The unconscious and the consciousness: From psychoanalysis to neuroscience

Abstract

This paper consists of a revision concerning the concepts of "unconscious" and "consciousness", from the points of view of psychoanalysis and neuroscience. Thus, the author examines, initially, the Freudian Project; after that, he approaches Searle's critical view about psychoanalysis, and he presents, as well, Damásio's proposal and Edelman's conceptions about consciousness. Finally, the author indicates some possible contributions of the neuroscientific theories for psychoanalytic theory and clinic.