-------- Original Message --------
>Miale... states that "the oedipus complex functioned as a form of
>denial" ( where
>did he get this idea?) "a sanction, of socially accepted pedophilia"...(???).
>Walter Miale criticized Freud's Oedipal theory because he agreed
>with J. Masson's assumptions that Freud had altered his original
>theory of "seduction" to protect his own father and this is why
>his theory functioned 'as a form of "denial", and consequently as a
>sanction, of socially accepted (at the time) pedophilia'.
---------------> This is from memory, but I believe that Freud was
protecting not (only?) his father but his ass. It would be nice if we
can get an adequate summary of this in this forum, since "it may
provide a clue to understanding the degree of VN's scorn."
---------------> As I recall, Freud was hearing from female patients
stories of having been molested by their fathers at an early age, and
when he reported this he met with some hostility. Thereupon he
supplied an interpretation palatable in his social and professional
circles: the accounts of his patients were not actual memories, but
fantasies explained by their unconscious desires. He went on to
develop this into a broad (but unverifiable) theory.
---------------> Is that a fair summary? I don't believe that these
are "assumptions" of Masson, but, unless I am mistaken, the account
is well grounded in Freud's correspondence and in the history. If I
am wrong, I would be grateful for being set straight.
WM
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