Psychoanalysis and the personal/sub‐personal distinction

This paper attempts in the first instance to clarify the application of the personal/sub‐personal distinction to psychoanalysis and to indicate how this issue is related to that of psychoanalysis" epistemology. It is argued that psychoanalysis may be regarded either as a form of personal psychology, or as a form of jointly personal and sub‐personal psychology, but not as a form of sub‐personal psychology. It is further argued that psychoanalysis indicates a problem with the personal/sub‐personal distinction itself as understood by Dennett A revised view of the distinction, which is argued to reflect its true metaphysical significance, is proposed.