“The word ‘belief’ is a difficult thing for me. I don’t believe. I must have a reason for a certain hypothesis. Either I know a thing, and then I know it – I don’t need to believe it.”
- July 26, 1875 – June 6, 1961
- Born in Switzerland
- Psychiatrist and psychologist
- Founded analytical psychology and proposed the concepts of archetypes and the collective unconscious
Quote
“The word ‘belief’ is a difficult thing for me. I don’t believe. I must have a reason for a certain hypothesis. Either I know a thing, and then I know it – I don’t need to believe it.”
Explanation
In this quote, Carl Jung articulates his preference for empirical knowledge and rational evidence over belief—a stance that aligns with his scientific and psychological approach to understanding the human psyche. Jung suggests that belief is not something he holds lightly; for him, it is not enough to simply accept something as true without sufficient evidence or understanding. The word “belief” implies a level of uncertainty, a gap between knowledge and faith, whereas Jung insists that if he truly knows something, it no longer requires belief. He sees knowledge as objective, derived from direct experience, study, or experimentation, and that which is known through these means does not need to be taken on faith or speculation. Jung’s approach is grounded in rationalism and scientific inquiry, as he sought to understand the unconscious mind not through dogma, but through careful observation, analysis, and hypothesis testing.
Historically, this quote reflects the tension between Jung’s scientific approach to psychology and the mystical or spiritual elements of his work. Although Jung was deeply interested in spirituality, mythology, and the unconscious, he did not simply accept these phenomena without investigation. He believed that human experiences of religion, archetypes, and the collective unconscious were worthy of scientific exploration, but they needed to be examined as phenomena that could be understood and integrated into a broader psychological framework. His insistence on reason and evidence suggests that, despite his interest in the transpersonal aspects of the human psyche, he wanted his work to be firmly grounded in what could be known and understood. This position was part of what distinguished him from more mystical or esoteric thinkers who might embrace unverified beliefs without rigorous inquiry.
In contemporary terms, this quote reflects a modern empiricist or scientific rationalist perspective, where knowledge is based on observable facts and evidence rather than on unfounded beliefs or speculative thinking. While many fields, including psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience, now embrace a more integrative approach that considers both empirical evidence and subjective experience, Jung’s approach suggests a rational skepticism when it comes to matters that lack concrete proof. In psychology, this idea can be seen in the growing focus on evidence-based practices, which emphasize therapies and interventions that have been scientifically validated. Jung’s view on belief also speaks to the scientific method: knowledge must be derived from testable hypotheses and not simply taken on faith. However, his larger body of work also shows that while knowledge is vital, it is the integration of unconscious material—often revealed in ways that go beyond pure logic—that can lead to a fuller understanding of the human experience.
