Generation Memories
Questions one could ask: Do we know things before we
were born based on the experiences of those before us?
How valuable are the myths and
stories, as memories we tell ourselves, that might form part of our DNA as
suggested by Carl Jung?
Jung was influenced by Freud
(his star pupil) except when it came to the significance of myths and
stories concerning religious matters. Jung’s split with Freud was due
principally to Freud opposing Jung’s view in that respect. Jung saw structure
and meaning in the myths and stories carried forward from one generation
to another. Therein he saw a symbolic essence - a psychological inheritance if
you like- represented by his archetypes.
His Archetypes were crude
representations within the subconscious. E.g.: he lists them broadly as:
persona, shadow, male versus female (how we see our opposite sex in ourselves)
and the various versions of the self. According to Jung they form part of
the unconscious as a carry forward from one generation to another and
given expression in the symbolism of myths and storytelling.
Their relationship to each person
he describes as individuation. Much later on in life he attributes them as the
spiritual part of our DNA.
In this respect, rather
obviously, Jung rejects the idea we are born with a blank slate so to
speak. Rather, within the unconscious lie these instinctive archetypes.
No doubt
his religious views were also influenced by a near death
experience whilst in his sixties. His much earlier period seems to be more
of an agnostic psychiatrist (specifically that what he said about
himself) but later on he turns to theology and philosophy. This is after he
introduces the idea of the archetypes
which he said gave structure and meaning to humanity.
But his ideas are challenged in
modernity as far as they involve an element of mysticism. Even so he believed
the idea of these innate universal archetypes was of relevance to science,
philosophy and ethics. Of course Jungian psychology continues today.
Such questions of a collective
consciousness however (or not) remain a mystery. But, from a biological
perspective, beginning at the cellular level, one realizes intelligence evolved
from just a single cell. So the idea of evolving intelligence manifesting
as inter -generational transference continuing in our DNA doesn't seem too
far away from a concept one can consider seriously. That subject is for another
day.
But the myths and stories we tell
ourselves may well be more important than is generally realized in an
increasingly secular society.
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