The Human Body is the Collective Unconscious: Archetypal Images as Innate Embodied Metaphors
Journal of Analytical Psychology May 29, 2024 DOI: 10.1111/1468-5922.12998 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractFor much of its history, archetype theory suffered from criticisms rooted in unexamined Cartesian assumptions that treat cognition as disembodied—mere manipulation of abstract, meaningless signs copied from verbal instruction or cultural learning. Since the 1980s, findings from multiple independent disciplines have replaced this view with one of embodied cognition. This shift offers important consequences for archetype theory, providing a non-reductive biological anchor that explains many characteristics of the archetypal image.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Archetype Embodied cognition Unconscious mind Epistemology Psychology |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key finding | Argues that an embodied cognition framework can provide a non-reductive biological anchor for archetype theory, explaining characteristics of the archetypal image. |
Abstract
For a significant part of its history, archetype theory has been undermined by criticisms containing unexamined Cartesian assumptions. Such assumptions treat all cognition as disembodied, consisting of mere manipulation of abstract, inherently meaningless signs mimicked from verbal instruction or cultural learning. Since the 1980s, due to the results of many independent disciplines, however, this view is being replaced with one of embodied cognition. This shift has important consequences for archetype theory, allowing us to provide a non-reductive biological anchor that explains many characteristics of the archetypal image.