Phänomenologie der sinnbildlichen Erfahrung

This book explores the vast field of symbolic experience by following two basic questions: What is it that we experience? How do we get this experience? Related to the first question about the intentional object, the idea and structure of symbols in the writings of the Eranos Circle (especially Carl G. Jung, Adolf Portmann, Joseph Campbell, and Gilbert Durand) are explored. Based on that, the focus of reflection moves to the symbolizing consciousness, or, in other words, to the question of how to arrive at the symbolic experience. Although Husserl's analyses are followed, other phenomenologists such as Fink, Merleau-Ponty and Waldenfels are considered too. The main idea is that fantasy life, or rather the perceptive fantasy, constitutes the original access of consciousness to the symbol. Nevertheless, the appearance of the symbol is characterized as a Widerfahrnis or an experience of the alien, but within the fantasy world created by the image.