Primordial mathematical intuitions

Abstract

This article presents an exploratory study on the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the number in Jung’s work. Thus, aspects of the number were surveyed, from the word association tests to the concept of synchronicity. The article was divided into three parts: presentation of quantitative aspects (reaction time in the word association test; and concept of psychic energy); presentation of qualitative aspects (number as psychic content; number as an organizing element of the psyche; numinous character of number; number as unpredictable greatness between myth and reality; the relationship of number to synchronistic events; and number as an archetype of the order that has become conscious); and presentation of primordial mathematical intuitions (the infinite series of natural numbers; and the idea of a continuum). By emphasizing the qualitative aspects, Jung points to the archetypal base of the number as a factor of ordering and articulation between psyche and matter.