| In "New Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis", | | | | liars. |
| Freud discusses his views on mysticism and | | | | However, despite denouncing mysticism at the |
| psychoanalysis. The concept of mysticism has | | | | beginning of the lecture, Freud decides to discuss |
| changed throughout the ages. In ancient times, a | | | | mysticism as if it were scientific material. During the |
| mystic was one who communed with God. In Freud's | | | | lecture, he informs the audience that he will elevate the |
| world, the word mysticism became an all-inclusive | | | | subject of mysticism to the level of scientific inquiry. He |
| word describing paranormal phenomenon occurring | | | | is fully aware that he is going against the tide of |
| outside the laws of nature and science. Science | | | | intellectual, psychological and historical factors. He |
| tended to dismiss or ignore mystical ideas because | | | | changes his tone, and argues that any scientific theory |
| they were viewed as superstitious, irrational and | | | | must be reasonable in accordance with the laws of |
| nonsensical. Freud associated the word mysticism with | | | | nature. He cites an example of the Earth's center |
| séances, voices from other worlds, noises, | | | | being filled with heavy metals instead of jam as a |
| apparitions, levitation, trances and prophecies (Coward, | | | | reasonable assumption. He says a mystical hypothesis |
| 1977, p. 1). Freud also had a reputation of being hostile | | | | might claim there is 'jam at the center of the Earth', |
| to mysticism and was opposed to integrating mystical | | | | thus lending itself to immediate rejection. However, |
| ideas into psychoanalysis. His friendship with Carl Jung | | | | Freud points out that the immediate rejection of any |
| ended due to Jung's beliefs in spiritual and mystical | | | | theory can be "erroneous and detrimental". He |
| concepts (Wagner, 2008). | | | | remembers the negative reaction he received from |
| At the beginning of the lecture, Freud offers an | | | | the medical community when he wrote about the |
| unflattering view of mysticism and speaks | | | | existence of 'the unconscious'. Freud says he |
| condescendingly toward the subject by refusing to | | | | encountered the same type of condemnation that |
| offer any specific definition for the the word itself. He | | | | mystics have experienced throughout the ages. |
| says, "You must not expect me to make any attempt | | | | Consequently, he cautions his audience not to reject a |
| at embracing this ill-circumscribed region with | | | | hypothesis based solely on intellectual considerations. |
| definitions". Freud says "we all know about this other | | | | Surprisingly, at the end of the lecture, Freud questions |
| world" of mysticism which exists beyond the proven | | | | his own skepticism toward mysticism, "If one regards |
| laws of science. Subsequently, he discusses mysticism | | | | oneself as a skeptic, it is a good plan to have |
| as if the audience is skeptical toward the subject. | | | | occasional doubts about one's skepticism too. It may |
| From a psychological perspective, Freud is arguing that | | | | be that I too have a secret inclination towards the |
| mankind tends to believe in miracles and the | | | | miraculous which thus goes halfway to meet the |
| paranormal. He says people become bored with reality, | | | | creation of occult facts." (Freud, 1965, p. 53) Going |
| and 'reason' is not exciting enough for them to find | | | | "halfway" toward accepting occult "facts" represents |
| pleasure in. He claims that people embrace the | | | | a major shift in Freud's thinking. He is no longer |
| intriguing nature of mysticism because it adds | | | | rejecting the concept of mysticism, and is admitting |
| excitement to their mundane lives. Freud | | | | being intuitively drawn to its unscientific explanations. |
| acknowledges mankind's fascination with the unseen | | | | However, he does not embrace mysticism by any |
| and the miraculous, but claims that 'reason and science' | | | | means, but is fascinated by the possibilities of the |
| are mankind's greatest strengths. | | | | unknown and the unseen. Therefore, Freud is not |
| Historically, Freud says mysticism offers nothing new | | | | viewing mysticism with utter skepticism, and is |
| for mankind. He argues that mysticism helps religions | | | | expressing his curiosity about 'other worldly' mysteries |
| ward off the advancement of science, and says | | | | that science may never be able to explain. |
| religious reports of prophecies, apparitions and miracles | | | | Works Cited |
| are imaginative fables filled with nonsense, fraud and | | | | Coward, H. G. (1977). Mystics and scholars: The |
| ignorance. However, Freud admits there is no way to | | | | calgary conference on mysticism,1976. Waterloo: |
| prove or disprove these assertions, and whatever | | | | Wilfred Laurier University Press. |
| occurred in ancient times cannot be tested or validated | | | | Freud, S. (1965). New introductory lectures on |
| today. He claims that those who follow mystical | | | | psychoanalysis. (J. Strachey, Trans.) New York: W.W. |
| teachings are charlatans, quacks, mind-readers and | | | | Norton & Company. |