Philosophical assumptions in Freud, Jung and Bion: questions of causality

The historical development of concepts of causality in philosophy is described. Since the Enlightenment and the growth of science, exponents of the two most important concepts, determinism and teleology, have been in conflict. At the inception of psychoanalysis at the end of the nineteenth century this conflict was particularly intense. It was the cause of the first major schism in psychoanalysis between Jung and Freud. Psychoanalytic theorists have continued to disagree over this issue. Post-modernist philosophy has abolished all metaphysics and therefore called into question concepts of psychic causality. Parallel to, but uninfluenced by this development, Bion has developed a psychoanalytic conceptualization which may be seen as transcending causality. The clinical and theoretical implications of these developments are described.     

Book reviews

Books reviewed:
Zoja, E. P. Transl. by Henry Martin. Abortion: Loss and Renewal in the Search for Identity.
Bomford, Rodney. The Symmetry of God.
Fisher, James. The Uninvited Guest. Emerging from Narcissism towards Marriage.
Rutzky, Jacques. Coyote Speaks: Creative Strategies for Psychotherapists Treating Alcoholics and Addicts.     

Books received

Aron, Elaine N. The Highly Sensitive Person. How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You. David L. Smith. Approaching Psychoanalysis. An Introductory Course. Gabriella Ripa di Meana. Figures of Lightness. Anorexia, Bulimia and Psychoanalysis. Strasser, Freddie. Emotions. Experiences in Existential Psychotherapy and Life. Althusser, Louis. Writings on Psychoanalysis: Freud and Lacan. Corneau, Guy. Lessons in Love. The Transformation of Spirit through Intimacy. Moody, Harry R. & Carroll, David. The Five Stages of the Soul. For Everyone who has ever asked, ‘Is this it?’. Peterson, Jordan. B. Maps of Meaning. The Architecture of Belief.     

Contributors to this issue

Frances Bower
Pauline Everest
Donald E. Kalsched
Jean Knox
Joseph Redfearn
Joy Schaverien
Robert A. Segal
Sonu Shamdasani
Anthony Storr     

Contributors to this issue

Geoffrey Blowers
Francis X. Charet
Terence Dawson
David Hewison
John Izod
William E. Kotsch
Patricia Michán
Joe Redfearn
Julieta Besquin Rubinstein
Mara Sidoli