Edward Edinger on Consciousness

Jungian Analyst Edward Edinger speaks below about his understanding of C.G. Jung's notion of consciousness:

"These are the chief statements Jung has made concerning the emerging new myth....The essential new idea is that the purpose of human life is the creation of consciousness.  The key word is 'consciousness.'  Unfortunately, the experiential meaning of this term is almost impossible to convey abstractly.  As with all fundamental aspects of the psyche it transcends the grasp of the intellect....the experience of consciousness is made up of two factors, 'knowing' and 'withness,' i.e., knowing in the presence of an 'other,' in a setting of twoness.  Symbolically the number two refers to the opposites.  We thus reach the conclusion that consciousness is somehow born out of the experience of opposites." p. 17

The Creation of Consciousness: Jung's Myth for Modern Man, Toronto: Inner-City Books, 1984.