Published by Chiron
Publications
August 2004
ISBN
1-888602-27-9
Introduction
The
subjects of morality, conscience, and ethics have
occupied the minds of theologians, philosophers,
scientists, and psychologists for as long as human
beings have wondered about the nature of the universe.
The exploration of these matters is connected with a
deep, innate need to understand what it means to be
human. In this search, we look for the differentiation
between being human and being inhuman and seek answers
to fundamental questions such as: Is there a god? What
is the meaning of life? How do human beings live
harmoniously with each other? What behaviour is
acceptable and what is not? and What defines a good
person? This journey is deeply embedded in our psyches
and influences our emotional responses to life's
situations based on the degree to which we feel guilt,
shame, embarrassment, compassion, anger, outrage,
gratitude, and/or forgiveness in different situations.
My own exploration of these issues came from a
personal experience , which involved a profound ethical
conflict and defined my whole training as a Jungian
analyst. In this psychological crisis, several opposites
were constellated: collective ethical codes and my
individual conscience; the principles of Logos and the
values of Eros ; the desire for a quick and easy
collective solution and the need to remain with my own
psychological process in analysis. I felt as if I was in
a battle between my ego and some "Other," and this
"Other" insisted I heed the values of Eros and
introversion while the rationality of Logos and of the
collective moral/ethical code was absolutely clear about
the impropriety of the situation. In analysis, I was
forced into my own ethical confrontation with the
unconscious as I came to grips with my shadow and
aspects of my personality that I had repressed.
To read
more, the remaining part of the introduction is in a pdf
file. Click here.
© 2004
Christina Becker
All rights reserved
www.cjbecker.com
The Heart of the Matter: Individuation as an
Ethical Process is available from the following booksellers
Caversham Booksellers
- Toronto, Ontario
The Eternal Moment Bookstore -
Toronto, Ontario
www.amazon.com
Or buy it directly from the author
