Presents:
On getting the life you want: Psychoanalysis and American Pragmatism
September 26th, 2025
Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute
8 South Michigan Avenue, Floor 7, Chicago, IL 60603
6pm – 7:30pm
SPEAKERS: Adam Phillips
1.5 CME Credits
In this thought-provoking presentation, acclaimed psychoanalyst and writer Adam Phillips explores the fundamental tension between Richard Rorty's pragmatic philosophy—which suggests truth is what helps you get the life you want—and Freudian psychoanalysis, which reveals how we often resist knowing what we truly desire. Phillips masterfully examines how these two influential frameworks approach the central question of human wanting: while Rorty's pragmatism encourages us to pursue our conscious purposes and redescribe our lives to achieve our goals, Freud's psychoanalysis suggests we are fundamentally unconscious of our deepest desires and driven by forces beyond our awareness. Through this intellectual dialogue, Phillips illuminates the complexities of modern secular life, questioning whether we can ever truly know what we want and whether the pursuit of "the life we want" is liberating self-creation or potentially naive wishful thinking, ultimately suggesting that both psychoanalysis and pragmatism offer valuable contributions to understanding human desire and the possibility of meaningful choice and change through psychoanalytic treatment.
Learning objectives:
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Describe key concepts of psychoanalysis and American Pragmatism, and explain how each approach contributes to understanding and pursuing “the good life.”
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Analyze how psychoanalysis and American Pragmatism conceptualize and respond to the problem of human desire and motivation.
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Apply principles of American Pragmatism to enhance clinical thinking and technique within psychoanalytic practice.
ACCME Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Psychoanalytic Association and Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Credit Designation Statement The American Psychoanalytic Association designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM each. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
CE Committee Reviewer:
Aneil M. Shirke, M.D., Ph.D., FABPN, FABP - No Relevant Financial Disclosures
Disclosure Statement
This is a non-clinical event, therefore per ACCME requirements, no disclosure form was needed/submitted.
CE Statement
This program is sponsored by the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute.
Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. The Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content. CPI is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to sponsor continuing education credits for (license numbers in parentheses): Social Workers (159.000122), Professional Counselors (197.000202), Marriage and Family Therapy Therapists (168.00204), and Clinical Psychologists (268.000091).
One CE hour shall equal one clock hour of attendance. After completion of the initial CE hour, credit may be given in one-half hour increments. To receive these credits an evaluation form must be completed via the CPI website.
