Der Mythos vom Sinn im Werk von C.G. Jung

by Aniela Jaffé

Aniela Jeffé explores the subjective world of inner experience. In so doing, she follows the path of the pioneering Swiss psychologist C.G. Jung, whose collaborator and friend she was through the final decades of his life. Frau Jaffé shows that any search of meaning ultimately leads to the inner "mythical" realm and must be understood as a limited subjective attempt to answer the unanswerable. Any conclusion drawn from such a quest is one's very own - its formulation is one's own myth.

Genres: Psychology, Philosophy, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published August 24, 1970

About the author

One of the most distinguished interpreters of the Jung's ideas. She was born in Berlin and studied psychology at the University of Hamburg. At the break of World War II she emigrated to Zurich where she began to work with Jung. They worked together on the book Memories, Dreams, Thoughts.

In addition to her various important papers on psychology, she wrote widely on parapsychology, particularly on connections between psi phenomena and the unconscious, and on the psychological interpretation of paranormal phenomena.

Reviews

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do people need meaning? According to Aniela Jaffe’, almost 1/3 of Jung’s cases were related to patients with problems related to a lack of meaning in their lives (p. 12). Jung contended that religion protects against “meaninglessness” (p. 13) according to Jaffe’. In The Myth of Meaning in the Work of C. G. Jung, we read citations where Jung excoriated the circular reasoning of those who deny the reality of the numinous (p. 39). Jung insisted that religion comes from what he defined as the “unconscious” but cautioned that one cannot equate the “subconscious” where the “unconscious” pushes its way into one’s aware with God (p. 41).

Jung’s interpreters didn’t always agree. I particularly liked a quotation from Ricarde Huch: “The womb from which the hidden goal within us strives for fulfillment is now usually called the unconscious, whereas the Bible calls it God.” (p. 54) Another quotation that I enjoyed was from Pablo Picasso, used to illustrate how the unconscious or numinous pushes into our creativity. Picasso said, “Je ne cherchez pas, je trouve.” (“I do not search; I discover.” (p. 67)) Another artist quoted by Jung and noted by Jaffe’ was Schiller, the German philosopher who said that “man is only completely human when he is at play.” (p. 76) Or, as Jung himself wrote in private letter quoted by Jaffe’, “Without the reflecting consciousness of man the world is a gigantic meaningless machine, for as far as we know man is the only creature than discover ‘meaning.’” (p. 140)

The truth is that this book doesn’t really break any new ground. Where it is useful is in aggregating Jung’s work and some of his publications that are rarely printed. I personally had Jung’s ideas about antinomy clarified and discovered a tremendous affinity between Jung and both theologian Paul Tillich and philosophers such as Charles Hartshorne (or perhaps, Alfred North Whitehead). Jaffe’ does a great job of connecting the dots on this and that is what makes this book worthwhile to me.

[Arthur George · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great concise treatment of various aspects of Jung's thinking from one of his students who also became his co-(auto)biographer. It condenses a variety of Jung's ideas; which is useful since it is harder to glean the same from Jung's own voluminous works. It leads up to Jung's ideas about the meaning of life, which not surprisingly is treated as a mythical project. This treatment serves as a good antidote to much of the nonsense that has been published about one's "personal myth."

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis is a beautiful and well put, but most importantly approachable formalization of Jung's beliefs regarding meaning, soul, and Man's innate nature. Its approachable and a good read, but not particularly inspiring, because Miss Jaffe does not put any of herself into the writing. It is a very sincere and true to point approach to Jung's world view.

[lisa_emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dense and difficult, but once in a while, I can feel my mind crack open in understanding.

[Alex Petkus · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read in the search for meaning. Personally, I feel this book may have inched me from the position of what Nietzsche may have labelled a person as an "active nihilist" toward an existentialist. This book is an excellent follow up to the writings of Albert Camus' "The Myth of Sisyphus," and Jean Paul Sartre's "Being and Nothingness," and "Nausea."

Interesting Ideas in this book that I would like to learn about more are "Individuation," "Shadow work," and "Syncronisity."

Some Ideas are very Platonic, i.e. "only man can consciously reflect and find meaning, otherwise, the world is a meaningless machine."

I actually read this before diving into Jung's writings directly in order to get a "big picture perspective" before "my dive."

As an atheist, I still found this book to be enlightening. Jung reflected on the Myth of God & religion for most of his work. The idea of human myths are useful in understanding the human unconscious as a social whole.

Jung's idea of the Whole vs. The perfect human was very intriguing.

This was a good read. Not difficult. I found my way here when Ontological and Metaphysical philosophy crossed into psychology. I think this is useful on my journey to "find my self;" though Jung did state the self, like God, can never fully be known.

[Amy Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Assimilation

Good assimilation of Jung's thoughts on meaning from one of his three Valkyries, Aniela Jaffe. She has a very good overview of a wonderful topic. Her hints are very helpful in this paradoxical curative field.

[John Scott]

Confession, I forced myself to read this book. I have a distaste for Jung I have never gotten past. Having listened to Jordan Peterson and followed his work, his vision of Jung inspired me to try to return to Jung. Reading this work did nothing for me. A lot of this text revolves around meaning as a realization of self. This, for me, is nonsense. Knowledge of oneself, that I get. I find it quite a leap to talk of this as "meaningful" and "fulfilling" - in itself. This whole text is like a narcissistic fantasy that ignores the world that surrounds oneself.

[Ronnie]

This book was a fantastic look at what we think meaning is, and how it is actually formed and held. Jung's work in psychology always impresses me, and this book is written by a student of his who clearly understands what he was doing. If you're interested in what "meaning" means, you should definitely read this book.