Abstract

NAFFAH NETO, Alfredo. Paradox and rationality in the man conceived by Winnicott: the shadow of Heraclitus of Ephesus. Rev. bras. psicanál [online]. 2010, vol.44, n.2, pp. 123-133. ISSN 0486-641X.

This article postulates two kinds of rationality operating in the healthy man, such as conceived by Winnicott. The first kind (which is related to the one supported by Heraclitus of Ephesus) is paradoxical rationality: exclusively psychical, dominating whenever one deals with affective/sentimental matters. The other kind of rationality is useful rationality (which is related to formal logic, such as defined by Aristotle) and is exclusively mental, operating whenever one deals with matters of practical utility, concerning relationships with the socio-cultural world. The potential space (situated between the subjective object and the objective object) is the instrument of bi-directional translation between the two rationalities.

Keywords : rationality; psyche; mind; Winnicott.

        · abstract in Portuguese | Spanish     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )