https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_McGowan
McGowan's work has been described as "A Politics of Death Drive"
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26305079
What’s “Enjoying What We Don't Have: The Political Project of Psychoanalysis (Todd McGowan, 2013)” about, why was it called “A Politics of Death Drive”?
In “Enjoying What We Don’t Have: The Political Project of Psychoanalysis” (2013), Todd McGowan explores the intersection of psychoanalytic theory and political philosophy, proposing a framework for emancipatory politics grounded in the concept of the death drive. He contends that traditional political models often strive to eliminate loss and achieve a harmonious state of fulfillment. In contrast, McGowan argues that true emancipation arises from embracing loss and recognizing the inherent contradictions within desire and enjoyment. By accepting the self-destructive tendencies highlighted by the death drive, individuals can attain a more profound and authentic form of enjoyment. This perspective challenges the capitalist emphasis on accumulation and perpetual satisfaction, suggesting that acknowledging and integrating loss can lead to a more liberated societal structure.
The book is referred to as advocating a “Politics of the Death Drive” because it positions the death drive—a concept introduced by Sigmund Freud and expanded by Jacques Lacan—as central to political emancipation. McGowan posits that the death drive’s inclination toward self-destruction and repetition compulsion can serve as a foundation for political philosophy. By embracing the loss and negativity inherent in the death drive, rather than seeking to overcome them, McGowan believes we can find a path to genuine enjoyment and freedom. This approach offers an alternative to traditional political projects that aim for utopian ideals, suggesting instead that true liberation comes from confronting and integrating the fundamental lacks and losses that characterize human experience.
In summary, McGowan’s work challenges conventional political thought by integrating psychoanalytic concepts, particularly the death drive, to propose a model of emancipation that embraces loss as a pathway to authentic enjoyment and freedom.
