Culture as a symbolic system: a materialistic conception of psychoana-lysis

Abstract

First of all, Lorenzer's conception of psychoanalitical's procedures is studied. This requires the examination of the concept of symbol as well the argument given by Lorenzer to support his thesis that psychoanalysis is an historical science and not a natural science. His hypothesis that psycho- analysis is a hermeneutic science suggests the idea that culture can be understood as a symbolic or that symbols are built as an objectivation of human praxis.