Paternal Function and Thirdness in Psychoanalysis and Legend: Has the Future Been Foretold?

Abstract

This paper examines the Akedah, the biblical narrative of the Binding of Isaac, and suggests that this story may be interpreted as inaugurating paternal function and thirdness. It marks the passage from the narcissistic father to the symbolic, dead father, and the institution of the Law that forbids all killings, opening up the succession of the generations. The author suggests that time is an essential element in establishing thirdness, creating a link between the here and now and the there and then in the après coup of the psychoanalytic process. The author also briefly reviews the psychoanalytic literature on thirdness and indicates this paper’s contribution to it.

• Narcissistic father
• dead father
• thirdness
• Akedah
• Binding of Isaac
• paternal function
• temporality
• here and now and there and then
• après coup
• sacrifice
• transitional space