Fascinating interview of Jung posted here at Maria Popova's brilliant site. Here are a few excerpts that stood out to me.
JUNG: "I soon
learned that when [Freud] thought something, it was settled. Whereas I was
doubting all along." "[Freud’s] approach was different from mine
because his personality was different from mine."
FREEMAN: Where did you differ?
JUNG: "[Freud’s] disregard for the
historical conditions of man. You see, we depend a lot on our history. ... We
are not of today or yesterday. We are of an immense age."
JUNG: "I was often at variance with
reality."
JUNG: "We need more psychology.
Because the only real danger that remains is man himself. He is the real
danger. And we are pitifully unaware of it. We know nothing of man. His psyche
should be studied. Because we are the origin of coming evil."
FREEMAN: As the world becomes more technically efficient,
it seems increasingly necessary for people to behave communally and
collectively, now do you think it’s possible that the highest development of
man may be to submerge his own individuality in a kind of collective consciousness?
JUNG: That’s
hardly possible. I think there will be a reaction — a reaction will set in
against this communal dissociation. You know, man doesn’t stand [put up with] forever, his
nullification. Once, there will be a reaction, and I see it setting in, you
know, when I think of my patients, they all seek their own existence and to
assure their existence against that complete atomization into nothingness or
into meaninglessness. Man cannot stand a meaningless life.
No comments:
Post a Comment