* Psychoanalysis in Discourse (SFU): “Psychoanalysis and Music. Elements of the Soul”. 20-02-2025

Thomas Barth: “Psychoanalysis and Music. Elements of the Soul”. SFU Vienna. Photo by Wolfgang Wehner, 20-02.2025

In his lecture „Psychoanalysis and Music: Elements of the Soul“, Thomas Barth examines connections between the two fields in the form of audio examples and methodological contributions. He also explores the question which phenomena are effective in both musical and psychotherapeutic settings and which musical qualities can also prove useful for psychoanalytical practice.

* Zusammenführen: Ein Gespräch mit Brigitte Sindelar

Soeben (Jänner 2025) ist eine Publikation im Waxmann- Verlag erschienen, die mir auch aus persönlichen Gründen sehr viel bedeutet. Es handelt sich um eine Festschrift für Profⁱⁿ Drⁱⁿ Brigitte Sindelar mit dem Titel: “Heilen – Bilden – Lehren – Forschen. Sie war u.a. meine Mentorin während meiner psychotherapeutischen Ausbildung an der SFU und ich durfte als angehender Psychoanalytiker meine Lehrjahre unter ihrer fachlichen Anleitung in ihrer individualpsychologischen Praxis von 2007 bis 2011 verbringen. Vieles an meiner eigenen Grundhaltung und Arbeitsweise ist durch sie positiv beeinflusst bzw. inspiriert worden. Ein Kapitel dieser Festschrift bildet ein Gespräch zwischen uns ab, in dem u.a. ihre Lehrzeit, ihre Mentoren (u.a. der Psychoanalytiker Rudolf Ekstein), das Verhältnis zwischen Psychoanalyse und Individualpsychologie, die Wichtigkeit des Bewusstseins, ein Teil einer “legacy” zu sein bzw. aktuelle Entwicklungen thematisiert werden. Der Titel meines Buchbeitrages lautet „Zusammenführen. Ein Gespräch mit Brigitte Sindelar.“ Mehr Informationen zur Festschrift:

* Science Village Talks/ VHS Burgenland, Oberwart, 28.11.2023:

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V. l. n. r.: Mag.a. Silke Rois, Thomas Barth, Krisztina Kavan MAS, Werner Gruber

Mir ist es ein wichtiges Anliegen, dass psychoanalytische Ideen möglichst für alle Menschen zugänglich gemacht werden, ohne sie zu trivialisieren. Und dass daraus konstruktive Dialoge und kreative Prozesse entstehen können. Das war an diesem Abend der Fall. “Science Village Talks”, eine Initiative der VHS Burgenland ist ein vorbildliches Projekt und ich freue mich außerordentlich, an diesem Abend eingeladen worden zu sein, um zu allgemeinen psychoanalytischen Themen zu sprechen. Die Bildung des Geistes und der Seele und Interesse an sinnvollen Dingen sind menschliche Grundbedürfnisse und Kulturgüter. Gerade angesichts einer zunehmenden politischen Radikalisierung und der steigenden Bedeutung von künstlicher Intelligenz ist es an der Zeit, dass wir uns der Bandbreite unserer menschlichen Natur und unserer Fähigkeiten und Verantwortung in diesen Bereichen wieder mehr bewußt werden. Es sollte mehr Programme dieser Art geben! (Thomas Barth, text update 28.01.2025)

It is important to me that psychoanalytic ideas are made accessible to as many people as possible without trivializing them. And that constructive dialogues and creative processes can emerge from this. That was the case on this evening. “Science Village Talks”, an initiative of the VHS Burgenland is an exemplary project and I am extremely pleased to have been invited to speak on general psychoanalytic topics this evening. Education of the mind and soul and interest in meaningful things are basic human needs and cultural goods. Especially in view of increasing political radicalization and the growing impact of artificial intelligence, it is time for us to become more aware of the scope of our human nature and our abilities and responsibilities in these areas again. There should be more programs of this kind! (Thomas Barth, text update 28.01.2025)

* Sigmund Freud: Warum Krieg?

06.10.2023: Haben wir etwas aus den Gräueltaten vergangener und gegenwärtiger Kriege gelernt?

Have the atrocities of past and present wars taught us anything as a species?

“Unterdes dürfen wir uns sagen: Alles, was die Kulturentwicklung fördert, arbeitet auch gegen den Krieg” (Sigmund Freud, Warum Krieg? Brief an Albert Einstein, September 1932).

“Meanwhile we may rest on the assurance that whatever makes for cultural development is working also against war” (Sigmund Freud, Why War? Letter to Albert Einstein, September 1932).

* Mark Solms: Lecture in Vienna, with Otto Kernberg, June 2023

A remarkable moment in Vienna (location: “Wiener psychoanalytische Akademie”), and in the contemporary history of psychoanalysis: Mark Solms presented his groundbreaking work in the field of neuropsychoanalysis including revisions of Freud’s drive theory and the concept of the unconscious in an exciting and inspiring lecture on 23. and 24. 06. 2023. On the second day, it was followed by a debate with Otto Kernberg, who joined via Zoom. It was inspiring and moving to see how the soon 95-year-old Doyen of psychoanalysis and Mark Solms engaged in a scientific discourse of the highest quality with mutual respect and appreciation. They agreed largely, only a few minor differences regarding the meaning of some terms. Such a meaningful and precious experience and an exemplary scenario for scientific dialogue!

Mark Solms, Vienna 24-06-2023. Photo: Thomas Barth

Otto Kernberg (via Zoom), Vienna 24-06-2023. Photo: Thomas Barth

* Thomas Barth: Psychoanalyse und Musik im Rahmen der Vortragsreihe “Psychoanalyse im Diskurs”, 27.04.2023

Thomas Barth: “Psychoanalyse und Musik”. Psychoanalyse im Diskurs, SFU Wien, 27.04.2023. Photo: Bea-Regina Schulz, BA

* Science Village Talks: “Psychoanalyse: Die Erforschung des Unbewussten”. VHS Burgenland, Schattendorf, 28.03.2023

Reges Interesse am Vortrag “Psychoanalyse: Die Erforschung des Unbewussten”. “Science Village Talks”- Wissenschaft für Alle. VHS Burgenland. Schattendorf, Restaurant Reichl, 28.03.2023

… auch an Träumen …

Mit dem engagierten Team der “Science Village Talks” der VHS Burgenland: Dr.ⁱⁿ Christine Teuschler, Mag.^a Ursula Foki, Mag. Werner Gruber

Thank you Mag. Werner Gruber for promoting my book “Wer Freud Ideen gab“! Photo: Mag. Stefan Schindler

* Book Presentation:

20th Februray: Online roundtable discussion of “Else Voigtländer. Self, Emotion, and Sociality”

“Else Voigtländer. Self, Emotion, and Sociality”, ed. by Íngrid Vendrell Ferran. Roundtable (online), presented by the Center for the History of Women Philosohers and Scientists, Paderborn University/ Germany.
Date: Monday, 20. Feb. 2023, 01:30 PM Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome time. To receive the zoom link, please register: phenomenology@historyofwomenphilosophers.org

* New publication: Else Voigtländer: Self, Emotion, and Sociality

Else Voigtländer: Self, Emotion, and Sociality (2023)

I contributed the chapter “Else Voigtländer’s Thoughts on Psychoanalysis” to this book, released by Springer in January 2023. It was a fascinating experience and a privilege to be a member of this project headed by Íngrid Vendrell Ferran, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Marburg, and to write about Voigtländer’s psychoanalytic contributions between 1911 and 1928. Working on it meant traveling back in time as well as exploring new territory.

Publisher’s description: “This book is the first to offer a full account of the philosophical work of Else Voigtländer. Locating the sources of her thought in the philosophy and psychology of the nineteenth and twentieth19th and 20th centuries in figures such as Nietzsche and Lipps, the volume book uncovers and examines Voigtländer’s intellectual exchanges with both phenomenology and psychoanalysis. The major themes within her work are considered in 12 expertly written chapters that also cover more recent developments in the philosophy of self, emotion, and sociality. The book appeals to scholars who are interested in the history of philosophy, and in particular of phenomenology, as well as those working on the philosophical roots of psychology and in women’s studies.”

It is part XVII of the series “Women in the History of Philosophy and Sciences” which is being published at Springer in association with the Center for the History of Women Philosohers and Scientists. The volume is edited by Íngrid Vendrell Ferran and includes contributions by Philipp Schmidt, Thomas Barth, Genki Uemura, Toru Yaegashi, Alessandro Salice, Hilge Landweer, Guillaume Fréchette, Ute Gahlings, Sophie Loidolt, Petra Gehring and George Heffernan.

* Praxis: Grünentorgassse 26/36, 1090 Vienna

Autumn 2020, early morning. Photo: Thomas Barth

* DEMOCRACY REPORT 2023 (V-Dem Institute, Sweden)

Advances in global levels of democracy made over the last 35 years have been wiped out. The number of democratizing countries is down to 14 with only 2% of the world’s population. They have not been so few since 1973 – 50 years ago.

Link to pdf (2023)

* DEMOCRACY REPORT 2022 (V-Dem Institute, Sweden)

Autocratization Changing Nature? The last 30 years of democratic advances are now eradicated. Dictatorships are on the rise and harbor 70% of the world population – 5.4 billion people. There are signals that the nature of autocratization is changing.

Link to pdf (2022)