The infinite circle :

Abstract

In the second part of the study the Chiliastic Soul concept is discussed as the goal of unity. This is done by focusing on the Castalian "game" and the death of Joseph Knecht. In addition, evidence is presented for certain fundamental conceptual similarities in the thought of Hesse and Hegel and Hesse and Jung, respectively. The author argues not only for the relevance of dialectics as key to a full understanding of Hesse but for the proposition that Hegel, Jung, and Hesse share a primary intuition of ultimate unity or non-duality which shows striking parallels to the metaphysical foundations of the I Ching, Lao-Tze's tao, and the Vedantic atman-brahman identity. Finally, the death of Joseph Knecht is interpreted as affirmation of transformation in the light of Jungian alchemical symbolism.

This interdisciplinary study combines some of the methodological and substantive approaches of philosophy, literary criticism and Jungian psychology to the examination of a mystical concept of atemporal cosmic identity the author calls Chiliastic Soul in G. W. F. Hegel, C. G. Jung, and H. Hesse with particular emphasis on Hegel's Phenomenology, Jung's Mysterium Coniunctionis, and Hesse's Glass Bead Game.

In the first part of the study the Chiliastic Soul concept is developed as the process or path of its own becoming in the variations of Hegel's "Path of Comprehension, " the spiritual odyssey from the divine or absolute perspective, Jung's "Path of Individuation, " the spiritual odyssey from the human or subjective perspective, and Hesse's "Path of Awakening, " which represents a fusion or synthesis of the Hegelian and Jungian approaches. This part concludes with the application of Evelyn Underhill's analysis of the Mystical Way to the Paths of Comprehension, Individuation, and Awakening, respectively.