Is Humanity Doomed? | Carl Jung on Healing a Sick Society

Summary

This video explores the clash between two worldviews: the vision of freedom, where individuals shape their lives, and the vision of an elite class controlling society. Drawing on Carl Jung’s ideas, it argues that true social change and freedom come from individual self-actualization and developing personal character, not mass movements or political reforms. By discovering and pursuing a personal vocation, individuals can counter the rise of authoritarianism. The video urges people to heed their inner conscience and unite for the cause of freedom, fostering a society of strong, independent individuals.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Two competing visions of the world are clashing: the vision of freedom and the vision of the anointed.
• 💡 The vision of freedom promotes individual autonomy, allowing people to live according to their own goals, as long as they don't harm others.
• 👑 The vision of the anointed divides the world into rulers and the ruled, where a powerful elite dictates the lives of the masses.
• 🧠 Carl Jung and others argue that societal problems aren't solved by laws or collective actions but by individuals changing their attitudes and values.
• 🌱 The achievement of personality, or self-actualization, is crucial for creating positive social change, as emphasized by both Jung and Emerson.
• 🎯 Jung believes that a person's vocation, or life mission, is essential in helping them rise above mass conformity and develop their personality.
• 🚪 Viktor Frankl adds that self-actualization is only possible through commitment to a meaningful cause, not as an end in itself.
• 🛡️ Strong, independent, and self-reliant individuals are the pillars of a free society, while weak, passive people allow authoritarianism to thrive.
• ⚖️ A movement towards freedom can emerge organically when individuals answer their conscience's call, especially in times of rising authoritarianism.
• 🔑 Jung stresses that the key to defeating the power of authoritarian elites lies in the collective power of self-actualized individuals united by a shared cause of freedom.

Q & A

What is the main contrast between the two visions of the world presented in the script?

The script contrasts the vision of freedom, where individuals have autonomy to shape their own lives within the rule of law, with the vision of the anointed, where an elite class controls and directs the masses, restricting individual freedom to enforce their vision of a 'better' world.

According to Carl Jung, what is the solution to mass-mindedness and authoritarianism?

Carl Jung believes that the solution to mass-mindedness and authoritarianism lies in the achievement of individual personality. This involves personal growth and self-actualization, where individuals transform their outlook and values, creating a collective solution through individual changes, rather than through legislation or violence.

What role does 'vocation' play in Jung’s idea of achieving personality?

In Jung's view, a vocation is crucial for achieving personality. It is a personal calling that helps individuals transcend their limitations, guiding them towards self-actualization. Following a vocation leads one to break free from conformity and mass identity, becoming an extraordinary individual with a purpose.

How does the script describe the 'vision of the anointed'?

The 'vision of the anointed' is described as a worldview where society is divided into rulers and the ruled. The rulers are an elite class of politicians, bureaucrats, crony capitalists, and select members of the media and scientific community. They believe they are destined to lead others toward what they perceive as better lives, often through authoritarian control and regulation.

What does Jung believe is necessary to bring about positive social change?

Jung believes that positive social change requires individuals to undergo a transformation in their personal values, attitudes, and outlook on life. This individual change, when multiplied across society, can lead to collective improvements and a freer, more flourishing society.

How does the achievement of personality contribute to a free society?

The achievement of personality fosters traits like independence, strength, and clarity of mind, which are essential for a healthy and free society. When individuals are self-reliant and possess a strong sense of personal responsibility, they are less likely to seek authoritarian control and more likely to contribute to a flourishing, free society.

Why does Jung emphasize the importance of the individual's psychological constitution in modern society?

Jung emphasizes that the psychological constitution of modern individuals plays a crucial role in determining the future of society. If individuals remain passive, unaware, or immature, society becomes more vulnerable to authoritarian control. He believes individuals must be conscious of the paths they are treading and the potential consequences of their actions.

What is the relationship between self-actualization and societal freedom, according to the script?

