Drugging Discontent: Psychoanalysis, Drives, and the Governmental University Medical Pharmaceutical Complex (GUMP)

Samuels, Robert

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-71891-0_6

Robert Samuels²

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Abstract

In this chapter, I place this conflict between the new brain sciences and psychoanalysis in a very particular context in order to provide a pressing example of the destructive effects of neuroliberalism. My central claim is that governments, universities, medical doctors, and pharmaceutical companies are unintentionally working together to position medication as the only solution to most psychological and social problems, and this focus on the use of drugs not only represses psychoanalysis but also relies on the basic argument of the new brain sciences. Through the formation of what I will be calling the Governmental University Medical Pharmaceutical Complex (GUMP for short), an unintentional collusion has been produced that transforms science into a neoliberal market as a new form of social Darwinism is circulated. Moreover, to offer a counter-discourse to GUMP, I articulate how psychoanalysis represents a vital challenge to the drugging of discontent.

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Notes

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UCSB, Goleta, CA, USA
Robert Samuels

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Samuels, R. (2017). Drugging Discontent: Psychoanalysis, Drives, and the Governmental University Medical Pharmaceutical Complex (GUMP). In: Psychoanalyzing the Politics of the New Brain Sciences. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71891-0_6

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71891-0_6
Published: 29 December 2017
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-71890-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-71891-0
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