The Destiny of the Self
A Social-Psychological Model of the Esoteric Subjectivity
Time: Dienstag 22. January, 2019 18:30 Uhr
Place: SFU Freudplatz 1, 1020 Wien Room 1002
About the Lecture
Modern esoteric spirituality is focused on the self. To find the true self, to realise its divine potential is the aim of the spiritual journey. The various practices and teachings used by esoteric believers serve as means to the end of self-realisation. They range from astrology to zen and are combined in an eclectic way. But what precisely is that self the esoteric searchers are trying to find? In this lecture Jérôme Seeburger tries to give an answer to that question. Based on social-psychological research on esotericism he develops a model of the esoteric subjectivity. It consists of the self, which is divided in the true and the false self, a positive, good authority and a negative, evil one.
The content of these objects as well as their relationships and their dynamics will be analysed. With the help of the insights of psychoanalysis and the studies on authoritarianism the character of the authorities will be illuminated. The speaker will formulate the anti-thesis to the position that claims self-authority to be the highest authority within the esoteric subjectivity. In opposition to that thesis he will argue, that the proclaimed self-authority in fact obscures the destiny of the self: submission to the authority of destiny.