Course Title: Psychoanalysis and Philosophy: How Reading Philosophy Can Deepen Your Understanding of Psychoanalytic Theory and Practice
Instructor: Philip Bestrom, MA, LCSW
Meeting dates (2027): January 2027: 5, 12, 19, 26; February 2 & 9
Meeting Time: Tuesdays 7:00 PM –9:00 PM Central Time
Location: via Zoom
Description: Many contemporary psychoanalytic theoreticians have been influenced by philosophical works. Often when reading psychoanalytic articles, we come across names we recognize but have never read directly. These original philosophical works can often be unfamiliar to many clinicians who have had limited exposure to reading philosophy. In this seminar I will introduce you to some of these philosophical works. In the first half of each meeting, we will focus on a specific philosopher and read passages from their work. I will also provide some overview and background of these philosophers. For this seminar we will mostly focus on existential philosophers. In the second half of each meeting we will turn to the work of a psychoanalyst who has been influenced by that philosopher. This will include Peter Shabad, Robert Stolorow, and Frank Summers among others. By reading the philosopher’s original work I hope you may be inspired and gain the confidence to continue exploring their work and its connection with contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice. I will also suggest secondary resources that provide more accessibility. Additionally, reading philosophy also helps us understand our own personal ideals, clinical values, and organizing principles which will be explored in this seminar. All readings will be provided by pdf.
Tentative Outline:
Week 1. Soren Kierkegaard, Either/Or and The Present Age
Week 2. Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Week 3. Martin Heidegger, Being and Time
Week 4. Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness and “No Exit”
Week 5. Simone de Beauvoir, The Ambiguity of Ethics
Week 6. Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus and The Rebel
Biographical Information:
Philip Bestrom is a licensed clinical social worker and psychoanalytic psychotherapist. He is a graduate of the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis training program. He worked for ten years as a community psychiatric social worker and is now in private practice. He is licensed in Illinois and Michigan.