Depth consciousness
pp. 225-242
in: Rolf von Eckartsberg (ed), Metaphors of consciousness, Berlin, Springer, 1981Abstract
The recognition of Jung's psychology as having penetrated even more deeply than Freud's into new realms of the unconscious and of the human spirit has shown itself on many fronts1. The impact of his thought has influenced science, religion, philosophy, psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, economics, mythology, art, and the study of history. In addition, his explorations of the objective psyche, the archetypal basis of mind, the mythical structures of consciousness, his approach to the dream, the role of the opposites, the transcendent function, synchronicity, and active imagination are among his important contributions to a richer and fuller understanding of human existence and have served as a continuing stimulus to a generation of analysts who have developed his ideas. It thus seems ironic that in a recent biography of Jung it is reported that he was concerned that nobody understood him, and that his work had been a failure (Brome, 1978). Yet, Jung's work continues to receive recognition, and his psychology is becoming increasingly popular. He has been thought of as an important transitional figure to a new age of consciousness and was early heralded, along with William James, as one of the greatest and most penetrating psychologists in the twentieth century (Leary, Metzner, & Alpert, 1964).
