Virtual freedom: The obfuscation and elucidation of the subject in cyberspace

In his late work, Michel Foucault finds in Greek antiquity a form of subjectivity that makes no reference to a universal law. The virtual world of cyberspace appears to offer individuals a similar possibility, in which the fundamental limitations that form the subject in the external society no long...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsychoanalysis, culture & society Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 63 - 70
Main Author McGowan, Todd
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Palgrave 01.04.2013
Palgrave Macmillan UK
Palgrave Macmillan
Subjects
Anthropology
Antiquities
Antiquity
Bullying
Civil society
Colleges & universities
Cultural Studies
Culture
Foucault, Michel
Freedom
Internet
Law
Liberty
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Morality
Original Article
Psychoanalysis
Psychology
Psychotherapy
Satisfaction
Sexuality
Subjectivity
Theory
subjectivity
law
desire
cyberspace
Foucault
Lacan
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Summary:In his late work, Michel Foucault finds in Greek antiquity a form of subjectivity that makes no reference to a universal law. The virtual world of cyberspace appears to offer individuals a similar possibility, in which the fundamental limitations that form the subject in the external society no longer apply. However, this article argues that the universal law actually is more powerful in cyberspace, insofar as it remains outside of our capacity for recognizing it. Nevertheless, the redeeming possibility of cyberspace lies not in what cyberspace promises, but rather in its capacity to makes palpable our inevitable failure to achieve the promise of complete, digital satisfaction.
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ISSN:1088-0763
1543-3390
DOI:10.1057/pcs.2012.40