[256] Cp. Silberer: "Probleme der Mystic und ihrer Symbolik." Wien, 1914. ("Problems of Mysticism and its Symbolism.")
[257] It should be borne in mind that no moral function is to be sought in this conception of dreams, nor do I look for it there. This function is just as little "teleological" in the sense of a philosophical teleology, that is to say of a set aim or purpose. It is in the first place compensatory, because it presents a subliminal picture of the actual situation. The phenomenon should first of all be understood from a purely causal standpoint. But it would be unjust to the essence of what is psychological if one were to consider it purely causally. For it does not only tolerate, but also demand, a final point of view. In other words, the question arises, what is the use of bringing just this material to constellation? This is not to assert that the final meaning of a phenomenon had already existed as an a priori given purpose in the preparatory stages of the phenomenon. It would not be permissible, according to the theory of cognition, to presuppose some pre-existing purpose from the unmistakable final meaning of biological mechanisms. But it would be narrow-minded if, with the justifiable omission of the teleological conclusion, one wished also to give up the point of view of finality. The utmost that can be said is, it is as if there were some pre-existing purpose present. In psychology one must be on one's guard against exclusive reliance either upon causality or upon teleology.
Transcriber notes:
[P.XXI.] 'C. C.' changed to 'C. G.'.
[P.22.] 'Occasionlly' typo for 'Occasionally', changed.
[P.23.] 'third kind of taste' changed 'taste' to 'state'.
[P.72.] 'Our patent develops', 'patent' changed to 'patient'.
[P.103.] added '+ denotes' in footnote 9 for multiple footnote.
[P.201.] 'Pyschology' typo for 'Psychology', changed.
[P.217.] 'unnecessary' typo for 'unnecessary', changed.