In his recent book, Jung vs Borg: Finding the Deeply Human in a Posthuman Age, Glen Slater discusses how the integrity of the human psyche is colliding with our adaptation to digital technologies. He contends a collapse of inner ecology has begun to follow that of outer ecology. This collapse concerns radical changes to human thought processes and the separation of psychological life from the deeper ground of existence. This seminar will explore the psychological implications of these trends, now converging around the rise of AI, and consider the way Jungian depth psychology offers a significant counterpoint.

Outline:

Beginning with a one-hour presentation, Dr. Slater will turn to Jung’s understanding of archetypal patterns and psychodynamics to engage contemporary trends in digital technology. Focus will be placed on the contrast between the integrative experiences Jung emphasized and the dissociative style of consciousness that pervades today’s technosphere. The presentation will describe how an understanding of the psyche counters the reduction of life to data and thinking to computation.

After a short Q & A and break, the seminar will proceed with writing, reflection and discussion centered on the role of Jung’s myth of consciousness in the Digital Age.

Jung and his followers have contended that “the creation of consciousness” (Edinger) is a myth for our time, one that joins the personal and collective significance of the individuation process. As information expands and wisdom contracts, this vision of making the unconscious more conscious may have found its ultimate purpose. For as information technology and biotechnology come together, the power to reshape the world is turning into the power to reshape ourselves. But can we wield this power in conscious ways or will we reengineer human nature according to what remains in the shadow?

By considering contemporary habits of mind, differences between consciousness and intelligence, the re-enchantment of ways of knowing, and the prospect of a co-creative way forward, we will sketch out a path that taps the wisdom of the psyche and accounts for the fullness and depth of our humanity.