51社区

Abstract

Despite contributing to Alchemical studies, Jungian psychology has not yet sufficiently explored the vast diversity of Alchemical disciplines, across world cultures and epochs, from prehistory to modernity. Furthermore, Jungian psychology might be taking too much credit for 鈥渄iscovering鈥� Alchemy鈥檚 psychological relevance without giving enough credence to Alchemy鈥檚 metaphysical insights. Yet many of Jungian psychology鈥檚 basic tenets stem from these same traditions that it sometimes undermines or overlooks. This dissertation updates Jungian psychology鈥檚 understanding of Alchemy within the context of historical and global diversity, and with respect to Alchemy鈥檚 awareness of psychology and reality. Honoring the sophistication of humanity鈥檚 Alchemies, this dissertation acknowledges how profoundly they inform both Jungian psychology and human civilization in general. To synthesize a new, inclusive definition for Alchemy, this dissertation researches the archetypally recurring themes and defining commonalities of Alchemical disciplines throughout world history, attending to their views of psyche and cosmos. It finds that the classical Alchemical Elements provide a particularly poignant point of connection among these diverse disciplines and make those disciplines inherently Alchemical by relating them to Transmutation. Thus, this research hermeneutically extracts the Quintessence of Alchemy to formulate a Quintessential outline鈥攐ne fresh model encompassing many prior versions, without diminishing their distinctions. By redefining Alchemy in this way, any discipline employing the Elements of Transmutation could become considered a form of Alchemy. This dissertation studies how various cultures represent those Alchemical Elements of Transmutation. It aims to expand psychology鈥檚 view of Alchemy to be more accurate, inclusive, and respectful.