Doing Justice to Ourselves and Others: A Jungian Examination

Abstract

This depth psychological, hermeneutic study explores the relationship between the concept of justice as an archetype and the process of individuation, then examines the implications of this relationship at a cultural level. In the process, the earliest history of the topic of justice is traced from the pre-Socratic belief of a moral order of the universe to modern scientific evidence of an interconnected world, emphasizing the connection between justice, the psyche, and the cosmos. The relationship between the individual and the collective, the religious nature of the psyche, and the ethical implications and challenges encountered during the individuation process are critically considered. The study posits that individuation requires us to appreciate differences with others and incites us to “do justice” to them. In exploring the concerns of collective justice, issues pertaining to engaging the Other, the cultural complex, and transgenerational trauma are explored for their role in persistent social justice and injustices. Theories from modern physics are examined to inform a vision of a more holistic type of justice that permeates all of life. Mystical approaches to life and a vision of global spirituality are studied for the possibilities of individual participation in spiritually based activism aimed at seeking justice for all. The conclusion offers reasons for hope that the future can bring a more just world.