Conference

Abstract

In fact, it has been fourteen years, but I still have very vivid memories of that time I spent with you, when we worked and danced a lot. It was a very warm and pleasant time. I have returned to Porto Alegre since then, on a few occasions, although not to the same Society. I would like to say that, when the images of Porto Alegre were shown, I discovered places in the city that I had never seen or known. Therefore, on the next occasion, I will return and visit all of them.
I thank you for this invitation to discuss a topic that, in my opinion, is fundamental for the evolution of Psychoanalysis in the 21st century. I believe that it allows for openness and a series of possible developments. Even so, it is a difficult subject, due to its complexity.
I then came across the following question: how can I convey some of my thoughts on such a complex subject? What seemed to me perhaps to be the best solution – because I deeply believe in this – was to think, firstly, that the subject is not born in a snap of the fingers, in a simple way, that his birth results from an entire process, with different stages interconnected. The best thing would perhaps be, then, to present the stages of this process, trying to describe how the subject comes into being, what moments he goes through and how he goes through them. This is difficult, because one of the complicating factors is the fact that every integration process has a particularity: as the stages are integrated, all the work prior to this integration tends to be covered up. I wouldn't say repressed, but rather repelled. [...]