The Undiscovered Self: The Dilemma of the Individual in Modern Society
One of the world’s greatest psychiatrists reveals how to embrace our own humanity and resist the pressures of an ever-changing world.
In this challenging and provocative work, Dr. Carl Jung—one of history’s greatest minds—argues that civilization’s future depends on our ability as individuals to resist the collective forces of society. Only by gaining an awareness and understanding of one’s unconscious mind and true, inner nature—“the undiscovered self”—can we as individuals acquire the self-knowledge that is antithetical to ideological fanaticism. But this requires that we face our fear of the duality of the human psyche—the existence of good and the capacity for evil in every individual.
In this seminal book, Jung compellingly argues that only then can we begin to cope with the dangers posed by mass society—“the sum total of individuals”—and resist the potential threats posed by those in power.
“A passionate plea for individual integrity.”—The New York Times Book Review
In this challenging and provocative work, Dr. Carl Jung—one of history’s greatest minds—argues that civilization’s future depends on our ability as individuals to resist the collective forces of society. Only by gaining an awareness and understanding of one’s unconscious mind and true, inner nature—“the undiscovered self”—can we as individuals acquire the self-knowledge that is antithetical to ideological fanaticism. But this requires that we face our fear of the duality of the human psyche—the existence of good and the capacity for evil in every individual.
In this seminal book, Jung compellingly argues that only then can we begin to cope with the dangers posed by mass society—“the sum total of individuals”—and resist the potential threats posed by those in power.
“A passionate plea for individual integrity.”—The New York Times Book Review
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Community Reviews
I thought it made a good point about political polarization coming from an unconscious religious place in our minds, and of course, politicians take advantage of this to divide us further. I also think the religious vacuum in our minds is a problem especially as I reject moral relativism. But I also don't think moral idealism is a match with individualism, and so I don't see individualism as the answer. Or rather, I do see BETTER individuals as the answer (with training in critical thinking, and ethical theory and practice) but not individualism for individualism's sake.
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