The script suggests that self-actualization leads to the development of individuals who are better equipped to be the masters of their own lives. As more people pursue personal growth and freedom, it creates a society of strong, independent individuals, reducing the need for authoritarian governance and fostering collective freedom.

How does the script explain the role of conscience in resisting authoritarianism?

The script explains that in times of growing authoritarianism, the call of conscience can guide individuals toward vocations that defend freedom. This inner voice compels individuals to act in defense of personal liberty and to resist the encroaching control of an authoritarian ruling class.

What does the script suggest is the alternative to waiting for political solutions to authoritarianism?

The script suggests that instead of waiting for political saviors or conforming to authoritarian rule, individuals should take responsibility by following their conscience and personal vocations. By doing so, they can form organic movements that defend freedom and contribute to societal change from the bottom-up.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The Collision of Visions: Freedom vs. The Anointed

The first paragraph introduces Carl Jung's critique of mass-mindedness and the tension between two visions of the world: freedom and authoritarianism. On one side is the vision of freedom, where individuals have autonomy over their lives within a legal framework that protects them from harm. Epictetus is quoted, emphasizing the essence of freedom as 'the right to live as we wish.' On the other side is the 'vision of the anointed,' a hierarchical world where an elite ruling class—composed of politicians, bureaucrats, crony capitalists, and select intellectuals—dictates the lives of the masses. The ruled are denied autonomy, subjected to constant surveillance, and manipulated in all aspects of life. This video addresses those who value freedom and resist authoritarian rule, with Carl Jung’s insights guiding the path toward positive social change through the development of the individual personality.

05:01

🧠 Individual Change as the Solution to Authoritarianism

This paragraph explores Carl Jung's belief that the path to resisting authoritarianism lies not in mass movements or propaganda but in a fundamental shift in individual attitudes and values. Jung stresses that only through a collective transformation of individual lives, driven by inner changes, can societal problems be solved. While this solution may appear slow and disheartening, it is effective and enduring. By achieving 'personality' or self-actualization, individuals break free from conformity and become exceptional, capable of leading the change toward a freer society. Ralph Waldo Emerson supports this notion, emphasizing that the true antidote to government overreach is the growth of the individual.

10:04

🎯 The Role of Vocation in Self-Actualization and Freedom

Jung's concept of the 'achievement of personality' is explored in depth. This involves the 'optimum development' of an individual’s potential, a lifelong process of self-actualization. Although reaching complete self-actualization may be impossible, striving for it elevates individuals beyond mere conformity. Jung argues that the possession of a vocation, a deep sense of purpose or calling, is essential for breaking free from the mass and achieving personal growth. This inner vocation is guided by conscience, which helps us discover our purpose and moral direction. Viktor Frankl reinforces the idea that self-actualization is a byproduct of pursuing a vocation and transcending oneself in the service of a greater cause.

⚖️ Personal Growth as a Weapon Against Authoritarianism

This paragraph ties the achievement of personality to the fight against authoritarianism. A healthy, free society requires strong, independent individuals with a clear sense of purpose. Societies dominated by weak and passive individuals are easily controlled by a ruling class. As Jung notes, individuals who pursue their vocation realize they are better equipped to shape their own destinies than any government official. Strong character and self-reliance foster a desire for freedom, countering the authoritarian tendencies of those who seek control. History and philosophy, including the works of Nietzsche and the Durants, affirm that independent, self-reliant individuals are the foundation of strong civilizations.

🌱 Sparking a Movement for Freedom

The final section examines how personal development can lead to collective resistance against totalitarianism. In free societies, individuals pursue diverse vocations, contributing to cultural and societal growth. But in times of authoritarianism, the call of conscience unites people in the defense of freedom. The oppressive nature of authoritarian rule compels individuals to rally together, as more people recognize the dangers of losing freedom. Jung describes how this shared pursuit of freedom becomes a collective mission, creating an organic movement that opposes the anointed ruling class. This grassroots movement, driven by individuals with a common vocation for liberty, represents a powerful counterbalance to the institutional power of authoritarianism.

