Nothingness, Politics and Pychoanalysis: Simone Weil and Marion Milner

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2001

Author

Avery, Desmond
Sayers, Janet

Journal

Psychoanalytic Studies

Volume

3

Number

2

Pages

209-221

Language

English

Publish Dates

June

Keywords

attention
Milner, Marion
nothingness
self
work

Annotation

The article begins with a discussion of the view of women as ‘nothingness’ in the western psychoanalytic tradition and some of the responses to this view. The authors present the work of Simone Weil and Marion Milner as examples of women who have developed this concept of nothingness in creative and important ways. Simone Weil’s life and thought is then discussed, focusing on the role of ‘nothingness’ within it. This is followed by an overview of the life and work of Marion Milner, paying particular attention to the way she integrated the concept of nothingness into her psychological theory and practice. The article concludes with a brief comparison of the thought of these two women.