First time: p. 147

Moran’s characterization of Freud:

In Freud’s model, desire is an internal condition seeking relief; Freud enshrines this idea in his theory of drives. He (Freud) refers to the “principle of neuronal inertia,” according to which a mental system is “a contrivance for counteracting the reception of quantity (Q~) by getting rid of it.”

Moran’s QED:

Freud has a purely psychological conception of desire and satisfaction. All that “satisfaction” of a desire can ever accomplish is to temporarily bring the person back to their original state before the desire disturbed their equilibrium.

Second time: p. 148-9

Moran’s characterization of Freud:

Freud begins with the “biological” postulate that “the nervous system is an apparatus which has the function of getting rid of [beseitigen] the stimuli that reach it, or of reducing them to the lowest possible level; or which, if it were feasible, would maintain itself in an altogether unstimulated condition” Nervous stimuli from either without or within are disturbances in the condition of the organism, and the nervous system acts to preserve or bring it back to its previous state of quiescence or equilibrium. …

Moran’s QED:

Freud takes a purely psychological notion of “satisfaction” to follow directly from this biological postulate. Thus, we see in Freud a practical solipsism (as in Swann’s “medical philosophy”) which takes a purely internal perspective on both desire itself and the satisfaction of desire, seeing them both as strictly internal conditions.

Third time: p. 149-50

Moran’s characterization of Freud:

For Freud, “The aim of an instinct is in every instance satisfaction, which can only be obtained by removing the state of stimulation at the source of the instinct. But although the ultimate aim of each instinct remains unchangeable, there may yet be different paths leading to the same ultimate aim.” The “ultimate aim” is the discharge of stimulus.

Moran’s QED:

Freud takes it as a matter of scientific principle that understanding of drives or desires has no use for any logical relation between desire and its object.