💪 The Individual’s Role in Shaping Society’s Fate

In the concluding paragraph, Jung emphasizes the critical role of the individual in shaping society's future. The choices and actions of individuals, not governments, will determine whether freedom prevails or authoritarianism triumphs. Ignoring the call of conscience and waiting for a political savior is futile and weak. Instead, individuals must embrace their responsibility and act in defense of freedom. The fate of society rests on the psychological constitution of modern individuals. Jung warns that if people fail to recognize the dangers posed by authoritarianism, catastrophe is inevitable. However, if individuals realize their power and purpose, they can tip the scales toward freedom.

Keywords

💡Freedom

Freedom is defined as the autonomy to shape one's life according to personal goals and desires without infringing on the rights of others. In the video, freedom represents the core value under threat by authoritarianism. It is contrasted with a system where people are controlled by a ruling elite. Epictetus’s quote 'Freedom is the right to live as we wish' reflects this idea, underscoring that true freedom is living by one's own will.

💡Vision of the Anointed

The 'Vision of the Anointed' refers to the worldview of an elite class who believe they are destined to lead and control the masses. This vision entails a hierarchical society where the rulers dictate how people should live, stripping them of autonomy. This concept is central to the conflict in the video, where this vision of authoritarian control is juxtaposed with the idea of individual freedom.

💡Achievement of Personality

The 'Achievement of Personality' is a key concept from Carl Jung, referring to the process of self-actualization, where an individual realizes their full potential. In the video, it is presented as a solution to authoritarianism, arguing that individuals who develop their personalities can resist mass conformity and authoritarian control. Jung’s idea emphasizes personal growth as essential for societal change.

💡Vocation

A vocation is a deep sense of purpose or calling that guides an individual’s actions and life direction. According to Jung, discovering one’s vocation is crucial for achieving personality and breaking away from the conformist mass. The video argues that following one’s vocation enables individuals to transcend the 'herd' mentality and contribute to the fight for freedom.

💡Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism refers to a system of government where the state exercises absolute control over all aspects of public and private life. In the video, it represents the end result of the 'Vision of the Anointed' if left unchecked. It is portrayed as a threat to individual autonomy, where people are 'watched, inspected, spied upon' and controlled in every realm of life.

💡Conscience

Conscience is described as an internal voice that guides individuals toward what is right, helping them recognize their true purpose or vocation. In the video, listening to one's conscience is crucial for individuals to resist authoritarianism and defend freedom. Jung’s idea that the conscience provides 'certainty about the emotional value of the ideas we have' highlights its role in leading people to moral action.

💡Collective Solution

The 'Collective Solution' refers to the idea that societal problems, such as the rise of authoritarianism, cannot be solved through legislation or mass movements alone. Instead, it requires a transformation of individuals. The video emphasizes that only through individual change—when enough people develop their personalities and act according to conscience—can society as a whole move toward freedom.

💡Mass-mindedness

Mass-mindedness refers to the tendency of individuals to conform to collective thinking and behavior, losing their sense of individuality. The video highlights this as a negative force that strengthens authoritarianism, where people are easily controlled by the ruling class. Jung’s warning against reinforcing mass-mindedness is presented as a call to nurture individuality instead.

💡Self-actualization

Self-actualization is the process of realizing one’s full potential and transcending personal limitations. It is a central theme in Jung’s philosophy and the video’s message, where it is framed as the antidote to authoritarianism. The video argues that self-actualized individuals, who are 'extra-ordinary,' have the strength and clarity to resist manipulation and fight for a freer society.

💡Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism is a political system where power is concentrated in the hands of a ruling elite, often at the expense of individual freedoms. The video presents authoritarianism as the primary threat to freedom, driven by the 'Vision of the Anointed.' It suggests that the spread of authoritarianism depends on the passivity and conformity of the masses, and can only be countered by individuals striving for personal growth.

