Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2000 15:29:20 -0500
From: "J.B. Sclisizzi" <jbs-AT-toronto.cbc.ca>
Subject: Re: Dream Signs


Richard Wilkerson" wrote:

> 1. How is the term "symbol" generally understood by most philosophy groups?
> By Lyotard?

i think the problem started with c.s. peirce, who defined "symbol" in much the
same way we consider "sign."  this is the sense picked up by most semiologists,
who will usually clarify if they're following the terminology of peirce or
saussure or jakobson, etc.  i don't recall lyotard having any particular
interest in symbols ...

> 2. What is/are the terms used to mean symbolism in the way Jung used it?
> That is, that a symbol was the best possible expression of two irrational
> and irreconcilable differences that were living, and coming into
> consciousness, but never fully realized.

i think you can define "symbol" as used by jung more generally as, "the best
expression of something still unknown."  the tradition which this falls into is
hermeneutics, including (or especially) biblical hermeneutics.  the
significance of this use of symbol is that it points to the necessity of
interpretation.  and the symbol, as long as it is "living," is open to numerous
and continual interpretations ...

brent ...