Letter: Sorry? The erect male organ equals what?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.I WAS relieved that Lewis Wolpert does not assume that Alan Sokal's criticisms of French left-wing postmodernists were part of a right- wing conspiracy (Review, 8 March). Sokal, co-author of Impostures Intellectuelles, is - as Wolpert reports - concerned about "some weird goings on" in parts of academia. It is undoubtedly weird to proclaim, as Jacques Lacan does, that "it is thus that the erect male organ, not as itself, not even as the image, but as the missing part of the desired image is equal to the square root of -1 of the highest produced meaning". Weird puts it mildly. It would be funny if Lacan were not so influential. It is important that people do not assume that those like Lacan are the authentic voice of the left. There have been more than 15,000 contributions to the debate on the Internet site affaire Sokal.
Nicky White
Profile Books, London W1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments