The Rhetorical Voice of Psychoanalysis

“Spence argues that Freud used powerful rhetorical devices to persuade his potential followers that his ideas were correct… The result has been (1) rigidity of theory—because much of theory is metaphor that can be neither proven nor disproven; and (2) limitation of discourse in psychoanalytic literature—because the central metaphors have attained the status of ‘truth’ that is no longer questioned scientifically. Spence makes his point effectively and thoughtfully.”—Richard Almond, Psychoanalytic Quarterly