Psychoanalyzing the Politics of the New Brain Sciences

Author: Robert SamuelsPublisher: Palgrave PivotHardcover:ISBN 10: 3319718908ISBN 13: 978-3319718903 This book argues that neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and behavioral economics often function as a political ideology masquerading as a new science. In looking at works by Antonio Damasio, Steven Pinker, Richard Thaler, Cas Sunstein, and John Tooby, Robert Samuels undertakes a close reading of the new brain sciences, and by turning to the works of Freud and Lacan, offers a counter-discourse to these new emerging sciences.  He argues that an unintentional political manipulation of scientific thinking serves to repress the psychoanalytic conception of the unconscious and sexuality as it reinforces neoliberalism and promotes the drugging of discontent.  This innovative book is intended for those interested in science, psychoanalysis, and politics and offers a new definition of neoliberal subjectivity. From the Back Cover This book argues that neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and behavioral economics often function as a political ideology masquerading as a new science. In looking at works by Antonio Damasio, Steven Pinker, Richard Thaler, Cas Sunstein, and John Tooby, Robert Samuels undertakes a close reading of the new brain sciences, and by turning to the works of Freud and Lacan, offers a counter-discourse to these new emerging sciences.  He argues that an unintentional political manipulation of scientific thinking serves to repress the psychoanalytic conception of the unconscious and sexuality as it reinforces neoliberalism and promotes the drugging of discontent.  This innovative book is intended for those interested in science, psychoanalysis, and politics and offers a new definition of neoliberal subjectivity. About the Author Robert Samuels has PhDs in English and Psychoanalysis.  He teaches advanced writing at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.  He is the author of eleven books including Psychoanalyzing the Left and Right after Donald Trump and Educating Inequality (2016).