This Jungian Life Podcast

Have We Ever Really Read Jung? Sonu Shamdasani on the Collected Works Crisis

19 snips
Dec 4, 2025
In this discussion, Sonu Shamdasani, a historian of Jungian thought and the mind behind the publication of the Red Book, reveals the shocking distortions in Jung's Collected Works due to prior editing. He shares insights on why a new critical edition is essential, correcting translation errors, and exploring Jung’s original ideas. Shamdasani discusses chronological arrangements that unveil Jung's intellectual evolution, and hints at fascinating unpublished materials to come. This journey not only honors Jung's true legacy but promises to enrich our understanding of his profound insights.
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ANECDOTE

Hull's Background And Approach

  • RFC Hull was a poet and literary stylist who entered the Jung project with limited Jung knowledge and a massive stammer.
  • Sonu recounts Hull often added or deleted clauses, treating translation as 'improving' Jung's prose.
ADVICE

Translate With One Voice And Scholarly Team

  • Use a single translator for consistency and a scholarly team to debate every problematic word weekly.
  • Sonu recommends combining linguistic skill with domain knowledge for faithful Jung translations.
INSIGHT

Chronology Reveals Jung's Development

  • The collected works were arranged thematically, which obscured chronological development and mislocated essays.
  • Sonu argues chronological ordering reveals Jung's intellectual progression and connections between texts.
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