Julie Reshe is a Ukrainian-born philosopher, a practicing negative psychoanalyst, and a public intellectual. She is currently a visiting professor at University College Cork and University College Dublin. She is also a Director of the Institute of Psychoanalysis at the Global Centre for Advanced Studies.
So, McGowan (2013) is in the same spirit as “Negative Psychoanalysis for the Living Dead: Philosophical Pessimism and the Death Drive, Julie Reshe, 2023”? (ChatGPT, 2025-2-23)
Yes, Todd McGowan’s “Enjoying What We Don’t Have: The Political Project of Psychoanalysis” (2013) and Julie Reshe’s “Negative Psychoanalysis for the Living Dead: Philosophical Pessimism and the Death Drive” (2023) share a common philosophical orientation that challenges the prevailing positive psychology paradigms. Both authors delve into the inherent negativity and contradictions of human existence, drawing upon psychoanalytic concepts to propose alternative frameworks for understanding desire, enjoyment, and the human condition.
Common Themes:
1. Embracing Negativity and Loss:
• McGowan posits that true emancipation arises from acknowledging and embracing loss, suggesting that attempts to eliminate negativity lead to superficial forms of satisfaction.
• Reshe critiques the pervasive positive orientation in popular psychology, advocating for a ‘depressive realist’ perspective that honestly confronts the pain and tragedy inherent in human existence.
2. Critique of Positive Psychology:
• Both authors challenge the notion that perpetual happiness and fulfillment are attainable or even desirable, arguing that such ideals can be escapist and disconnected from the realities of human experience.
3. Centrality of the Death Drive:
• McGowan integrates the concept of the death drive into political philosophy, suggesting that recognizing our self-destructive tendencies can lead to more authentic forms of enjoyment and societal structures.
• Reshe explores the structural role of negativity and tragedy, incorporating the death drive to propose a ‘negative psychoanalysis’ that accepts the tragic aspects of human nature.
In summary, both McGowan and Reshe advocate for a paradigm shift that moves away from the pursuit of constant positivity. They propose embracing the inherent negativity and contradictions of human existence as a pathway to genuine understanding and authentic living.
For a more in-depth exploration of Julie Reshe’s perspective, you might find this discussion insightful:
https://youtu.be/3Cz9jPNfqx0?si=kcv6HvXOmLiErXU8
