0085 To me, Jung’s psychoanalytic model of the archetype associates to Aristotle’s first ethical principle.  Given a real initiating event, the archetype accounts for psychoanalytic observations of the way that a client considers things (2) and the ends that are implied by choices that the client makes (3).  Indeed, Jung’s tradition labels a constellated archetype (a habit of deliberation) with the term, “primordial image”.

For example, the “king” is an archetype.  The constellations of “an honorable and just king” and “a dishonorable and manipulative king” are primordial images.

0085 Carl Jung builds on a foundational insight of Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).

What is the founding insight of the founder of psychoanalysis?

A choice is not the same as a wish.

Choice corresponds to the contiguity between information and goal (or “things to consider” and “ends other than self”).

Wish corresponds to the semiotic form implicated in human agency.  A wish may serve as a real initiating event.

0086  Hmmm….

This makes me wonder…

Exactly what is psychotherapy designed to accomplish?

Does psychotherapy train the practitioner to turn wishes into choices?

No wonder therapy costs so much.

Most civilizations teach precisely the opposite lesson.

Wishes should not be converted into choices.