“Whoever looks into the mirror of the water will see first of all his own face. Whoever goes to himself risks a confrontation with himself. The mirror does not flatter, it faithfully shows whatever looks into it; namely, the face we never show to the world because we cover it with the persona, the maskContinue reading “The Persona – The Mask That Conceals Your True Self”
Yearly Archives: 2021
Mass Society – A Warning to The World
We can trace back statements about “the masses” in the works of classical Greek philosophers like Plato, who states that an ignorant mob ought not to make decisions, as it would lead to chaos and anarchy, and that the best approach is to pursue justice so that everyone gets what they need and deserve. PlatoContinue reading “Mass Society – A Warning to The World”
Carl Jung and The Collective Unconscious
“The one thing we refuse to admit is that we are dependent upon “powers” that are beyond our control.” Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols, Part I. Approaching the Unconscious One of Carl Jung’s most well-known (and controversial) concept is the collective unconscious, the aspect of the unconscious mind which manifests inherited, universal themes whichContinue reading “Carl Jung and The Collective Unconscious”
The Underground Man – Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Warning to the World
Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote Notes from Underground in 1864 which is considered to be one of the first existentialist works, emphasising the importance of freedom, responsibility and individuality. It is an extraordinary piece of literature, social critique and satire of the Russian nihilist movement as well as a novel with deep psychological insights onContinue reading “The Underground Man – Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Warning to the World “
The Hero’s Journey: Experiencing Death and Rebirth
“Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth Joseph Campbell was influenced by Carl Jung’s analytical psychology and his extensive work in comparative mythology and religion covers manyContinue reading “The Hero’s Journey: Experiencing Death and Rebirth”
Mental Illness as a Crisis of Meaning in Modern Society
Modern society is characterised by many things, but perhaps most notably by the remarkable scientific and technological advancement, as well as capitalism, individualism and hedonism. We are wealthier than our ancestors, we live in more safe and comfortable environments, we have more access to food and other basics needs, why then have we seen aContinue reading “Mental Illness as a Crisis of Meaning in Modern Society”
Nihilism – Friedrich Nietzsche’s Warning to The World
“What I relate is the history of the next two centuries. I describe what is coming, what can no longer come differently: the advent of nihilism… For some time now, our whole European culture has been moving as toward a catastrophe, with a tortured tension that is growing from decade to decade: restlessly, violently, headlong,Continue reading “Nihilism – Friedrich Nietzsche’s Warning to The World”
KIERKEGAARD: The Knight of Faith
The knight of faith is one of Kierkegaard’s most important concepts, which he discusses in Fear and Trembling in the “Preamble from the Heart”, written under the pseudonym Johannes de silentio. There are three spheres of existence in Kierkegaard’s philosophy: the aesthetic, the ethical and the religious. In Fear and Trembling he analyses the contradictionsContinue reading “KIERKEGAARD: The Knight of Faith”
The Shadow – Carl Jung’s Warning to The World
“Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is. If an inferiority is conscious, one always has a chance to correct it… But if it is repressed and isolated from consciousness, it never gets corrected, and is liable to burst forth suddenly inContinue reading “The Shadow – Carl Jung’s Warning to The World”
Man Cannot Stand a Meaningless Life
“Man cannot stand a meaningless life.” Carl Jung, BBC “Face To Face” (1959) The world is a terrifying place and suffering is inevitable. We need a meaning to survive, to live properly – and we are ready to suffer and undergo sacrifice in order to preserve this meaning. “He who has a why to liveContinue reading “Man Cannot Stand a Meaningless Life”