Introducing: Michel Foucault on Psychoanalysis

In this three hour course we will focus on two of Foucault’s most important works – History of Madness (1961) and The History of Sexuality (1976 – 84). In History of Madness he gives a critical history of Psychiatry, while in the first volume of The History of Sexuality he argues that sexuality must be understood as a social and historical construct, rather than an extra-social phenomenon of ‘biological drives’. We will carefully examine the overall argument of each of these works, and explore the role Foucault accords to Freud, and the ways he sees psychoanalysis in each text.

All registrants will receive their link to join via ZOOM. Course material will be sent 1 day before the event. Time includes a tea break. All attendees will also receive access to the recording, available to watch back for 1 month.

Tutor:

Keith Barrett BA PhD received his first degree in philosophy from Oxford University after having spent three years working as a nursing assistant in psychiatric hospitals. It was in this practical context that Keith first encountered existentialism and psychoanalysis. He then began postgraduate studies on both Freud and Heidegger, leading finally to a PhD from the Wellcome Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL for a dissertation on ‘Freud’s Self-Analysis’. Keith has been a philosophy teacher for over 20 years, and has been delivering courses at the Freud Museum for over a decade, where he has developed a series of introductory lectures on Freud, psychoanalysis after Freud, and exploring the overlap of philosophy and psychoanalysis.

Members’ Discount

Freud Museum Members will be able to receive a 20% discount on tickets with a special Members code. Details will be circulated to all Members via email.