Aspects of negation in Freud and Jung

Abstract

This article explores the family resemblance between psychoanalysis and negative theology. The frequent use of Keats' concept of negative capability demonstrates the need for ways to think about not knowing. While Freud and Jung deploy negation in different ways within their theories, it is the potency of their denials rather than their affirmations that accounts for the impact and unclassifiable force of psychoanalysis.

Keywords:

• negative capability
• negative theology
• contingency
• desire
• experience
• renunciation

Notes

1. The term was referred to 3 years earlier, in 1966, in a paper on a poem by Keats, but not given a psychoanalytic spin (Williams 1966).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Henderson

Paper presented at Psyche, Power, and Society, 2nd International Conference of the International Association of Jungian Studies, Cardiff University, Wales, 9–12 July, 2009.