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In The Plural Psyche Andrew Samuels has written a persuasive argument for a pluralistic approach to the psyche and to theories about the psyche. Eschewing the idea of ‘right and wrong’ assertions about the psyche, Samuels's pluralistic spirit advocates inquiring and tolerant debate among the schools of depth psychology, emphasising dialogue, even heated dialogue, among plural viewpoints. His is a way to deal creatively, but by no means softly, with different views of the psyche, ‘… an attitude to conflict that tries to reconcile differences without imposing a false resolution on them or losing sight of the unique value of each position.’ (p. 1). The analyst as pluralist would be ‘… someone who knows he or she does not know everything and is prepared to listen to a more informed source (as well as being aware of those aspects of his or her personal psychology that hinder that.’ (p. 7). Samuels thinks, and I would agree, that these attitudes could offer a corrective to the poor quality of the debates between depth psychologists of the first, second, and ‘post’ generations. His idea is that these arguments, which centre on so-called ‘orthodoxies’, could be approached rather as differences in thought, style, or emphasis.
In fact, Samuels thinks that such a pluralistic approach has taken root in the recent period, almost a maturing process in which the insistence on having the only right perspective gives way to a multiplicity of different and valuable views. It is something he aims to encourage, and I think he does a first-rate job of it in this book. Some of my observations would suggest to me that he is correct in his assessment of the way things are going; other observations of continued psycho-provincialism remind me that we still have a way to go. All in all I would certainly hope that the tolerant level of exchange, debate, and theorising which Samuels advocates and sees taking place is indeed a description ‘of the most contemporary practices.’
What Samuels is advoc