Freedom from the Self

The idea of a "true self" and a "false or shadow self" has long preoccupied psychologists.

• Carl Jung viewed the "shadow self" as our unknown, dark side. Jung believed that unless we come to terms with our shadow side, we will become its victim.
• Similarly, psychologist Erik E...

Not even a century ago, the concept of freedom was extremely limited. Lack of communication and news meant that most of us were aloof and content in our lives, which consisted of our parents, relatives and neighbours, in the immediate vicinity. The figures of authority were followed religiously, ...

The reflective self-definition that is generated automatically by ancient psychological processes, the machine that seems to want to turn everything into “it’s about me” in some way.

That’s the first kind of identity or the first existential mode: reflective, in that there’...