Highlights

Carl Jung emphasizes the value of the individual as the only remedy for the leveling effect of collective measures.

Freedom is defined as the autonomy to shape our own lives without infringing on the rights of others, in contrast to authoritarian visions of control.

Thomas Sowell's 'Vision of the Anointed' warns of a ruling class that seeks to control the population in pursuit of its own vision of a better world.

Jung advocates for the achievement of personality as the solution to the rise of authoritarianism, emphasizing that change begins with individuals.

Ralph Waldo Emerson echoes Jung's sentiment, stating that the antidote to formal government abuse is the growth of private character.

Self-actualization is central to the achievement of personality, which involves realizing one's potential and transcending limitations.

The achievement of personality is guided by a vocation, or life's mission, which drives individuals to emancipate themselves from conformity.

Viktor Frankl highlights that self-actualization is not the primary goal, but rather a byproduct of pursuing a meaningful vocation.

Jung believes that the health or sickness of a society is dependent on the individuals within it, with weak individuals more likely to accept authoritarian rule.

Strong, independent individuals with clarity of mind are essential for a free and flourishing society, according to Jung and Nietzsche.

The achievement of personality leads to an increased desire for freedom, as those with a vocation realize they are better equipped to control their own lives.

An organic movement defending freedom arises when individuals are united by a shared vocation of resisting totalitarian rule.

Jung contrasts the call of conscience in times of freedom versus times of authoritarianism, with the latter prompting vocations to defend freedom.

Jung warns that a society flirting with totalitarianism will awaken individuals whose vocations align with defending freedom.

Individuals driven by a vocation to defend freedom are the 'makeweight that tips the scales' in preventing societal catastrophe, as per Jung's 'The Undiscovered Self'.

Transcripts

“Anxiously we look round for collective measures, thereby reinforcing the very mass-mindedness

we want to fight against.

There’s only one remedy for the leveling effect of all collective measures, and this

is to emphasize and increase the value of the individual.”

Carl Jung, Civilization in Transition We live in an age where two visions of the

world are colliding.

On the one hand, there is the vision of freedom.

In this vision we have the autonomy to shape our own life and to live in accordance with

our own goals.

Where the vision of freedom reigns, the rule of law is not an arbitrary expression of state

power, but is shaped around the ideal that we may live as we wish so long as we do not

aggress against the person or property of another.

“Freedom is the right to live as we wish,” said Epictetus “Nothing else.”

Epictetus The vision of freedom is clashing with what

the American economist Thomas Sowell has termed the vision of the anointed.

In this vision the global population is to be divided into two classes: the rulers and

the ruled.

The rulers consist of politicians, high level bureaucrats, crony capitalists, select members

of the scientific community, and the mainstream media.

These individuals conceive of themselves, in the words of Sowell, as “an anointed

elite, a people with a mission to lead others in one way or another toward [what they conceive

as] better lives.”

(Thomas Sowell, The Vision of the Anointed) The ruled, in this vision, are not to be granted

the autonomy to control their own lives, but are to “be watched, inspected, spied upon,

directed, law-ridden, regulated, penned up, indoctrinated, preached at, checked, appraised,

seized, censured” (Pierre-Joseph Proudhon), and commanded in every realm of life, so that

the anointed class can attempt to actualize their idea of a brave new world.

This video is written for those who still value freedom and who do not wish to be pawns

in the dark twisted fantasy of a power-hungry ruling class.

Relying on the insights of Carl Jung, we are going to explore how positive social change,

in the direction of a freer world, can be effectuated by individuals striving for what

Jung called the achievement of personality.

For as Jung notes when a world is hurtling toward authoritarian, or totalitarian rule:

“. . .such problems are never solved by legislation or by tricks.

They are solved only by a general change of attitude.

