Jung's Achievement of Personality: A Path to Freedom

Carl Jung, in "Civilization in Transition," observed that "There’s only one remedy for the leveling effect of all collective measures, and this is to emphasize and increase the value of the individual." This statement highlights a fundamental clash between two worldviews: the vision of freedom and what economist Thomas Sowell termed the "vision of the anointed."

The Clash of Visions

The vision of freedom champions individual autonomy, allowing people to shape their lives according to their own goals, provided they do not infringe upon the rights or property of others. As Epictetus stated, "Freedom is the right to live as we wish. Nothing else." This vision underpins a rule of law that protects individual liberty.

In contrast, the vision of the anointed posits a world divided into rulers and the ruled. The rulers, comprising politicians, high-level bureaucrats, crony capitalists, select scientists, and mainstream media, see themselves as an "anointed elite" with a mission to guide others toward what they perceive as "better lives." The ruled, in this vision, are denied autonomy and are subjected to constant surveillance, regulation, indoctrination, and control across all aspects of life, all in service of the anointed class's idealized world.

This article is for those who value freedom and resist being mere instruments in the hands of a power-hungry ruling class. Drawing on Carl Jung's insights, it explores how positive social change towards a freer world can be achieved through individuals striving for what Jung called "the achievement of personality."

The Power of Individual Change

Jung argued that societal problems, especially those leading to authoritarianism, are not solved by legislation or superficial fixes. Instead, they require "a general change of attitude," which begins with individuals. This change involves a transformation of personal preferences, outlook on life, and values, with the accumulation of these individual changes eventually leading to a collective solution.

While this approach might seem slow or disheartening, Jung's concept of the "achievement of personality" offers a powerful solution. Ralph Waldo Emerson echoed this sentiment, stating, "The antidote to this abuse of formal government, is, the influence of private character, the growth of the Individual."

The Achievement of Personality

The "growth of the individual" or "achievement of personality" is, for Jung, "the optimum development of the whole individual human being." It is a process of self-actualization, realizing one's potential, and transcending limitations to pursue greater possibilities. Jung noted that this is a lifelong endeavor, as "Personality is the supreme realization of the innate idiosyncrasy of a living being." While complete actualization may be an ideal, "unattainability is no argument against the ideal, for ideals are only signposts, never the goal." Progress toward this ideal transforms an individual from an ordinary conformist into an "extra-ordinary" person.

Jung pondered what motivates an individual to forge their own path and break free from the unconscious identity with the masses. The answer lies in the possession of a vocation.

The Role of Vocation

A vocation, according to Jung, is the crucial factor that enables an individual to "emancipate himself from the herd and from its well-worn paths." It involves introspection, listening to the call of conscience to discover one's purpose or life's mission. Conscience, Jung explained, is an inner voice providing "a special form of 'knowledge' . . . or certainty about, the emotional value of the ideas we have concerning the motives of our actions." This call might lead to bold goals, the furtherance of a cause, or the defense of cherished values.

Viktor Frankl emphasized that self-actualization is not an end in itself but a "side effect of the self-transcendence" guided by a vocation. By committing to the fulfillment of one's life's meaning, an individual actualizes themselves.

How Individual Growth Fights Authoritarianism

The question then arises: how does the achievement of personality, guided by a vocation, help defeat the totalitarian aspirations of the anointed class and foster freedom?

1. Strengthening Society from Within

Firstly, the health and strength of a society depend on the individuals who compose it. A society dominated by weak, passive, neurotic, or cowardly individuals is easily manipulated. A free and flourishing society requires individuals with "clarity of mind and energy of will . . . capable of effective responses to new situations," as Will and Ariel Durant noted. Nietzsche similarly identified "the self-reliant, independent, unprejudiced men [as] the pillars of a strong civilization." These traits are cultivated through the achievement of personality.

With increased strength of character comes a greater desire for freedom. Weak individuals often seek paternalistic or authoritarian governance, reflecting what Jung called a "humiliating sign of spiritual immaturity that [modern] man needs, and wants, a large measure of authority." Those who embrace their vocation quickly realize they are better equipped to control their own destinies than any bureaucrat or politician.

2. Sparking an Organic Movement for Freedom

Secondly, the achievement of personality can ignite an organic movement in defense of freedom. The call of conscience manifests differently depending on the societal context. In a free society, it directs individuals toward diverse vocations in arts, sciences, philosophy, business, sports, or personal pursuits like family building. This diversity fosters cultural development and civilizational advancement.

However, when freedom recedes and opportunities diminish, the call of conscience can become a harmonizing force, directing people toward vocations that defend freedom. Humans are not suited for total government control and instinctively resist its emergence.

Initially, only a few intrepid individuals recognize the gravity of the situation and are called to vocations that defend freedom. Jung described these individuals as "called awake by the summons of the voice [of conscience], whereupon they are at once set apart from the others, feeling themselves confronted with a problem about which the others know nothing." As the oppressive nature of the "vision of the anointed" becomes more apparent, this call intensifies, reaching a broader audience. Jung noted that "deep down, below the surface of the average man’s conscience, he hears a voice whispering, 'There is something not right.'"

This collective call unites people around a shared vocation of healing a sick world, what Søren Kierkegaard called a 'third'. As Jeremy Weissman explained, "In mutually committing [ourselves] to [a shared vocation], transcending ourselves in dedication toward it, we help to realize it in ourselves and each other. We form a team devoted to a shared cause . . . the shared object of passion is [the] 'third' in a relationship, the 'idea' that strongly binds two [or more] individuals."

An organic movement, composed of individuals united by the idea of freedom, is essential to counteract the institutional and financial power behind the vision of the anointed. Only power can thwart power, and the vision of freedom can be backed by the immense power of individuals driven by vocation and a shared cause. Correcting societal ills will not come from top-down government mandates but from individual choices and the spontaneous orders that emerge from them.

The Individual's Responsibility

If conscience signals that something is wrong and action is needed to defend freedom, one must heed this call. The alternatives—waiting for a political savior, blindly conforming, or merely complaining—are paths for the weak and complacent.

Jung emphasized the critical role of the individual: "So much is at stake and so much depends on the psychological constitution of modern man. . . . Does he realize what lies in store should this catastrophe ever befall him? Is he even capable of realizing that this would in fact be a catastrophe? And finally, does the individual know that he is the makeweight that tips the scales?" The individual's choices and actions are paramount in shaping the future.