Synopses & Reviews
Joseph Campbell (1904-1988) was one of the most well-known and popular scholars of myth and comparative religion of the twentieth century. His work, however, has never fully received the same amount of scholarly interest and critical reflection that some of his contemporaries have received. In this book, based on extensive research in the Joseph Campbell Archive in Santa Barbara, Ritske Rensma shows that reflecting on C.G. Jung's influence on Campbell greatly furthers our understanding of these ideas, and that once this goal is achieved it becomes obvious that Campbell was a scholar whose ideas are still of significance today. Following Jung's lead, Campbell put great emphasis on the innate structures of the mind, an approach which pre-echoes the current 'evolutionary turn' in fields such as cognitive theory, psychology, psychiatry and neurobiology. This study will therefore not just be of interest to students and scholars interested in psychological approaches to the study of religion as well as Jung and Campbell, but also to those with an interest in recent developments in the above-mentioned fields
Synopsis
Joseph Campbell (1904-1988) was one of the most well-known and popular scholars of myth and comparative religion of the twentieth century. His work, however, has never fully received the same amount of scholarly interest and critical reflection that some of his contemporaries have received.
In this book, based on extensive research in the Joseph Campbell Archive in Santa Barbara, Ritske Rensma shows that reflecting on C.G. Jung's influence on Campbell greatly furthers our understanding of these ideas, and that once this goal is achieved it becomes obvious that Campbell was a scholar whose ideas are still of significance today. Following Jung's lead, Campbell put great emphasis on the innate structures of the mind, an approach which pre-echoes the current 'evolutionary turn' in fields such as cognitive theory, psychology, psychiatry and neurobiology.
This study will therefore not just be of interest to students and scholars interested in psychological approaches to the study of religion as well as Jung and Campbell, but also to those with an interest in recent developments in the above-mentioned fields
Table of Contents
Introduction Jung's influence on Campbell Overview Methodological reflection What this book aims to achieve
Part 1 - Jung1 The development of Jung's ideas about the concept of the archetype Early developments "On the nature of the psyche" Synchronicity2 The Ideas of Anthony Stevens Ideas expressed in the book "Archetype Revisited" Steven's take on Jung's ideas about religion Conclusion
Part 2 Campbell3 Campbell's Life Boyhood and student years Development of core ideas Professional career4 Phase One and Two of Campbell's Career Which books by Jung did Campbell own? Phase one (1944-1959) Phase two (1959-1968)5 Phase Three of Campbell's Life6 Conclusion The model of the three phases: a summary Overview and close analysis of my most important arguments Campbell as a 'post-Jungian' Reflections on the potential benefits of my findings Appendix I Bibliography