Ethics and the Discovery of the Unconscious (Suny Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology)

Develops an original and compelling moral psychology that recognizes both the centrality of unconscious motivation and the inescapability of moral responsibility.This book shows why the discovery of the unconscious by Nietzsche and Freud requires a reconception of the concepts of moral agency and responsibility and even of morality itself. It explicates how contemporary psychology has taken over the traditional task of ethics in elucidating a theory of human well-being, but criticizes this psychology for being unable to generate adequate notions of either responsibility or moral agency. Riker develops a new moral psychology in which the reality of unconscious functioning is included within a theory of responsibility, and the agent's primary ethic concern becomes knowing what her unconscious motivations are and integrating them into a morally and psychologically mature self.John Hanwell Riker is Professor of Philosophy at Colorado College. He is the author of Human Excellence and an Ecological Conception of the Psyche, also published by SUNY Press, and The Art of Ethical Thinking. Ethics And The Discovery Of The Unconscious CONTENTS PREFACE CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: ETHICS AND PSYCHOTHERAPY PART I THE DISCOVERY OF THE UNCONSCIOUS Chapter 2 The Birth of Ethics 1. Fate 2. Eros 3. Ethics Chapter 3 The Discovery of the Social Unconscious 1. Akrasia 2. The Enlightenment 3. Marx 4. Nietzsche 5. Conclusion Chapter 4 Freud and the Discovery of the Personal Unconscious 1. Freud's Theory of the Unconscious 2. Freud's Views of Morality 3. Psychoanalysis and Ethics Chapter 5 The Case Against Ethics 1. Overdetermined Actions 2. Summary: The Case Against Ethics Chapter 6 Psychological Health 1. The Value System of Health 2. Aristotle, Health, and Ethics 3. Evil and Disease 4. A New Moral Psychology PART II AN ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTION OF MATURITY Chapter 7 Mature Needs and Emotions: A Reconstruction of the Id 1. Basic Needs (1) Survival (2) Reproductive Fitness (3) Order (4) Adventure (5) Social Recognition (6) Autonomy (7) Intimacy (8) Knowledge (9) Sacredness (10) Beauty 2. Basic Emotions 3. The Id 4. The Id and Maturity 5. Emotions, Needs, and Self Chapter 8 The Mature Self: A Reconstruction of the Ego and Superego 1. Kohut, the Bipolar Nuclear Self, and a New Economics 2. The Narrative Self 3. The Ego 4. The Mature Self Chapter 9 Mature Agency and Social Responsibility 1. The Traditional Concept of Agency 2. Fate 3. Mature Agency 4. Social Consequences Chapter 10 Living With the Unconscious 1. The Ecological Ideal of Maturity and the Unconscious 2. Living with the Unconscious 3. The Paradoxes of Ecological Maturity NOTES Chapter 1: Introduction: Ethics and Psychotherapy Chapter 2: The Birth of Ethics Chapter 3: The Discovery of the Social Unconscious Chapter 4: Freud and the Discovery of the Personal Unconscious Chapter 5: The Case Against Ethics Chapter 6: Psychological Health Chapter 7: Mature Needs and Emotions: A Reconstruction of the Id Chapter 8: The Mature Self: A Reconstruction of the Ego and Superego Chapter 9: Mature Agency and Social Responsibility Chapter 10: Living with the Unconscious INDEX A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y This Book Shows Why The Discovery Of The Unconscious By Nietzsche And Freud Requires A Reconception Of The Concepts Of Moral Agency And Responsibility And Even Of Morality Itself. It Explicates How Contemporary Psychology Has Taken Over The Traditional Task Of Ethics In Elucidating A Theory Of Human Well-being, But Criticizes This Psychology For Being Unable To Generate Adequate Notions Of Either Reponsibility Or Moral Agency. Riker Develops A New Moral Psychology In Which The Reality Of Unconscious Functioning Is Included Within A Theory Of Responsibility, And The Agent's Primary Ethic Concern Becomes Knowing What Her Unconscious Motivations Are And Integrating Them Into A Morally And Psychologically Mature Self. 1. Introduction: Ethics And Psychotherapy -- 2. The Birth Of Ethics -- 3. The Discovery Of The Social Unconscious -- 4. Freud And The Discovery Of The Personal Unconscious -- 5. The Case Against Ethics -- 6. Psychological Health -- 7. Mature Needs And Emotions: A Reconstruction Of The Id -- 8. The Mature Self: A Reconstruction Of The Ego And Superego -- 9. Mature Agency And Social Responsibility -- 10. Living With The Unconscious. John Hanwell Riker. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 231-248) And Index.