of scientific communication in psychoanalysis, especially in the light of some new developments in the philosophy of science, and a discussion of their possible relevance to the question of the growth of knowledge in psychoanalysis.
I believe that the philosophy of science1 may be of considerable value in this respect, and cannot be discarded solely e.g. as “the omnipotence of thought”. Most sciences have their roots in philosophy. Freud's sceptical attitude towards philosophy has been influential among psychoanalysts.2
During recent decades, the body of psychoanalytic knowledge has grown considerably, which in turn implies increasing difficulties among psychoanalysts in understanding each other. How could psychoanalysts improve their scientific communication? Before we are able to look for answers to this question, we must set at least two additional questions:
Why have psychoanalysts from different schools difficulties in communicating with each other?
Are the difficulties of communication affective or intellectual (conceptual)?