Synchronicity and the Mind-Body Problem
James D. Madden
International Journal of Jungian Studies January 19, 2026 DOI: 10.1163/19409060-bja10058 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Jung's account of synchronicity, which treats symbolic meaning and fittingness as principles of natural explanation, does a great deal to address both the Problem of Psycho-Physical Contingency and the Problem of Causal Closure, though it leaves unresolved difficulties that call for further inquiry. |
Abstract
Abstract I consider whether the Jungian account of synchronicity holds promise for solving the mind-body problem. The discussion begins by distinguishing two central variants of the mind-body problem: the Problem of Psycho-Physical Contingency (the “hard problem of consciousness”) and the Problem of Causal Closure (the classic difficulty of psycho-physical interaction). We then our turn our attention to a detailed account of Jung’s notion of synchronicity, which suggests that symbolic meaning and fittingness are principles of natural explanation. We will see that this sort of explanation does a great deal to address the mind-body problems, though it leaves us with unresolved difficulties calling for further inquiry.