jouissance

is (after 1957) the enjoyment of a sexual object, masturbation, and ultimately, orgasm.

Soon after, the sexual connotations become more apparent... in 1957, Lacan uses the term to refer to the enjoyment of a sexual object (Ec, 453) and to the pleasures of masturbation (S4, 241), and in 1958 he makes explicit the sense of jouissance as orgasm (Ec, 727). (For a fuller description of the development of this term in Lacan's work, see Macey, 1988:200-5). (Evans 93)

is (up to 1957) no more than the enjoyable sensation that accompanies the satisfaction of a biological need such as hunger.

Lacan uses the term occasionally, usually in the context of the Hegelian dialectic of the MASTER and the slave: the slave is forced to work to provide objects for the master's enjoyment (jouissance) (S1, 223... S2, 269). Up to 1957, then, the term seems to mean no more than the enjoyable sensation that accompanies the satisfaction of a biological need such as hunger (S4, 125). (Evans 93)

is a relational concept rather than some isolated determining instance or named force.

But to grasp the implications it is best to see jouissance as a relational concept rather than some isolated 'ultimately determining instance' or named force. (Jameson 2006 : pdf.)

is opposed to pleasure. The result of transgressing the pleasure principle is not more pleasure, but pain, since there is only a certain amount of pleasure that the subject can bear. Beyond this limit, pleasure becomes pain, and this 'painful pleasure'.

It is only in 1960 that Lacan develops his classic opposition between jouissance and pleasure, an opposition which alludes to the Hegelian/Kojevian distinction between Genuss (enjoyment) and Lust (pleasure) (cf. Kojève, 1947:46). The pleasure principle functions as a limit to enjoyment... it is a law which commands the subject to 'enjoy as little as possible'. At the same time, the subject constantly attempts to transgress the prohibitions imposed on his enjoyment, to go 'beyond the pleasure principle'. However, the result of transgressing the pleasure principle is not more pleasure, but pain, since there is only a certain amount of pleasure that the subject can bear. Beyond this limit, pleasure becomes pain, and this 'painful pleasure' is what Lacan calls jouissance... 'jouissance is suffering' (S7, 184). (Evans 93)

1s 2rohibition is inherent in the structure of language and thus forbidden to him who speaks, as such.

The prohibition of jouissance (the pleasure principle) is inherent in the symbolic structure of language, which is why 'jouissance is forbidden to him who speaks, as such' (E, 319). (Evans 94)

1s 2enunciation is required for the subject's entry into the symbolic. Castration means the refusal of jouissance so it can be reached on the inverted ladder of the law of desire.

The subject's entry into the symbolic is conditional upon a certain initial renunciation of jouissance in the castration complex, when the subject gives up his attempts to be the imaginary phallus for the mother... 'Castration means that jouissance must be refused so that it can be reached on the inverted ladder (l'echelle renversee) of the Law of desire' (E, 324). (Evans 94)

is that which expresses the suffering one derives from one's own satisfaction. It is the satisfaction one derives from his symptoms and the suffering he derives from his own satisfaction.

The term jouissance thus nicely expresses the paradoxical satisfaction that the subject derives from his symptom, or, to put it another way, the suffering that he derives from his own satisfaction (Freud's 'primary gain from illness'). (Evans 93)

is the pain that lies beyond the pleasure principle, in the excess of pleasure. It is thus, the 'painful principles'.

Yet the result of transgressing the pleasure principle, according to Lacan, is not more pleasure but pain, since there is only a certain amount of pleasure that the subject can bear. Beyond this limit, pleasure becomes pain, and this 'painful principle' is what Lacan calls jouissance.[6] ' (wiki)

jouissance, n.All

jouissance