Marx and Lacan
- Date
- 8 November 2026, Sunday
- Venue
- İzmir Chamber of Medicine
- Time
- 11.00 – 17.00
- Format
- In person · open to all
Throughout his teaching Lacan turns to Marx's thought in various contexts. Attributing the invention of the symptom to Marx, developing the notion of surplus jouissance out of surplus value and formulating the capitalist discourse are key moments of this relation. In these references Lacan reworks Marx's concepts in the light of the problems of psychoanalysis. The exchange is not one-way: Lacan's thought has in turn been a reference for left thinkers who relate to Marxism in different ways.
We will first offer an introduction to Marx's thought and the basic concepts of Marxism, and study the historical and theoretical context of the relation between Marx and Lacan. We will take up the debates between Marxism and the Lacanian left, then dwell on Lacan's attribution of the invention of the symptom to Marx, discussing the grounds of this claim and its place in Lacan's conception of the symptom.
In the final part of the day we will take up the capitalist discourse and how it operates today. We will consider the relation between surplus value and surplus jouissance in this frame, and discuss Lacan's references to Marx together with his thinking on the symptom, jouissance and the social bond.
We invite everyone who wishes to think and discuss Marx and Lacan together to join this meeting.
Programme
- 11.00 – 11.30 Opening Ekin Şen
- 11.30 – 12.15 Who Was Karl Marx, What Is Marxism? Tolga Binbay
- 12.15 – 12.30 Coffee break
- 12.30 – 13.15 Marxism and the Lacanian Left Tolga Binbay
- 13.15 – 14.30 Lunch break
- 14.30 – 15.15 How Did Marx Invent the Symptom? Oğuzhan Nacak
- 15.15 – 15.30 Coffee break
- 15.30 – 16.15 The Capitalist Discourse Today Oğuzhan Nacak
- 16.15 – 17.00 Discussion
Speakers
Tolga Binbay
Medical doctor and psychiatrist. His writing on history, society and psychiatry has appeared in soL Haber and in various journals and books. He has published three collections of short stories: Ve Kimse İsa'ya İnanmadı (2003), Gerisi Hep Rivayet (2016) and Ruhlar Mezbahası İyi Günler Diler (2020). He lives in İzmir and works as a physician in his own practice in Alsancak.
Oğuzhan Nacak
Psychoanalyst working in the Lacanian field, affiliated with IF-EPFCL. He teaches in the Clinical Psychology master's programme at Bahçeşehir University and hosts the Psikanaliz Sohbetleri podcast series. He maintains his practice of psychoanalysis and supervision at his office in Nişantaşı.
ModeratorEkin Şen
Attending
To register, send your payment receipt — and, if claiming the student rate, proof of student status — to the address below. Your registration will be confirmed by email.
psikanalizsohbetleriizmir@gmail.com- Recipient
- Ekin Şen Önoğlu
- IBAN
- TR44 0011 1000 0000 0100 6780 53
Participants requesting an invoice should also send their Turkish ID details along with the receipt.
Posters
