The Transcendent Function: Jung's Model of Psychological Growth through Dialogue with the Unconscious

Appendix A. Textual Comparison of the 1916 Version to the 1958 Version of “THE TRANSCENDENT FUNCTION”

APPENDIX A Textual Comparison of the 1916 Version to the 1958 Version of “THE TRANSCENDENT FUNCTION” 145 Textual Comparison of the 1916 Version to the 1958 Version of “THE TRANSCENDENT FUNCTION” [Note: Text with line through it is text that was removed from the 1916 version when Jung revised it in 1958; text that is underlined is text that Jung added to the 1916 version when he revised it to create the 1958 version] THE TRANSCENDENT FUNCTION [(1916)] There is nothing mysterious or metaphysical about the term “ transcendent function.” It means a psychological function comparable in its way to a mathematical function of the same name, which is a function of real and imaginary numbers. The psychological “transcendent function” arises from the union of conscious and unconscious contents. Experience in analytical psychology amply [shows] that the conscious and the unconscious [have a curious tendency not to agree.] This lack of [agreement ] is not just accidental or purposeless, but is [because] the unconscious behaves in a compensatory or complementary manner towards the conscious. We can also put it the other way and say that the conscious behaves in a complementary manner towards the unconscious. The reasons for this are: 146 The Transcendent Function 1. [The conscious] possesses a threshold intensity which its contents must [attain] , so that all elements [which] are too weak remain in the unconscious. 2. [The conscious] , because of its directed functions, [inhibits all incompatible material (also called] censorship) [,whereby this] incompatible material [sinks into] the unconscious. 3. [The conscious forms] the momentary process of adaptation, [while] the unconscious contains not only all the forgotten material of the individual’s own past, but [also] all inherited behaviour traces [of the human spirit] . 4. The unconscious contains all the fantasy combinations which have not yet attained the threshold intensity, but which in the course of time and under suitable conditions will enter the light of consciousness. This explains the complementary attitude of the unconscious towards the conscious. The definiteness and directedness of the conscious mind [is a function which has] been acquired relatively late in the history of the human race, and [is] for instance largely lacking among primitives [even] today. [This function is] often impaired in the neurotic patient, who differs [to a greater or lesser extent] from the normal person in that his threshold of consciousness gets shifted more easily [, or] in other words [his] partition between [the] conscious and [the] unconscious is much more permeable. The psychotic on the other hand is [completely] under the direct influence of the unconscious. The definiteness and directedness of the conscious mind [is an] extremely important [function,] which humanity has [acquired] at a very heavy sacrifice, and which in turn [has] rendered humanity the highest service. Without [it, neither science nor society could exist, for they both presuppose a] reliable continuity of the [psychic] process. For the [professional man] as well as the simplest labourer [this Appendix A 147 function is indispensable. A man’s worthlessness to society increases in proportion to the degree of impairment of this function] by the unconscious. Great artists and others distinguished by creative gifts are of course exceptions to this rule. The very advantage [of] such individuals [lies] in the permeability of the partition separating the conscious and unconscious. But for professions and [trades] which [demand] just this continuity and reliability [of the function] these exceptional human beings are as a rule of little value. It is therefore understandable and even necessary that in each individual [this function] should be as [steady] and [as] definite as possible, since the exigencies of life demand it. But this involves a certain disadvantage: the quality of directedness makes for the inhibition or [the] exclusion of all those psychic elements which appear to be, or really are, incompatible [, i. e.] likely to [change] the [preconceived] direction to suit their [purposes] and so lead to an undesired goal. [How can it be recognized whether the collateral] psychic material is [compatible or not? It can be recognized by an act of judgement which is based on the same attitude which determined the preconceived direction. This judgement is therefore] partial and prejudiced, [for it is based exclusively on what is considered to be compatible with the directed process at the time. This judgement arising from an opinion is always based in its turn on experience, i. e.] on what is already known [and acknowledged...