The Crisis of Language in Therapeutic Practice: Integrating Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Lacan, and Mystical Approaches
Julian Ungar-Sargon
Abstract
This paper examines the philosophical crisis of
language and meaning through the works of Wittgenstein, Heidegger, and Lacan,
and applies these insights to the therapeutic context. These philosophers
collectively undermine the assumption that language can transparently represent
reality, creating profound implications for therapeutic practice which
traditionally relies on verbal expression. The paper proposes that mystical
traditions, with their recognition of language's limitations and cultivation of
alternative modes of knowing, offer valuable resources for addressing this
crisis. By integrating philosophical critique with mystical approaches, this
paper suggests a framework for therapeutic practice that works with rather than
against the limitations of language, potentially opening new possibilities for
healing beyond conventional therapeutic discourse.