Psychoanalytic Reflections on the Nature of Money: Authority, Regulation of Standards, and the Law of the Father
Tan Waelchli
What is money? Although we use it every day, and although determines our lives to a very high degree, do not actually know what is. And 'we' here does just denote us ordinary citizens who are unfamiliar with the basic principle of economics, but also scientists specialists should better. As author recent study on monetary policy in late Roman antiquity notes, historians have long pointed out that has assumed 'a bewildering variety forms' throughout history--'from cowrie shells cigarettes'. (1) At same time, economists like emphasise can 'perform several different functions: medium exchange, measure value, unit account, store wealth means payment'. (2) Taken together, these forms functions make up such complicated picture try describe only agree disagree: precise definition term money eluded consensus economists, anthropologists'. (3) In follows I want suggest psychoanalysis might join this ongoing discussion about nature money. The passage from Freud's work most commonly quoted regard be found On Transformations Instinct as Exemplified Anal Eroticism (1917). Here Freud sets observation 'in products unconscious spontaneous ideas, fantasies symptoms--the concepts faeces (money, gift), baby penis ill-distinguished one another easily interchangeable'. (4) Analysing relations between interchangeable concepts, claims certain infantile 'interest faeces' later--in life adult--'continued partly interest money'. (5) From sometimes been concluded analogy makes for an actual psychoanalytic theory my opinion, however, rather weak theory. It notable contribute explaining how comes into being, he describes perception reaction side child which suddenly confronted 'gift' (6) If there any value observation, suspect, notion gift. fact, gift seems interested in. He primarily concerned money, anthropological gift, explored at around time by--among others--Marcel Mauss his Essai sur le don (1924). Leaving aside theories instead approach question psychoanalytical angle--one was established by Jean-Joseph Goux. book Freud, Marx: economie et symbolique (1973), Goux compares Marx's genealogy form Oedipus complex. well known, model distinguishes four stages process leads form, particularly important happens final stage. Here, Marx claims, 'particular commodity, whose bodily equivalent [...] socially identified, becomes or serves (7) And, goes explain, no apparent reason precious metal gold took over 'social function' playing 'within world commodities part universal equivalent'. (8) According Goux, function general present complex social role played father: 'The father subjects, way products'. (9) More recently, Frivolite de la valeur (2000), continued examine connection rise Freudian form. Setting observations--such Ancient Greek nomisma, refers back law (nomos), Aristotle's comparison judge--Goux emphasises implies unity, centrality authority. …
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