The inevitable and slips of the tongue

John M. Heaton

pp. 309-318

in: John Sallis, Giuseppina Moneta, Jacques Taminiaux (eds), The Collegium Phaenomenologicum, the first ten years, Berlin, Springer, 1988

Abstract

Some years ago I saw a young man who consulted me as he wanted psychotherapy. After recounting the history of his childhood and adolescence during which he was orphaned he said "Oh well, I suppose it was all inviteable.' I looked at him with an expression of puzzlement. He repeated "Yes, it was all inviteable.' I repeated to him what he had said to me. He began to look embarrassed. And after several minutes of confusion he managed to say: "I meant it was all inevitable.' I pointed out to him, and over the years I proved right, that his slip of the tongue depicted a central problem in that he did not clearly understand the nature of destiny and wanted to "invite' and so control, important events in his life rather than see that what happened to him and what he was were inextricably bound together. By wanting to invite events he was denying himself. So no wonder he was in confusion and unhappy.