Origins of Desire & Ethics of the Drive in Lacanian Psychoanalysis

Origins of Desire & Ethics of the Drive in Lacanian Psychoanalysis is adapted from Samuel McCormick’s widely attended Lectures on Lacan, offering a reading companion to Lacan’s pivotal Seminar XI that clarifies complex psychoanalytic theory while retaining the lively energy of the lecture hall.

Across six tightly organized chapters, this accessible and engaging book traces the subject’s constitution via the cut of the signifier and the law of castration. From there, it navigates the alienating circuitry of desire, ultimately guiding readers toward an ethics grounded in the singular enjoyment of the drive. Along the way, McCormick logically breaks down Lacan's shift from a science of openings (objectality) to a science of non-being (meontology), detailing his theory of repetition, new account of transference, central notion of the unconscious, and radical redefinition of the drive. The concluding chapter explores the clinical and ethical stakes of this trajectory. As we move beyond the frustrations of neurotic desire, toward the uninhibited enjoyments of the drive, we find ourselves on the verge of what Lacan, in the final lines of Seminar XI, describes as “limitless love.”

By avoiding unnecessary jargon and utilizing concrete examples, this book occupies a valuable middle space between popular introductions and dense academic commentary. Complete with chapter takeaways, study questions, and crystal-clear definitions, it is perfectly suited for classroom adoption, institutional reading groups, and anyone seeking a reliable guide through Lacan’s most influential seminar.