Video:
Thank-you /u/Frone0910 for this animated presentation of concepts from Jung’s “The Philosophical Tree”
In the Philosophical Tree, Jung argues that when we project onto others, they are the very behaviors, thoughts, and modalities of being that we are guilty of enacting ourselves. This form of projection can happen both negatively and positively, as we can falsely ascribe beneficial qualities to someone else in much the same way. Jung also argues that our projections remain hidden from view, and that a person who is not conscious of himself is almost guaranteed to engage in significant projection, which makes it impossible for them to truly connect with other human beings. Under this framework, true human connection can only occur when there is a lack of projection, because when we project we are automatically in a dishonest state, because the glass would shatter the minute we were honest about our intention to change the other person.
Under the Jungian framework, this enables us to arrive at a working definition for relationship “Depth”, both in our relationships with others and with ourselves. Depth is the degree to which we are capable of integrating the shadow, peeling back the layers of our presumptuous, external manifestation, to communicate in a manner that is one with our true, integrated self.
