CG Jung's theory of the collective unconscious

217 Pages·2009·8.06 MB·English

C.G. JinTG'S THEORY OF THE C0LLECTI7E UNCONSCIOUS:
A RATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION
TMLTER A70RY SHELBURNE
A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE COUNCIL OF
THE UNIVTKSITr OF FLORIDA
IN PARTIAL FULFTLU^IENT OF THE REQUIREMEI'ITS FOR THE
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHUOSOPHT
UNITERSITZ OF FLORIDA
1976
UNIVERSITYOFFLORIDA
3 1262 08666 238 3
Copyright 1976
Vfelter Avoiy Shelbume
ACKMOIilLEDOENTS
I irould like to grateful^sr acloioirledge the persons of rcr supervisory
committee for their help in this project: Marilyn areig, Tom Aarber,
i^anz lifting, Richard Ilaynes and Tom Simon. Special thanks to Iferiljoi
and Tom Sijnon for their tiine, encouragement and helpful criticism. I
would also like to thank Debbie Botjers of the Graduate School, who, in
addition to her technical advice, has through her friendliness contri-
buted in an immeasurable and intangible way to the final preparation of
this manuscript,
3h addition to this personal assistance, I TTould also like to aclaiow-
ledge the help of the follo;.jing agencies: the spirit of Carl Gustav Jung,
the Archetn>e of the Self, and the three luminous beings tAo cleansed iry
spirit.
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,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ACiaroV/LEDGlJEI'rPS iii
ABSTRACT ^
,
HrPRODUCTION ,,
.,
CHAPTER 1 JUl'JG'S I-IEMTAL CONSTRUCTS.. ,,.., 3
Pgyxjhe......
, ,,, 3
Uiconscioiis... .,, .,,, 16
Collective Ifciconscious...., 19
Notes..................,,..,,,,,,,,, , 28
CHAPTER 2 TI£EORr OF ARCHETTPES: PART I ,,,, 30
Introduction,.., , ,,.,,. ..,,,. 30
The Syrabolic Mature of the Archetypes
,, , l^;^
Archetiypes and Instincts ,,,,... hi
Notes.... , ..,,,.. , ,, ^3
CHAPTER 3 THEOrar OF ARCHETn=ES: PART II..... ^
The Origin of the Archetypes ^
Archelypal ninage and Archetype Per Se ., 63
Tlae .'irchetypes as Autonomous Factors,. , 72
Archeigrpes and Synchroniciiy
77
Archetypes and Teniporalitiy. .......,,...,. 82
Notes
^ ......,,, 8^
iv
,
Page
CHAPTER li CRITICiaiS OF TIIE ARCIIETIPAL TlffiOHT:
GHJEI'JUL COITSIDERATIOHS.. 89
Preliminary Remarks, ,,, 89
Psychoanalytic Criticism 9^
Iheological Criticism.,...,.....,....,.. , 102
Ifotes.•.•••..••••.,•.«••.••..«..«.,, ..........•,.,..111
CHAPTER ^ JTJIIG AMD THE SCIENTIFIC ATTITDDE: PART I II6
The Relevance of the Question.,,.,.,...,,.,,..,,..,., 116
The Charge of I-^rsticism .,,,.. 11?
l-tjrsticism Characterized,.,,, ,,,.,...,...,.119
Is Jung a Ifystic? , 120
Jung's Attitude ToTrard Science.. , 12?
Notes
il;i
CHAPTER 6 JUITG AMD TIIE SCIEIITIFIC ATTITUDE: PART II,, ll;6
Can There Be A Science of Arche%pes? ...II16
Jung's Ifethodology ..................I63
Ifotes. ...........171
CHAPTER 7 THE STUDY OF ARCHETYPES AS A SCIEIITIPIC DISCIPLINE., I7I;
Introduction.,.,,................,,..,.,,,,,, ,,..,,.17li
Falsifiability ,«,,,..,,, .,,», ,..,,,176
Explanation..••...•...•....••.....,......,...,,,.,,,,,,,,,i8li
Evidence , ..•.,,. ....I88
Archetypes and Evolution Theory , 196
Notes,.•,,.....••......,,•• ....................199
REFERENCES
L 203
BIOGRAPHIC.VL SKETCH .......^ ....206
^f^^^a°* of dissertation Presented to the Graduate Council
o«-ff. +t1h,e University of Florida in Partial PiiLfirijaent of the Itequireiaents
for the Degree of Doctor of Hiilosopl-cr
C.G. JUNG'S THEOHY OF THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUS-
A RATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION
By
Vfelter Avory Shelbume
June 1976
Chairman: Mu?ilyn Zireig ;. !• "
Ifejor Department: Hiilosopl-y
This study is an examination of Jung's idea of the collective un-
conscious being primariay concerned id.th the chief aspect of the collec-
tive unconscious, the concept of the archetype.
