Definitions HQ

The Symbolic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠(if viewed through the game of chess) the rules, the formal symbolic standpoint whereby the 'knight' is defined only by the moves this figure can make.

The Symbolic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a structural object. It is a third order and the the first criterion of structuralism.

The Symbolic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠all about desire, bound up inextricably with the play of language once we enter it. The real, by contrast, concerns need (and the unquenchable nature of satisfaction) and the imaginary concerns demand).

The Symbolic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠concerned with the subject whereas the imaginary is concerned with the ego.

The Symbolic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠linguistic, not psychological. When canned laughter in the t.V. Does the laughing for me, or when greeting practices does the harmony for me, I don't have to go to the trouble of mobilizing inner states.

The Symbolic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠made possible because of one's acceptance of the name-of-the-father, those laws and restrictions that control both one's desire and the rules of communication. Through recognition of the name-of-the-father, one is able to enter into a community of others.

The Symbolic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠made possible because of your acceptance of the name-of-the-father, those laws and restrictions that control both your desire and the rules of communication.

The Symbolic (n.) emerges ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠from a gift, an offering, which neutralizes its content in order to declare itself as a gift: When a gift is offered, what matters is not its content but the link between the giver and the receiver established when the other accepts the gift.

The Symbolic (n.) serves ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a differentiating role (in contrast to the imaginary, which serves an assimilating, reflecting, doubling and duplicating role).

The Symbolic's (n.) main ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠function is to render our co-existence with others minimally bearable.

The Symbolic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the level at which the big other operates.

The Symbolic (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the social world of linguistic communication, intersubjective relations, knowledge of ideological conventions, and the acceptance of the law (also called the 'big other').