Why nurses should be Marxists.

The argument that nurses should be Marxists is made by looking at the primary areas of nursing activity in turn, giving an example of how capitalist economic relations negatively impact upon that activity, and providing a Marxist explanation of the reasons why it has that impact. In relation to the nursing activity of health promotion, it is argued that capitalism's generation of social inequality undermines the health of the population. In relation to curative activities, the focus is on how capitalism's reckless pursuit of profit has subverted the sustainability of bactericidal interventions. The argument in relation to comforting and assistive care is that the ownership and control of health services by capitalist corporations undermines therapeutic relationships. Finally, in relation to supportive care, it is contended that capitalism's requirement for a disciplined workforce can compromise healthcare professionals' support of employees. It is concluded that if nurses aspire to have some control over their activities, then it is a good idea for them to avail of Marxism's capacity to identify the socio-economic mechanisms by which capitalism affects nursing care.

The homology between surplus-value and surplus-jouissance on the basis of the capitalist subjectiveness / A homologia entre mais-valia e mais-de-gozar nas bases da subjetividade capitalista

RESUMO: Esse trabalho é motivado pela homologia estabelecida, por Lacan, entre a mais-valia e o mais-de-gozar. Buscamos evidenciar o embasamento dessa homologia e apontar seus efeitos nos fundamentos da subjetividade capitalista. Para tanto, combinamos a leitura do Seminário 16, de Lacan, a uma abordagem de O capital, de Marx. Nesse processo, analisamos as articulações significantes do valor, do dinheiro e do fetiche na conformação da ordem simbólica do discurso capitalista.

Abstract: This paper is an examination of the homology between surplus-value and surplus-jouissance, as set out by Lacan. We seek to demonstrate the basis of this homology and point out its effects on capitalist subjectivity. To this end, we combine a reading of Lacan's Seminar XVI with Marx's Capital. Throughout this process, we analyze how the articulation of signifiers, such as value, money and fetish, configures the symbolic order of capitalist discourse.

A Referência a Marx no Ensino de Lacan / The Reference to Marx in Lacan's Teachings

RESUMO A referência a Marx forma uma constante no ensino de Lacan. Rastreando o conjunto de tais referências, vemos Marx surgir, desaparecer, para, logo em seguida, ressurgir no interior do pensamento lacaniano. Tal diálogo manifesta a persistência de um núcleo central. Nesse sentido, consideramos que o interesse de Lacan em formalizar a relação existente entre os conceitos de sujeito do significante, de Outro e de gozo constitui o núcleo de tal diálogo do começo ao fim. Nosso artigo tratará da recorrência desse núcleo temático, percorrendo sucessivamente três diferentes momentos desse diálogo na obra de Lacan.

ABSTRACT The reference to Marx forms a constant in Lacan's teachings. Tracing all these references we see Marx emerge, disappear, then reappear in Lacanian thought. Such dialogue expresses the persistence of a central core. In this sense, we consider that the interest of Lacan to formalize the relationship between the concepts of subject of the signifier, Other and enjoyment is the core of this dialogue from beginning to end. Our paper will address the recurrence of this thematic cluster, successively traversing three different moments of dialogue in Lacan's work.

Compra um Mercedes Benz prá mim? / Won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

“Mercedes Benz”, hit de Janis Joplin do início dos 70, traz a ironia da contra-cultura dos sixties ao consumismo e a competição da sociedade capitalista. Exatamente aquilo que o comercial “Impossible is nothing”, da Adidas, pode bem representar. Existe alguma articulação possível entre este slogan e as palavras de ordem “Sejamos realistas, exijamos o impossível”, das convulsões sociais do maio de 68? Partindo da teoria lacaniana dos discursos, este artigo aborda a impossibilidade e a barreira de gozo (impotência) no discurso capitalista e as suas implicações para o habitante da aletosfera. Retomam-se as formulações marxianas da forma mercadoria, do equivalente-geral e da forma dinheiro, para se analisar as transformações introduzidas a partir do momento histórico em que o mais-de-gozar se contabiliza. Considera-se a proposição da mais-valia como equivalente do mais-de-gozar, para se lançar alguma luz sobre a lógica e os fundamentos de gozo do cinismo contemporâneo, seja na versão do “Lobo de Wall Street”, dos doxósofos da universidade, ou ainda do passivo e resignado cidadão da sociedade capitalista. Lembra-se, porém, que a utopia permanece no horizonte.(AU)

‘Mercedes Benz”, Janis Joplin’s hit of the early 70’s, brings the counterculture’s irony of the sixties against to consumerism and the competition of capitalist society. Exactly what the commercial «Impossible is nothing», Adidas, may well represent. Is there any possible link between this slogan and the slogan «Be realistic, ask the impossible», the social upheavals of May 68? From the Lacanian theory of discourse, this article discusses the impossibility and the barrier against jouissance (impotence) in capitalist discourse and its implications for the inhabitant of the aletosfera. We return to the Marxian formulations of commodity form, universal equivalent and money form to analyze the changes introduced from the historical moment in which the surplus-jouissance (plus-de-jouir) is counted. It is considered the proposition of surplus-jouissance as the equivalent of surplus-value, to shed some light on the logic and enjoyment fundamentals of contemporary cynicism : whether that version of «Wall Street Wolf», or that of doxósofos of the university, or that of the passive and resigned citizen of capitalist society. Remember, however, that utopia remains on the horizon.(AU)

Compra um Mercedes Benz prá mim? / Won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz?