And the change does not begin with propaganda and mass meetings, or with violence.

It begins with a change in individuals.

It will continue as a transformation of their personal likes and dislikes, of their outlook

on life and of their values, and only the accumulation of these individual changes will

produce a collective solution.”

Carl Jung, Psychology and Religion This solution can ring hollow and feel disheartening.

For if we must wait around for individuals to change, will we not be waiting a lifetime?

Is there not a quicker means to stop the rise of authoritarianism?

But when it is understood what Jung meant by the achievement of personality, we will

see that this solution is more powerful than at first it might appear and Jung was not

alone in this belief, for as Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:

“The antidote to this abuse of formal government, is, the influence of private character, the

growth of the Individual.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson

So what is the growth of the individual or the achievement of personality?

According to Jung it is “the optimum development of the whole individual human being.”

(Carl Jung, Development of Personality) It is, in other words, to self-actualize, to

realize one’s potential and to transcend one’s current limitations in pursuit of

greater possibilities.

“It is impossible to foresee the endless variety of conditions that have to be fulfilled,”

wrote Jung.

“A whole lifetime, in all its biological, social, and spiritual aspects, is needed.

Personality is the supreme realization of the innate idiosyncrasy of a living being.”

(Carl Jung, Development of Personality) In the brevity of a human life we can only ever

approach the ideal of completely actualizing our potential, but as Jung points out “unattainability

is no argument against the ideal, for ideals are only signposts, never the goal.”

(Carl Jung, Development of Personality) When we make progress toward this ideal, we cease

being an ordinary member of the great mass of conformists and become, in the words of

Jung, extra-ordinary.

But what, asks Jung “induces a man to go his own way and to rise out of unconscious

identity with the mass?.

. .What is it. . .that . . .tips the scales in favour of the extra-ordinary?”

(Carl Jung, Development of Personality)

Achievement of personality is attained not merely by setting the goal to self-actualize,

rather integral to this process is the possession of a vocation.

A vocation, as Jung explains, is the crucial “factor that destines a man to emancipate

himself from the herd and from its well-worn paths.”

(Carl Jung, Development of Personality) To be in possession of a vocation means to turn

within and listen to the call of conscience in order to discover our purpose, or life’s

mission.

For as Jung explains our conscience is the inner voice that provides us with “a special

form of “knowledge” . . . or certainty about, the emotional value of the ideas we

have concerning the motives of our actions.”

(Carl Jung, Civilization in Transition) The call of conscience might direct us in the

pursuit of a bold goal, the furtherance of a cause, or the defense of cherished values,

and as Viktor Frankl writes:

“. . .only to the extent to which a man commits himself to the fulfilment of his life’s

meaning [i.e., his vocation], to this extent he also actualizes himself.

In other words, self-actualization cannot be attained if it is made an end in itself,

but only as a side effect of the self-transcendence [that is guided by a vocation].”

(Viktor Frankl)

Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning If we discover our vocation and use it to

guide us in the achievement of personality how does this help defeat the totalitarian

aspirations of the anointed class and bring freedom to an unfree world?

How does going our own way and spurring conformity in favour of following what Jung called the

“law of our own being” help cure the sickness of our society?

Or as Jung asks:

“What has the individual personality to do with the plight of the many?”

Carl Jung, Development of Personality Firstly, the state of a society is dependent

on the health or sickness, and strength or weakness, of the individuals that compose

it.

If a society is composed of mainly weak, passive, neurotic and cowardly individuals, then it

is easily manipulated and controlled by a ruling class.

A society that is to be free, and a society that is to flourish, must consist of more

individuals, in the words of the historians Will and Ariel Durant, “with clarity of

mind and energy of will. . .capable of effective responses to new situations.”

(Lessons of History) Or as Nietzsche wrote “the self-reliant, independent, unprejudiced

men [are] the pillars of a strong civilization”.

(Nietzsche, The Dawn) These traits are promoted by the achievement of personality.

