C.G. Jung Letters, Vol. 1: 1906-1950
To Josef Goldbrunner
Dear Dr. Goldbrunner, 8 February 1941
Very many thanks for kindly sending me your book on my psychology.
I read it at once and was impressed by your careful exposition and the trouble you have taken over your task, which was surely not an easy one.
A fundamental misunderstanding has crept into it, however, for which I wouldn’t like to hold you entirely responsible.
You evidently did not know that epistemologically I take my stand on Kant, which means that an assertion doesn’t posit its object.
So when I say “God” I am speaking exclusively of assertions that don’t posit their object.
About God himself I have asserted nothing, because according to my premise nothing whatever can be asserted about God himself.
All such assertions refer to the psychology of the God-image.
Their validity is therefore never metaphysical but only psychological.
All my assertions, reflections, discoveries, etc. have not the remotest connection with theology but are, as I have said, only statements about psychological facts.
This self-limitation which is absolutely essential in psychology is generally overlooked, whereupon this disastrous confusion arises, with the result that it looks as if I were presuming to make metaphysical judgments.
Again with best thanks and kindest regards,
Yours sincerely,
C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. 1, Pages 293-294.
