Beyond good and evil: the reality of shadow and destructiveness

This article examines the reality of destructiveness: how it can be thought about, and how to take a stand in relation to its manifestations. After considering Jung’s concept of the shadow, the author invokes Freud’s theory of the death drive to explain the sources of destructiveness in a scarred psycho-affective history and the hatred engendered by the scars. Lastly, Jung’s ideas about evil and the figure of the self are considered. The definition of evil is examined and coordinated with destructiveness, with the archetypal dynamic of the shadow and the shadow of the self. The basic theme the author emphasizes is that the recognition and acceptance of destructiveness as an intrinsic and undeniable reality can lead to a space filled with unconditional love and a form of humanity.