Modern science, originating in Europe in the 16th century, translates naked reality into abstract formulas and measurements, and by doing so has achieved technologically astonishing feats. But, Jung and von Franz argue, this process has caused us to lose a raw awareness of reality.Abstract conceptual systems form an automatic psychological barrier between us and pure experience. We thus feel isolated, from our "truer" selves and from others. Our empathy and ability to "truthfully" observe what is going on around and within us is diminished.
Von Franz uses a quote from Jung as a young student in which he argues that any scientific knowledge obtained from unethical means, such as the mistreatment of animals in laboratory experiments, does not have the moral right to exist. This I feel is an interesting point for, though we may have developed impressive technologies and knowledge through science, at what cost are they developed?
Many people don't genuinely think about how things are produced and what their effects are. Many things and processes are taken for granted. This is understandable since if an oligarchic society doesn't want you to know something that will threaten its position you won't know it, unless you actively seek it out, which can be difficult. As a species we may feel ourselves to be intelligent, for example we have developed very powerful technologies and weapons, but think about what we have done and may intend to do with such weapons. Materially we may be powerful but emotionally, psychologically, maybe spiritually, we are not.
The significant point von Franz addresses is that the scientific method abstracts from reality and thus encourages widespread feelings of detachment, which in turn engender various social problems. To me, however, not enough emphasis is placed on this point and von Franz does not push her analysis far enough. This is where Marshall McLuhan and media analysis becomes enlightening.
Our feeling of being detached or disconnected from our environment can be traced beyond the scientific method to the written word - specifically in the Western or European case, the Greek-developed vocalic alphabet. Alphabetic writing quietly and powerfully underlies modern human society and culture, providing a context that allows such practices as science to come into being.A more recent thinker, George Monbiot also sees loneliness, isolation or detachment as our major social problem, but he traces this to neoliberalism. Again, while Monbiot is accurate, his analysis does not go far enough, neoliberalism being an outgrowth of the broader ideological positions of materialism and individualism, which have deep and complicated roots in European socio-cultural history. Von Franz goes further, challenging the fundamental materialist attitude of Western society and culture, as exemplified in modern science, but one can go further again.
What distinguishes us from other species is that we have constructed various abstract systems for translating, understanding and relating to the world within and around us. Such systems can be described as mathematical, literary, philosophical, scientific, mythical, historical.
We have set up a world of practices, fields and ideas that allow us to reflect on our internal and external environments. But we often confuse this constructed human world with reality itself and thus feel isolated as reality doesn't match up or conform to our ideas and expectations.
The medium in the West that has allowed us to erect our particular world of concepts and ideas is the Greek alphabet. The main point to keep in mind with this medium is that its symbols or phonemes are particularly abstract, they are intended to represent sounds. Other writing systems visually resemble the things they denote, thus less abstraction.
It is our ability to abstract from reality to such a high degree that has enabled us to achieve our uniquely Western feats and horrors and it is this ability that has encouraged us to feel detached from things. This shouldn't imply that other technological cultures and societies don't feel detached from things too, just not in the same way. It is this global phenomenon of detachment that is the main problem of our species.
Without being properly aware of what is happening here most of us are, most of the time, psychologically and emotionally hindered. Trapped in such a state we cannot, as individuals and by extension societies, healthily transform.
As far as I'm concerned, like von Franz and Monbiot, in order to solve our main problems as a species we need to understand but most importantly feel ourselves to be fundamentally connected to everything else. This is not achieved simply by reading or education in the traditional sense but by being purely receptive to what is going on around and within us, by experiencing reality in a more naked way, by cleansing the doors of perception.
If we learn to combine scientific, abstract and conceptual thought with a deep, genuine and respectful connection to naked reality, if we can reconcile these two modalities, then, I feel, we can healthily transform, as individuals and societies, and reach an increased state of complexity, intelligence and sensitivity, a new evolutionary stage.Such an ambitious post as this is predicated on a deep feeling of hope and the ability of words and ideas to motivate people and enable them to arrange, interpret and integrate their unique experiences of reality in a practical way. It is predicated on the notion that we are not passive victims of a cruel universe and that, through clarity of insight, personal development, imagination, tolerance and dialogue, we can take the reins and beneficially steer our lives and societies.
