Rhetorical Investigations

Rhetorical analysis of texts exposes plausible truths and presumptions implied by the writers presentation. In this volume, Leslie Gardner analyses the master psychologist Jung, who claimed to be expert at uncovering personal, psychological truths. In his theoretical writings, his rhetoric reveals philosophical ramifications which bear strong similarities to those of the rhetorician of the 18th century, Italian philosopher Giambattista Vico. This book is driven by an interest in arguing that it is possible to read Jungs works easily enough when you have a set of precepts to go by. The paradox of scientific discovery being set out in Jungs grotesque and arcane imagery begins to seem a startling and legitimate psychology for the 21st century. It is time Jungian studies took on this most appropriate examination of analytical psychology. Bringing Vico to bear directly on Jungs thought has only been cursorily attempted before although much alluded to. We find indeed that some of Jungs ideas derive directly from rhetorical theory, and this volume proposes to highlight Jungs innovations, and bring him into forefront of contemporary psychological thought. Rhetorical Investigations will be of interest to analysts and academics, and also to those studying philosophy and psychology.