But with this increased strength of character comes an increased appetite for freedom.

For it is weak individuals with little going in life who desire paternalistic, or authoritarian

government, and as Jung wrote:

“It is perhaps a humiliating sign of spiritual immaturity that [modern] man needs, and wants,

a large measure of authority.”

Carl Jung, The Practice of Psychotherapy Those in possession of a vocation quickly

discover that they are far better equipped to be the masters of their destinies than

is any bureaucrat or politician.

In addition to creating the type of individuals needed for a flourishing society, the achievement

of personality can also spark an organic movement in defense of freedom.

To understand how this occurs, we will contrast how the call of conscience differs at times

when freedom reigns versus times when a society is flirting with authoritarian, or full-blown

totalitarian rule.

In a free society, the call of conscience will direct people down many different paths.

Some will be called to vocations in the arts, sciences, philosophy, or politics, others

will build businesses, some will gravitate in the direction of sports, entertainment,

or adventure, while still others will adopt more personal vocations such as creating a

strong family.

This great variety of vocational pursuits increases the number of things tried and so

helps a culture develop and a civilization advance.

But when freedom recedes and with it life’s opportunities, the call of conscience can

act as a harmonizing force directing people toward vocations that defend freedom.

For we are not suited to live in the sickness of total government control and so feel naturally

averse to its emergence.

So long as we have not been stripped of our desire to live, we instinctively will seek

ways to escape from this pathological form of rule.

At first it is only an intrepid few who recognize the gravity of the situation and so are called

to vocations that defend freedom.

These individuals, in the words of Jung, “are called awake by the summons of the voice [of

conscience], whereupon they are at once set apart from the others, feeling themselves

confronted with a problem about which the others know nothing.”

(Carl Jung, Development of Personality) As the distorted nature of the vision of the

anointed becomes more obvious, this call of conscience directing people toward vocations

that can help freedom prevail reaches a louder pitch.

“. . .deep down, below the surface of the average man’s conscience,” writes Jung

“he hears a voice whispering, “There is something not right”.

. .”

Carl Jung, Development of Personality This call orients people around what Soren

Kierkegaard called a ‘third’, or what amounts to the shared vocation of healing

a sick world:

“In mutually committing [ourselves] to [a shared vocation],” writes JW “transcending

ourselves in dedication toward it, we help to realize it in ourselves and each other.

We form a team devoted to a shared cause . . . the shared object of passion is [the] ‘third’

in a relationship, the ‘idea’ that strongly binds two [or more] individuals.”

Jeremy Weissman, The Crowdsourced Panopticon An organic movement, composed of men and women

who are bound together by the idea, or “third”, of freedom, is what is needed to counteract

the forward march of the vision of the anointed.

For only power can thwart power and the vision of the anointed is backed by immense institutional

and financial power.

But the vision of freedom can be backed by an even greater power, the power of individuals

possessed by a vocation and united in pursuit of a shared cause.

For correcting the social ills of our day will not come from the top-down, it will not

be done by government, it will come from the choices that we make as individuals and the

spontaneous orders that emerge as a result.

If our conscience is telling us something is not right and that we need to take action

in defense of freedom, should we heed this call?

What is the alternative?

Wait around for a political saviour to fix a thoroughly corrupt system?

Obey and conform in the deluded belief that the anointed class has our best interests

at heart?

Do nothing but criticize others and lament over the state of the world?

These alternatives are for the weak and the lazy.

“So much is at stake” writes Jung “and so much depends on the psychological constitution

of modern man.

. . Is he conscious of the path he is treading, and what the conclusions are that must be

drawn from the present world situation and his own psychic situation?

. . . Does he realize what lies in store should this catastrophe ever befall him?

Is he even capable of realizing that this would in fact be a catastrophe?

And finally, does the individual know that he is

the makeweight that tips the scales?”

Carl Jung, The Undiscovered Self