Carl Jung and Byung Chul Han, though separated by time and cultural context, share a deep concern for how individuals navigate both their inner worlds and the pressures of modern society. Their reflections offer profound insights into how the individual interacts with external forces, revealing ways in which the personal self struggles against societal structures.

The unconscious and societal pressures

For Jung, the unconscious is not just a place of hidden desires and memories, but a rich reservoir of potential necessary for the individual to achieve wholeness. Individuation, a lifelong process of integrating the unconscious into the conscious self, is central to his work. Through integration, the individual becomes more aligned with their true nature, transcending the ego and societal expectations.

In contrast, Han’s reflections on modern society present a world where the rise of digital self-presentation and self-surveillance reduces individuals to their output, stripping them of their internal richness. Han explains, “The more transparent the individual becomes, the less freedom they have.” For him, society’s obsession with openness leads to a loss of authentic selfhood, as individuals sacrifice their privacy and, consequently, their personal boundaries.

While Jung’s focus is on the inner workings of the psyche, Han explores how these pressures manifest externally in a society where there is little room for retreat or silence. Jung’s notion of the unconscious resonates with Han’s critique in the sense that both address forces that, when ignored or repressed, have the power to dictate an individual’s actions. Jung’s unconscious is a powerful force that needs to be integrated, while Han speaks of societal forces that actively shape and define individuals through the lens of transparency.

Mindfulness and contemplation

One of the most striking parallels between Jung’s and Han’s philosophies lies in the idea of mindfulness and contemplation. Jung, through his concept of individuation, sees self-reflection as essential for personal growth. For him, the path to becoming whole requires time spent in contemplation, confronting the unconscious with an open mind. In this sense, mindfulness is not just a tool for personal well-being but a vital process in becoming one’s true self.

Han critiques the current culture of achievement, which enforces constant self-optimization and productivity. He argues that, in the modern world, mindfulness is a tool for efficiency rather than a means of achieving true self-awareness. He writes, “The self that constantly strives to improve itself can never find rest.” The pressure to be always “on” means that mindfulness becomes another item on the to-do list, an effort to optimize rather than a genuine path toward self-understanding.

In Jung’s view, the contemplative journey is more profound, aiming not at self-optimization but at self-integration. It is in the stillness of reflection that one confronts the shadow, the hidden and repressed aspects of the psyche. This is where the authentic self begins to emerge—not through constant striving but through acceptance and integration. In Jung’s words, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” He places value in the quiet, thoughtful spaces where an individual meet themselves, a sentiment that is line with Han’s view of need of contemplation in the modern world.

Transparency and the shadow

In today’s world, Han sees transparency as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it promises freedom—an ideal of openness and authenticity. On the other hand, it binds the individual into a web of self-surveillance. He points out, “We are no longer exposed to external violence, but to an internalized violence of the self.” This shift, from external authority to internal control, results in a society where individuals are not just watched by others but, more disturbingly, internalize this surveillance.

This internalized control, Han argues, leads to a loss of personal freedom. Instead of allowing for introspection, the culture of transparency compels individuals to present themselves constantly. Jung might interpret this as a manifestation of the shadow, the parts of the self that society deems unacceptable and therefore forces into hiding. However, the more we deny these parts, the more they exert their influence, often in unhealthy ways. Both thinkers, in their own way, highlight the consequences of a lack of space for self-reflection and a continual performance of self.

Jung’s concept of the shadow is key to understanding this dynamic. The shadow represents the repressed aspects of the personality that we are unwilling to acknowledge. These hidden parts can drive us unconsciously, manifesting in destructive behaviors. Han’s critique aligns with Jung’s in that the more we allow society to dictate our actions—through surveillance or the demand for visibility—the more we risk losing touch with the parts of ourselves that need to remain hidden or, at the very least, explored in silence and solitude.

Contemplation as resistance to modern pressures

The process of contemplation that Jung advocates offers a resistance to the external pressures that Han describes. Both understand that the individual’s connection to the self requires space away from the demands of modern life. For Jung, the act of contemplation allows the unconscious to be integrated consciously, leading to wholeness. For Han, true freedom comes not from transparency but from creating distance from the incessant demands of visibility and productivity. He calls for a return to inner freedom, where individuals are not reduced to their social performances.

Mindfulness, as understood in the traditional sense, invites stillness and presence with the self. Jung and Han agree that the individual needs this space to reconnect with something deeper. In the world of endless self-optimization and transparency, contemplation allows the self to remain whole. Jung’s individuation process and Han’s critique of modernity both seek to reclaim this stillness, offering a path to resistance in a world that constantly pressures us to perform.