Gaia, psyche and deep ecology.

Abstract

This article identifies a remarkable degree of consilience between aspects of classical Jungian theory, dual-aspect monism, Earth System science and deep ecology, despite their mostly independent formulation. The resulting synergy offers a radically different and urgently needed worldview based on respectful relationship with, rather than hubristic domination of, the other-than-human world. This metanoia, rooted in psychology, science and metaphysics, informs practical change without being conventionally political or moralistic. Circumscribing the Pauli-Jung conjecture to our inner and outer worlds - the human psyche and this planet respectively - reveals qualitative correlations between their dynamics, structure and pathologies. In particular, the comparable roles of ego in the psyche and of humankind in the Earth System link our modern monotheism of consciousness, that Jung decried, with the advent of the Anthropocene epoch. This connection is explored over time by applying Jung's stages of life developmental theory, with its crucial mid-life enantiodromia, to our civilization. It contrasts our heroic development to date with future adaptation through what I call frugal individuation, and attributes our persistent failure to address dangers such as the climate emergency to a combination of inertia, nostalgia and hubris. Finally, parallels are drawn between Jungian individuation and the philosophy of the long-range deep ecology movement.