Academy of Ideas
Academy of Ideas
Academy of Ideas
Free Minds for a Free Society
Carl Jung and The Most Important Rule of Life
Marie-Louise von Franz was a Swiss psychologist who closely collaborated with Carl Jung from 1933 until his death in 1961. One of von Franz’s primary topics of interest was fairy tales. For like myths, fairy tales contains timeless wisdom that teaches us about the human condition. Jung believed that so much wisdom was contained in […]
Jul 30
10 min
The Psychology of War – Are We Doomed to Destroy Ourselves?
“Will men be able to give up toying with the idea of another war? It is now a question of existence or nonexistence. . .For the danger that threatens us now is of such dimensions as to make this last European catastrophe [i.e., World War II] seem like a curtain-raiser.” Carl Jung, Epilogue to “Essays […]
Jul 12
20 min
Why are People so Obedient? – Compliance and Conformity
“And the word “courage” should be reserved to characterize the man or woman who leaves the infantile sanctuary of the mass mind.” Sam Keen, Fire in the Belly In the privacy of our minds many of us disagree with the ideologies, political agendas, and government mandates of our day, yet in public we comply. We […]
Jun 25
12 min
Why the News Promotes Ignorance and Mental Illness
“News is to the mind what sugar is to the body: appetising, easily digestible and extremely damaging.”    Rolf Dobelli, Stop Reading the News Most people think that consuming the news makes one an informed citizen who is equipped to form intelligent opinions on social and political issues. In this video, drawing from the Swiss author […]
Jun 14
15 min
Carl Jung’s Apocalyptic Vision
“The spiritual decline of the earth is so far advanced that people are in danger of losing their last spiritual strength, the strength that makes it possible even to see the disintegration and to recognize it as such.”   Martin Heidegger, Introduction to Metaphysics Carl Jung held a pessimistic view of the future of Western […]
May 22
9 min
How to Cultivate Your Sixth Sense – The Power of Intuition
“We only believe in those thoughts which have been conceived not in the brain but in the whole body.” W.B. Yeats, Essays and Introductions Intuition is one of the most powerful faculties for gaining knowledge about the world. Along with reason, science, and imagination, it is one of the primary means by which we discover […]
May 10
9 min
Why Stupid People are Destroying Society – The Laws of Human Stupidity
“Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.”  Hanlon’s Razor What is responsible for the sickness of modern society? Is it the evil machinations of the power hungry? Is it due to a conspiracy of the ruling class? In this video, relying on the Italian historian Carlo Cipolla’s essay The Basic […]
Apr 30
12 min
Why Technology is Enslaving and Dehumanizing Us
“Man is caught like a fly in a bottle. His attempts at culture, freedom, and creative endeavor have become mere entries in technique’s filing cabinet.” Jacques Ellul, The Technological Society In the mid-1950s the French philosopher Jacques Ellul wrote a book titled The Technological Society. In sit he proposed that technology, or more broadly what […]
Apr 18
18 min
Big Pharma and the Big Lie – The Chemical Imbalance Theory of Mental Illness
“Big Pharma is one of the largest and most profitable businesses in America, and in order to sell their chemical goods to allegedly treat the mind/psyche, pharmaceutical companies must convince society that people’s mental and behavioral problems are caused by their bodily chemicals.”    Daniel R. Berger, The Chemical Imbalance Delusion  An epidemic of mental […]
Apr 2
26 min
Work Less, Achieve More – Why Working Too Much Cripples Productivity
“The greatest geniuses sometimes accomplish more when they work less.”      Leonardo Da Vinci Today many subscribe to hustle culture and believe that to be successful in business, a career, or a creative endeavor, it is necessary to work long hours, burn the midnight oil, and sacrifice leisure, rest, and sleep. But many who follow this […]
Mar 24
19 min
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