Decoding Jung’s Metaphysics: Archetypal Semantics of an Experiential Universe

Join us for a discussion of Decoding Jung’s Metaphysics: Archetypal Semantics of an Experiential Universe by Bernardo Kastrup, one of the leading contemporary philosophers of consciousness and the creator of the theory known as analytic idealism. With a background in computer engineering and philosophy, Kastrup has become a prominent voice in debates about the nature of mind, consciousness, and reality, challenging materialist assumptions while engaging seriously with both science and depth psychology.

Here, Kastrup argues that Jung’s work has often been reduced to a collection of psychological theories while its deeper metaphysical implications have been overlooked. He invites readers to reconsider whether Jung was describing merely the workings of the human mind—or uncovering something fundamental about the nature of reality itself.

Together, we’ll explore why Jung’s ideas continue to resonate more than sixty years after his death, and why questions about consciousness, meaning, dreams, myth, and the collective unconscious remain as relevant today as ever.

Discussion Questions
• Why has Jung’s work endured while many other psychological theories have faded from public interest?
• What aspects of Jung’s thought seem most difficult to reconcile with a materialist worldview?
• Why does Kastrup believe Jung’s ideas have been widely misunderstood?
• Is there a meaningful distinction between psychology and metaphysics in Jung’s work?
• Why do archetypal themes appear repeatedly across cultures, religions, and historical periods?