PHILOSOPHY: THEME 1 - CHALLENGES TO RELIGIOUS BELIEF (FREUD, JUNG)
SIGMUND FREUD
CARL JUNG
division of the unconscious
personal unconscious: unique to everyone, is subjective to each individual's lifestyle
collective unconscious: oldest, blueprints for images, ideas/ images shared, innate, God is generated here
miss miller: showed early signs of sz, jung analysed her dream of a moth being drawn to sun, compared to someone being drawn to god/ jesus as the light
archetypes
aspects of the self
mind has structures which produce uniform images (images -> meanings)
myths/ symbols are products
must be well balanced to be mentally well
types
anima (male)/ animus (female)
parts of the personality
shadow
represents darker features of one's personality
persona
covering up one's true nature
can be linked to crime which is done to explore the shadow archetype
the self
needs religion for balance between archetypes
religion prevents neurosis through individuation
balances unconscious + conscious parts of personality/ archetype categories
from middle-age, one should come to terms with their personality, figuring out their personality
governs individuation
creates image of wholeness
mandala/ god are symbols of wholeness + aids individuation
individuation is a religious experience
through religious images of wholeness, individuation can occur successfully
the unconscious mind
the tripartite personality
id
unconscious
preconscious
conscious
ego
superego
pleasure principle
unconscious
demands rewards in the present, similar to a baby - is impatient and can become overwhelming if it goes too long without reward
reality principle
mostly unconscious
looks for a realistic balance between the id and ego, still fulfils the parts of the id that would be able to happen without harming anyone, but listens to the superego, keeping a level of social morality to avoid punishment (guilt) from superego
morality principle
part of the conscious
the judge of right and wrong, essentially the polar opposite of the id, working against what it wants, and may "punish" an individual if they carelessly go along with the desires of the id
oedipus complex
the son sees his father as competition for his mother's affections, but doesn't hate the father entirely
breastfeeding during oral stage of psychosexual stages brings about a connection between mother + son
example: little hans -
primal horde
evolutionary theory (developed from darwin's ideas)
a powerful 'alpha'/ dominant leader who sleeps with all the women of his horde
a son kills a father to access the rest of the women, but then feels guilt so uses a totem (animal) in place so they reduce the guilt
they then make a rule for incest and not to kill the worshipped totem
guilt complexes
example: sergei penkejeff - a man who had a dream of about six or seven white wolves sitting in a tree. feared he was going to be eaten. freud said this dream came about from a repressed memory of seeing his parents have sex when he was younger
AO2
FREUD ON RELIGION
JUNG BEING MORE POSITIVE THAN FREUD
EXTENT OF RELIGION CONSIDERED AS A NEUROSIS
Though there may be faint similarities between religious practices and conditions like OCD, religion has instead been found to assist with people’s wellbeing. There are more differences than similarities, as people actively make the choice to engage in religious practices rather than being compelled to like OCD; religion, more or less, helps people feel at peace. Freud takes a very reductionist view, seeing it no more than a symptom. However, God, who is widely considered to be all-loving in major religions, would rather comfort His believers instead of putting through unnecessary distress.
It could be argued that Freud’s views majorly only applied to him, and would otherwise be difficult to generalise. His views also fail to consider the multiple levels at which religions can exist, posing a pluralism objection. More of his particular ideas like wish fulfilment, the primal horde and the Oedipus complex have no solid foundation of evidence. With the Oedipus complex, for example, each demographic and each society have their individual views on fatherhood - not all align with the other, and some may in fact completely contrast. In terms of wish fulfilment, it could be that we have been created in sensus divinitas - a sense and desire for God (John Calvin). Finally, the primal horde realistically has no evidence to begin with. Overall, it would be fair to disagree with Freud’s views, as they leave many gaps and fail to consider a wider perspective.
IS: believes religion encourages more positive outlooks on life + gave people purpose; jung's process of individuation
IS NOT: religion is much more than just a product of the mind - refer to religious texts, religious experience etc.
FREUD WAS SOMEWHAT POSITIVE: freud admitted people can become more confident + well-balanced due to religion