The idea of the unconscious was first coined by the German philosopher Schelling in the early 19th century, and introduced to a British audience by Coleridge. It was though Freud who put the unconscious centre stage, declaring the unconscious mind 'true', with Jung going further arguing it contained “the whole spiritual heritage of mankind's evolution.” Modern psychology is though largely critical with the American Psychological Association describing the idea as 'unscientific'. But whether we can truly escape metaphysical ideas of the unconscious is unknown. Yale critic Harold Bloom argued that such metaphors "are impossible to evade,” for they permeate our understanding of internal conflict and primal impulses. Moreover, many claim neuroscience confirms the notion that unconscious processing is a key aspect of brain function.
Should we see the unconscious as a real phenomenon that is a central part of being human? Is the unconscious an essential element of psychology and philosophy? Or is it a dangerous and mythological notion that provides illusory explanations and thwarts effective treatment?