Ariadne's Clue: A Guide to the Symbols of Humankind

Stevens, Anthony

ISBN 10: 0691086613 / ISBN 13: 9780691086613

Editore: Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2001

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This insightful paperback edition of *Ariadne's Clue: A Guide to the Symbols of Humankind* by distinguished analyst and psychiatrist Anthony Stevens is presented in Good condition. Symbolism, the most powerful and ancient means of communication, forms the core of this comprehensive study, exploring how humankind has expressed its preoccupations through myths, stories, religions, and dreams across centuries.Stevens takes the ideas of C. G. Jung a stage further, asserting an innate symbol-forming propensity that is a creative and integral part of our psychic make-up. He argues that this capacity evolved as a result of selection pressures, serving an adaptive function by promoting our grasp on reality and often correcting deficient modes of psychological functioning through dreams.The book is intelligently structured into two parts: an interpretive section dedicated to symbols in general, and a substantial 'dictionary' that meticulously lists hundreds of symbols. This dictionary delves into their origins, resemblances to other symbols, and the belief systems underpinning them, categorized under "The Physical Environment," "Culture and Psyche," "People, Animals, and Plants," and "The Body." Many of these symbols are brought to life by a rich variety of integrated woodcut illustrations throughout the text.From the ancient serpent to the archetypal masculine and feminine, from the earth to the stars, and from primordial savannahs to the mysterious depths of the sea, Stevens expertly traces a host of common symbols back through time. He reveals their psychodynamic functioning and their profound, deep-rooted effects on the lives of modern men, women, and children. A vital resource for anyone interested in psychology, mythology, anthropology, and the enduring power of symbols.

Codice articolo SCAN-12-5B80B227

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Ariadne's Clue: A Guide to the Symbols of Humankind
• Editore: Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ
• Data di pubblicazione: 2001
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0691086613
• ISBN 13: 9780691086613
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: Good
• Peso: 700 grammi
• Cataloghi dei venditori:
  • Psychology

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

Symbolism is the most powerful and ancient means of communication available to humankind. For centuries people have expressed their preoccupations and concerns through symbolism in the form of myths, stories, religions, and dreams. The meaning of symbols has long been debated among philosophers, antiquarians, theologians, and, more recently, anthropologists and psychologists. In Ariadne's Clue, distinguished analyst and psychiatrist Anthony Stevens explores the nature of symbols and explains how and why we create the symbols we do.


The book is divided into two parts: an interpretive section that concerns symbols in general and a "dictionary" that lists hundreds of symbols and explains their origins, their resemblances to other symbols, and the belief systems behind them. In the first section, Stevens takes the ideas of C. G. Jung a stage further, asserting not only that we possess an innate symbol-forming propensity that exists as a creative and integral part of our psychic make-up, but also that the human mind evolved this capacity as a result of selection pressures encountered by our species in the course of its evolutionary history. Stevens argues that symbol formation has an adaptive function: it promotes our grasp on reality and in dreams often corrects deficient modes of psychological functioning. In the second section, Stevens examines symbols under four headings: "The Physical Environment," "Culture and Psyche," "People, Animals, and Plants," and "The Body." Many of the symbols are illustrated in the book's rich variety of woodcuts. From the ancient symbol of the serpent to the archetypal masculine and feminine, from the earth to the stars, from the primordial landscape of the savannah to the mysterious depths of the sea, Stevens traces a host of common symbols back through time to reveal their psychodynamic functioning and looks at their deep-rooted effects on the lives of modern men, women, and children.

Informazioni sull?autore

Anthony Stevens has worked as a Jungian analyst and psychiatrist for the past thirty years. He is a graduate of the University of Oxford and, in addition to his medical degree, he has two degrees in psychology. His previous books include Archetype: A Natural History of the Self, The Roots of War, On Jung, The Two-Million-Year-Old Self, Jung, Private Myths: Dreams and Dreaming, and, with John Price, Evolutionary Psychiatry: A New Beginning.