Lee Morgan is a contributing guest writer for CelebrityTypes. As always with guest writers on the site, Lee’s piece represents his own insights and type assessments and not necessarily those of the site. In this article, we continue Morgan’s quest for a tighter, Wittgensteinian definition of the axes.
By Lee Morgan and Ryan Smith
Attempting a tight definition of concepts that are very comprehensive is not always a good idea. As Martin Heidegger pointed out, just as much meaning may be lost as is gained thereby.[1] On the other hand, there are already plenty of Heideggerian attempts to define the functions (indeed, Jung himself is somewhat Heideggerian) and for this reason, the Wittgensteinian perspective may illuminate more of the puzzle at this time.[2]
Perception and Judgment
- By perception, we mean any psychic process whose intentionality and end product is experience. Jung refers to experience as “irrational”, by which he means that raw experience, if taken by itself, is incoherent and dynamic (i.e. ever-changing).[3]
- By judgment, we mean any psychic process whose intentionality and end product is a proposition. Jung refers to judgments as “rational”, by which he means that formal propositions, if taken by themselves, can be coherent and stand apart from reality even as the experiential elements the proposition pertains to have changed.[4]
Perception functions thus refer to our preferred means of experiencing the world, whereas Judgment functions refer to our preferred means of forming propositions.
These definitions demonstrate why the Feeling functions do indeed belong in the rational category.
Functions and Temperament
- By Sensation, we mean any experiential preference which places physical phenomena over ideational concepts.
- By Intuition, we mean any experiential preference which places ideational concepts over physical phenomena.
- By Thinking, we mean any mode of forming propositions which places analysis over sentiment.
- By Feeling, we mean any mode of forming propositions which places sentiment over analysis.
Keirsey defines the word ‘Temperament’ to refer to the functional roles of the types (NTs are scientists, NFs study the humanities, etc.). Keirsey’s definition is inapplicable to the function-based and psychodynamic approach to typology codified by CelebrityTypes.[5] In the CelebrityTypes system, Morgan (though not necessarily Smith) proposes that temperament should be defined as the qualitative order according to which the above occurrences proceed in the individual.
Perception Functions and Temperament
- By Introverted Sensation, we mean the tendency toward experiencing physical phenomena, with continuous reference to previously experienced phenomena.
- By Extroverted Sensation, we mean the tendency toward experiencing physical phenomena, to the fullest extent possible.
- By Introverted Intuition, we mean a tendency toward experiencing ideational concepts, through a single comprehensive and compelling representation of things-in-themselves.
- By Extroverted Intuition, we mean a tendency toward experiencing ideational concepts, by searching through many possible representations of things-in-themselves.
Both Sensation functions neglect ideational representations of objects in favor of factual and physical representations of those same objects. Where they differ, however, pertains to how the opposing attitudes conceive of these representations. Whereas Introverted Sensation anchors the perception of the object in previously experienced connotations surrounding the object, Extroverted Sensation amplifies the particular object in order to interact with and utilize it to the fullest possible extent.[6]
Both Intuition functions neglect factual and physical representations of objects in favor of ideational representations of the same objects. Where they differ, however, pertains to how the opposing attitudes conceive of these representations. Whereas Introverted Intuition anchors many objects in a single ideational perspective as though that perspective provided an entry point into the truth of things-in-themselves, Extroverted Intuition tentatively samples every conceivable representation of the object, hoping to find that same entry point to the things-in-themselves, but never settling on one particular perspective or image.[7]
In today’s intellectual climate, there is an acute tendency towards scientism and to regard the perceptions of Sensation (properly understood) as “more real” than Intuition.[8] However, in keeping with Jung’s Schopenhauerian ontology (though not necessarily that of CelebrityTypes), we cannot say that one domain of experience is more real than the other, since that would (in Jung’s opinion) require an entry point into reality that was itself devoid of Sensation and Intuition.[9] From a Jungian perspective, whether Introverted Intuition really does connect with things-in-themselves (and is therefore the most acute of all the functions), or whether it is merely a form of psychological self-suggestion and ideational superstition, we can really never know. What matters is simply arriving at an accurate psychological phenomenology of the functions.
Judgment Functions and Temperament
- By Introverted Thinking, we mean a tendency towards forming and propounding propositions with particular regard for consistency and method.
- By Extroverted Thinking, we mean a tendency towards forming and propounding propositions with particular emphasis on outcomes and evidence.
- By Introverted Feeling, we mean a tendency towards forming and propounding propositions with particular regard for the uniqueness, authenticity, and value that is to be found in each individual person or object.
- By Extroverted Feeling, we mean a tendency towards forming and propounding propositions with a stress on the interpersonal harmonies and values that unite us and appeals to the better angels of our nature.
Since the phenomenology of the judging functions has already been very well described by Boye Akinwande in Part 3 of this series, there is no need to elaborate further on these dispositions here.
