The Creation of Consciousness: Jung's Myth for Modern Man

William Glassman is a professor of psychology at Ryerson Polytechnical
University in Toronto.

In The Creation of Consciousness, Edward F. Edinger, himself a Jungian analyst in Los Angeles, offers a commentary on the ideas of Carl Jung, the well-known depth psychologist. The subtitle, Jung’s Myth for Modern Man, may actually be more apt than the title. Those seeking information on physiological aspects or altered states will be disappointed, for here consciousness is treated as a form of awareness, whose development is central to human growth: by fusing the opposites of knowing (knowledge as seen in science, or Logos) and being known (as by God in religion, or Eros), we increase our consciousness, and fulfill our purpose in life.

For those unfamiliar with the methods of depth psychology, the evidence offered is a central issue. Edinger argues that “this myth is not a faith, but an hypothesis, based on empirical evidence...” (p.32). The “empirical evidence” is actually based on interpreting symbols in dreams, myths, and religious texts. To a Jungian, such interpretations are necessary to understanding the psyche. To the extent that alternate interpretations may be offered, however, it is hard to accept the data as unambiguous.

A further distraction is Edinger’s attitude toward Jung, which may be described as near-worship (e.g., he speaks of Jung offering “an eternal truth,” despite Jung’s own disclaimer). This unqualified admiration is off-putting, even if well intended. The issues raised in The Creation of Consciousness —the need for meaning in our lives, the significance of consciousness, the role of science and religion — are all very significant, but the answers given might seem more persuasive if expressed in more neutral terms.