In the first half of the dissertation, an attempt is made to
understand what Jung means by the archetypes. The e.-cposition of the
theory of archetj-pes begins xrith a look at the basic Jungian mental
constructs, p^che and unconscious, and td.th a stetch of Jung's theoiy
of mind. Then the various aspects of the idea of the archetype are
discussed treating such topics as the ontological status of the archetype,
the archetypes as a prfx)ri conditioners of*e:cperience, the symbolic
nature of archetypes, the archetypes and the instincts, the origin of
archetypes, the phenomenology of archetypes, personification of arche-
types, the archetjTes and ^ynchronicity and changes in archetypes through
tiiae.
i
Bie exposition of the archetypal theory is undertaken with the aim
in mijid of shCTjing hoT7 the idea of archetypes can be construed as a
plausible scientific theory compatible idth standard scientific
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imder^andins. ^^ the second half of the disserbation, v/e discuss
problematic aspects of our reconstruction from the point of vietr of
criticisms which have been brought against the theory. AS^er a
preldjidnaiy chapter in which criticisms of a general nature are
discussed, we treat specific problematic aspects involved i/ith under-
handing the archetj^al theory as a plausible scientific one. !Ihe
rationalily of the archetypal theoiy is discussed in reply to the
accusation that Jung's theory is mrstical rather than scientific,
nh addition to the question of rationality, we treat the relationship
bettTeen the practical and theoretical aspects of the theory in order
to disbingulsh bettreen a theoretical and therapeutic discourse about
archetypes, idth the latter discourse being concerned id.th personal
meaningful interpretation of archetypal experience and hence often
justifiabHy employing philosophical and religious teminology. Thus
tre attempt to show how the use of such teiroinology bjr Jung in dis-
cussions of archetypes does not count against the scientific nature
of theoretical claims about archetypes.
In addition to attempting to show how the archetypal theoiy is
•a rational one and how its relationship to philosopl^ and religion
does not count against it as a scientific theoi^r, ,re also examine
how the theory can be understood in the context of general criteria
for scientific theories. ]ii this regard ire discuss the problem of
falsification shordiig how the theoiy can not be interpreted as com-
patible Tjith all observational i?tates of affairs. I-fe also discuss
the explanations and predictions wliich can be expected from the
theory. PinaTly the evidence for the theoiy is discussed.
Qie conclusion is reached that the archetj-pal theoiy can satisiy
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general scientific criteria and also meet specific criticisms of it
from the scientific point of vieTr and that thus the scientific plau-
sibility of the theoiy should be admitted.
HWRODUCTION
In this study ire attempt a rational reconstruction of J\mg«s
theozy of archetypes ^d.th the goal in view of shoidiig that this
theoiy is a scientifically plausible one. In regard to this task,
some preliMnaiy questions need to be addressed. Vhat is meant
by a rational reconstruction? T*iy is the reconstruction undertaken
fl^ a scientific point of viesi and lAat is the purpose of shoidng
that the archetypal theoiy is scientifically plausible?
So far as the first question is concerned, the idea of a rational
reconstruction is to clarify the meaning and interrelationship of the
basic concepts of a theory so that the theory can be shoxm to be con-
sistent and to be a theoiy >jith a clearly specified meaning.
In. Jung's style of theorizing, clairlty and precision of basic
concepts are much less important than fullness of meaning and phe-
nomenologically accurate characterization of events. As a consequence
many of Jung's ideas are as vague and ambiguous as th^ are fas-
cinating and insightful. However, the purpose of a rational recon-
struction as we understand it is not to oppose the spontaneity and
riclmess of creativity vrith a sljiiple desire for order and clarity.
Rather the aim of a rational reconstruction is the transformation
of the unti(^ richness of creativity into a more directly useable
form. By attempting to clariiy the meaning of the archetypal theoiy
then, we hope to bring about a vdder aclmowledgement and study of