Debates: Reply to Andrew Samuels' article “Will the Post-Jungians Survive?”

Brigitte Allain-Dupré replies to Mr. Samuels’ article by pointing out several flaws, in particular regarding the use of the concept of post-Jungian. It is difficult to describe the criteria on which the analysts’ membership in a Jungian society is based, and it is extremely complicated to define the relationships to Jung which are woven by such a society. Regarding the danger of fundamentalist and/or Freudian trends Mr. Samuels cautions against, the author recommends clinical work in inter-society groups as a preventive measure. The practice already exists, and the French are involved. In this way, more or less implicit presumptions which everyone applies to his interpretation of Jungian thought can be examined. Lastly, the author postulates that the thought and practice of Jungian analysis are not validated by the university; instead, each analyst should be committed to his or her subjectivity and ethical position.