Synchronicity and the Mind-Body Problem

Abstract I consider whether the Jungian account of synchronicity holds promise for solving the mind-body problem. The discussion begins by distinguishing two central variants of the mind-body problem: the Problem of Psycho-Physical Contingency (the “hard problem of consciousness”) and the Problem of Causal Closure (the classic difficulty of psycho-physical interaction). We then our turn our attention to a detailed account of Jung’s notion of synchronicity, which suggests that symbolic meaning and fittingness are principles of natural explanation. We will see that this sort of explanation does a great deal to address the mind-body problems, though it leaves us with unresolved difficulties calling for further inquiry.