An Ontology from Discourse

Abstract

In this chapter, Tombras brings Heidegger vis-à-vis Lacan and argues for a conceptual bridging between the two. He presents this as an ontology from discourse, that is, an ontology—in as far as it concerns being, i.e. the open space where a world can present itself as intelligible to the speaking being—with the designation “discourse”, denoting the source of this intelligibility. Much of the discussions in the chapter are informed by the terminology, insights, concepts, hypotheses and conclusions of both Heidegger and Lacan. After revisiting fundamental concepts such as the signifier, being and time, the unconscious, and desire, Tombras brings up the five basic themes of this ontology from discourse. They are: speaking being and the emergence of signifierness; truth as a rule-governed discursive activity; discursive constitution of time; body, jouissance and sexuation; and world. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the body/mind split as recast by Lacan’s conceptualisation of the speaking being, of the problem of consciousness and of the question of truth in our post-truth era.