Dialogue with American skepticism: Cavell and Žižek on sexual difference

Abstract

The object of this essay is to establish a critical dialogue between Stanley Cavell and Slavoj Žižek in order to explore the theoretical conjunction between skepticism and psychoanalysis. Idiosyncratic as it may seem, it is none other than Cavell himself who prompts this unprecedented scholarly conversation. He states, "philosophy has been fulfilled in the form of psychoanalysis."1 He comes to this remarkable conclusion through an investigation of the modern manifestation of skepticism. Cavell realizes that his insight, that philosophy is satisfied in psychoanalysis, is best demonstrated through film. 2