“Mercedes Benz”, hit de Janis Joplin do início dos 70, traz a ironia da contra-cultura dos sixties ao consumismo e a competição da sociedade capitalista. Exatamente aquilo que o comercial “Impossible is nothing”, da Adidas, pode bem representar. Existe alguma articulação possível entre este slogan e as palavras de ordem “Sejamos realistas, exijamos o impossível”, das convulsões sociais do maio de 68? Partindo da teoria lacaniana dos discursos, este artigo aborda a impossibilidade e a barreira de gozo (impotência) no discurso capitalista e as suas implicações para o habitante da aletosfera. Retomam-se as formulações marxianas da forma mercadoria, do equivalente-geral e da forma dinheiro, para se analisar as transformações introduzidas a partir do momento histórico em que o mais-de-gozar se contabiliza. Considera-se a proposição da mais-valia como equivalente do mais-de-gozar, para se lançar alguma luz sobre a lógica e os fundamentos de gozo do cinismo contemporâneo, seja na versão do “Lobo de Wall Street”, dos doxósofos da universidade, ou ainda do passivo e resignado cidadão da sociedade capitalista. Lembra-se, porém, que a utopia permanece no horizonte...

‘Mercedes Benz”, Janis Joplin’s hit of the early 70’s, brings the counterculture’s irony of the sixties against to consumerism and the competition of capitalist society. Exactly what the commercial ®Impossible is nothing¼, Adidas, may well represent. Is there any possible link between this slogan and the slogan ®Be realistic, ask the impossible¼, the social upheavals of May 68? From the Lacanian theory of discourse, this article discusses the impossibility and the barrier against jouissance (impotence) in capitalist discourse and its implications for the inhabitant of the aletosfera. We return to the Marxian formulations of commodity form, universal equivalent and money form to analyze the changes introduced from the historical moment in which the surplus-jouissance (plus-de-jouir) is counted. It is considered the proposition of surplus-jouissance as the equivalent of surplus-value, to shed some light on the logic and enjoyment fundamentals of contemporary cynicism : whether that version of ®Wall Street Wolf¼, or that of doxósofos of the university, or that of the passive and resigned citizen of capitalist society. Remember, however, that utopia remains on the horizon...

La compulsión adictiva y su relación con la economía de goce: el excedente y el plus de gozar / The addictive compulsion and its connection with the joy economy: the surplus and the joy plus

Actualmente transitamos lo que fue conceptualizado como modernidad líquida, etc., en donde hay un rasgo a destacar: la incidencia cada vez mayor en la cultura de la manifestación de lo que podemos llamar excedente. Marx denomina plusvalía a un excedente no valuado de la producción en relación con un valor de trabajo o de uso; obedeciendo a la ilusión de poder ser acumulada y gozar de su acumulación. Lacan, hace una lectura de la plusvalía y, al promover el objeto a como plus de gozar, promueve dicho plus a la categoría de condición de posibilidad de otros goces. Pero esta instancia implica otra lógica económica: la de la economía psíquica. Nuestro trabajo intenta articular y diferenciar el excedente y el plus de gozar como concernientes a dos lógicas distintas y rescatar lo que el psicoanálisis propone, como estrategia, en el marco del tratamiento de las adicciones.

Nowadays, we are going through what it was conceptualised as " liquid modernity", etc, in which there is a feature to be highlighted: the higher repercussion of the evidence of, what it could be called ,"surplus" in our culture. Marx calls "surplus value" to an excess of the production not valued in connection to a working value or use one; obeying to the illusion that this could be accumulated and that joy may be obtained of its accumulation. Lacan makes an interpretation of the "surplus value" and, promoting the a object as "joy plus", he turns, as well, that plus into the category of a determiner of the possibility of other joys. However, this resort implies another economical logic : the psychic economy. The following paper tries to articulate and differentiate the "surplus" from the "joy plus", with regards to two different logics and rescuing what psychoanalysis proposes, as a strategy, in the context of the treatment of addictions.

O discurso capitalista de Marx a Lacan: algumas consequências para o laço social / The capitalist speech from Marx to Lacan: some consequences for the social bond

Investigam-se algumas consequências geradas pelo discurso capitalista no laço social. Tomando como ponto de partida a obra de Karl Marx e o ensino de Jacques Lacan, buscou-se caracterizar o capitalismo, enfatizando a acumulação da mais-valia como um movimento sem ponto de basta, deixando o sujeito num estado de insatisfação constante, e este estado, em contrapartida, vem sempre acompanhado pelo gozo de algum gadget. O caráter ilimitado desse processo acarreta uma modificação na relação do sujeito com a natureza, com os outros homens e com ele mesmo, em que tudo se transforma em mercadoria. O sujeito passa a habitar um mundo previamente condenado a tornar-se dejeto.

The article investigates the consequences of the capitalist discourse for the social bond. Taking the works of Karl Marx and Jacques Lacan as point of departure, one aimed to characterize capitalism emphasizing the accumulation of surplus-value as a movement without point of enough that causes in the subject a state of constant insatisfaction that on the other hand is always followed by the enjoyment of some gadget. The limitless character of this process causes an modification on the relationship of the subjetc with the nature, with the other men and with himself, where everything becomes commodities. The subject starts to inhabit a world previoulsy condamned to become a deject.