The objet petit a
Lacan's Most Innovative Concept
Why do we keep wanting things, even after we get what we thought we wanted? Lacan’s concept of the objet petit a explains why certain objects or goals obsess us more than others, even after we finally obtain them. In what follows, I define and discuss the concept of the objet petit a, and then I apply it to two examples: soda and being promoted at work.
The objet petit a appears in countless forms throughout our everyday lives, shaping how we consume commodities and pursue our goals. However, it is not always easy to recognize. To identify and define the objet petit a, we must distinguish it from the object of desire itself. The object of desire is simply the thing that I want. It could be almost anything, like a new guitar, a higher salary, or a PhD. The objet petit a stands between me and the object of desire, transforming it from a mere object into something I want. Crucially, the objet petit a is intertwined with what I perceive myself as lacking as a subject. It is the limit or gap that makes the object seem uniquely desirable because it promises to make me whole while simultaneously preventing me from fulfilling the lack that creates the desire in the first place.
“It’s the can around the soda. It’s the limit around getting the whole thing.” - Todd McGowan, Why Theory Podcast
Todd McGowan likes to illustrate the objet petit a using the example of a can of soda. The soda itself is the object of desire. The can containing the soda functions as the objet petit a. It imposes a limit, enclosing the soda and making its contents special. The limit of the can establishes and perpetuates the desire because without it the soda becomes mundane or even gross. This is why so many of us prefer a can of soda to a giant 3-liter bottle. The can provides the perfect dose of soda, and it also allows for a ritual that engages my senses. I grab the can, I feel how cold it is, and I hear the cracking sound as I open it. All of this - the limiting factor, the feel, the sound - it all creates an enjoyment that goes far beyond mere thirst-quenching. The can, as objet petit a, simultaneously provides me with something I lack while also preventing me from fully obtaining a huge amount it.
A more consequential example is that of being promoted at work. The new title or role is the object of desire. The obstacles, delays, and uncertainties constitute the objet petit a, the limit that makes the promotion significant. The sense of it being achievable yet just out of reach fuels desire more than the actual position. This is why, even after achieving the promotion, my desire often shifts to the next goal because my lack persists, as it necessarily always will. The objet petit a is this omnipresent lack that creates my fantasy that the next achievement will finally bring wholeness.
The objet petit a is the limit or obstacle that gives objects their unique appeal, transforming them into objects of desire. With this innovative concept, Lacan reveals a crucial insight: we desire not the object itself but the gap or lack associated with it. This logic underpins consumerism, romantic relationships, professional ambitions, and even art. It shows why we’re destined to continually circle around new objects that promise satisfaction but always leave us lacking something.