THE PRINCIPLE OF THINKING

A comprehensive presentation of the different nuances of Jung’s conception of thinking would be premature at this point. It suffices here to provide only a very brief outline of the scientific mind-set. Jung defines the purely psychological peculiarities of the principle of thinking in an abstract but accessible form. Jung’s definition states that individuals with a thinking mind-set “…use their thinking in order to understand the world and adapt to it, and whatever happens to them is subjected to consideration and reflection or at least subordinated to some principle sanctioned by thought.” (CW 6, par. 950) Jung uses the term “understand” exclusively in relation to individuals with a thinking mind-set. Thinking individuals want to know how things work.

They want to understand the meaning of things. Thinking pursues understanding. Thinking always subordinates to some principle or attempts to differentiate new perceptions into principles. The primary qualities of thinking serve as criteria to differentiate a thinking from a non-thinking mind-set. These qualities can be proven to be conscious and superior in an individual who is naturally oriented to thinking.

THE PRIMARY CRITERIA INDICATIVE OF THINKING

Objects of observation and consideration are posited and confined within rational bounds

Thinking is rationally grounded and excludes everything that lies beyond the confines of reason. Jung explains as follows: “Only an object that is posited can be completely explained on rational grounds, since it does not contain anything beyond what has been posited by rational thinking. Empirical science, too, posits objects that are confined within rational bounds, because by deliberately excluding the accidental it does not consider the actual object as a whole, but only that part of it which has been singled out for rational observation.” (CW 6, par. 775) This exactitude is characteristic of the individual with a thinking mind-set.

Differentiation of precision concepts

Individuals with a thinking mind-set differentiate experiences into precision concepts. Jung uses the term “concept” exclusively in relation to the principle of thinking. A well-defined concept with its interrelations is an abbreviated expression for an established law or principle which is substantiated by empirical facts.

Dispassionate reasoning

Individuals with a thinking mind-set view facts in an impersonal or dispassionate way. Thinking excludes emotional factors. Jung clarifies: “Therefore when you want to think in a dispassionate way, really scientifically … you must get away from all feeling-values.” (CW 18, par. 23) Feeling-values build on emotions, that is, affects. Emotions are not anchors for thinking. The principle of thinking does not and cannot incorporate the emotional factor in its arguments. because it nullifies the thinking argument immediately and inevitably.

The supreme law of logic

Jung states clearly that “A thinking-attitude is orientated by the principle of logic as its supreme law.” (CW 6, par. 780). With “logic” Jung refers to the laws of reason required by the principle of thinking in the making of valid arguments. For Jung, the thinking orientation requires “…a ‘rigorous’ concept of causality, using the term ‘causality’ only when it is really a matter of necessary connections.” (CG Jung Letters, vol. 2, p. 158) Thinking establishes “rigorous casual connections.” (CW 15, par. 135) Thus, if any of the essential causal connections in a chain of reasoning is either reduced or unnecessarily expanded upon, the relevant reasoning process is invalidated, as seen from the viewpoint of the individual who orients to real thinking.

Definite conclusions

Jung uses the term “conclusion” exclusively in relation to the principle of thinking. Only thinking concludes. The term excludes the relativity of choice. As such, a conclusion is a final and impersonal judgement. Jung states: “From the standpoint of [supreme] logic, there is, as always, no tertium between the logical either or.” (CW 6, par, 66)

SUMMARY

The qualities and criteria of the principle of thinking are synonymous. We can also speak of the purely psychological characteristics of the principle of thinking. Each one of these criteria serves as a single point indicator for the absence of real thinking, judged in terms of its inferior application by an individual with a non-thinking mind-set. In summary, the individual with a thinking mind-set uses all of the said qualities of real thinking habitually and in a superior manner.