The Four Function Axes
- The Quiddity Perception Axis (Se/Ni): By the pairing of Extroverted Sensation and Introverted Intuition, this axis yields a cognitive preference for experiencing objects in their entirety. The perceptions of the Quiddity axis are singular, intense, and deep. Under the aspect of Extroverted Sensation, these perceptions may be described as an immediate and compelling experience with an eye for the object’s possible uses here and now. But under the aspect of Introverted Intuition, these perceptions may be better described as transcendental in nature, taking the object only as a suggestion that then leads back to an ideational representation that is seemingly more real than the object itself.[10]
- The Abstraction Perception Axis (Si/Ne): By the pairing of Introverted Sensation and Extroverted Intuition, this axis yields a cognitive preference for abstracting from objects and for muting their suggestions in order to recall other objects or conjure up ideational concepts not directly related to the object. Its perceptions are broad, extensive and tentative. Under the aspect of Introverted Sensation, these perceptions mute the object by calling upon reminiscences that the observer experientially connects with the given object.[11] But under the aspect of Extroverted Intuition, these perceptions mute the object by relentlessly connecting it with some ideational concept (and then another and another…), until it has abandoned the object without looking back, and is sketching away at a novel conceptual framework for understanding the object, which is nevertheless quite divorced from the empirical nature of the object itself.[12]
- The Rounded Judgment Axis (Fe/Ti): By the pairing of Introverted Thinking and Extroverted Feeling, this axis yields a cognitive preference for developing and propounding propositions with a careful attention to process. Under the aspect of Introverted Thinking, these propositions are arrived at by qualifying every link in the reasoning from an even-handed and detached perspective so that the process of reasoning is impartially valid, but there is no guarantee of arriving at a worthwhile conclusion (or indeed any conclusion at all).[13] But under the aspect of Extroverted Feeling, these propositions pay their respects to the social environment, that is, to the audience of its propositions. Here, the originator of the proposition is careful to pay his respects to, if not outright affirm, the sentiments that exist among his audience, regardless of whether he personally agrees with them or not. This inclination should not be interpreted as insincerity, however, but as a cognitive focus on facilitating cooperation and mutual understanding.[14] Just as Introverted Thinking makes sure that every step of the reasoning behind a proposition is valid, so Extroverted Feeling makes sure that no proposition is rejected on the grounds of misunderstood (invalid) retorts, such as prejudice and knee-jerk reactions.
- The Angular Judgment Axis (Fi/Te): By the pairing of Extroverted Thinking and Introverted Feeling, this axis yields a cognitive preference for developing and propounding propositions with the stress placed on the comprehension of objects by virtue of their most unique and obvious qualities. Under the aspect of Extroverted Thinking, these propositions are arrived at by “seizing the object or person where it cannot help but be seized” and by constructing one’s analyses on the basis of previously compiled empirical evidence and a special attention to trade-offs and outcomes.[15] But under the aspect of Introverted Feeling, the sum-total of what the object or person could be is heightened and kept unspoiled by the Fi type’s sympathetic parallelism and eye for the idiosyncratic.[16]
REFERENCES
[1] Heidegger: Parmenides (Indiana University Press 1992) p. 133
[2] Of this analogy between Jung and Heidegger, consider Walter Kaufmann’s characterization that “they did not come out into the open, presenting arguments that others might examine critically” (Kaufmann: Discovering the Mind vol. 3 Transaction Publishers 2009 p. 433). While Jung would no doubt have been enraged by this likening with Heidegger, one may nevertheless agree with Kaufmann that the two were more similar than Jung cared to admit and that it was exactly this similarity that drew Jung into a rage at the sight of Heidegger’s work (Discovering the Mind vol. 3 p. 289).
[3] Jung: Psychological Types §240
[4] Jung: Psychological Types §601 ff.
[5] Smith: An Aristotelian View of Personality Types (CelebrityTypes 2014)
[6] Jung: Psychological Types §606
[7] CelebrityTypes: The Psychological Aesthetics of Ne (CelebrityTypes 2013), cf. CelebrityTypes: The Psychological Aesthetics of Ni (CelebrityTypes 2013)
[8] Laurikainen: Beyond the Atom (Springer 1995) p. 147
[9] Arild: 5 Basic Facts about Jung and Types (CelebrityTypes 2015)
[10] Bevir: The Psychological Aesthetics of INTJ (CelebrityTypes 2014)
[11] Pierce: A Definition of Se and Si (CelebrityTypes 2015)
[12] CelebrityTypes: Jung, Einstein, Pauli, and Kant: Ti vs. Ni and Ne (CelebrityTypes 2014)
[13] Gregersen: Inferior Te in INFPs and ISFPs (CelebrityTypes 2014)
[14] Strachan: Commentary on Briggs’ Definition of Fe (CelebrityTypes 2015)
[15] Akinwande: Illustrating Function Axes, Part 1: Te/Fi (CelebrityTypes 2016)
[16] Gregersen: Inferior Te in INFPs and ISFPs (CelebrityTypes 2014)