[Untruth and self-deception as fundamental dimensions of human existence: the problem of the unconscious]

The models of Freud on unconsciousness lead to logical contradictions or to a fragmentation of the person if the causal energetic view of mental organization is abandoned in favour of a metaphorical interpretation of Freud's concept. On the other hand, the person is eliminated in such an causel energetic model. Existential psychotherapies refer to Heidegger who claims that consciousness is not completely self-transparent and may conceal itself by forgetting and remembering in correspondence with the interests of the person. Self- concealment of consciousness as a source of unconsciousness is a process of disintegration of sense. Therefore, the therapy should lead the patient to discover his potentialities, to enable him to recognize untruth and self-deception as contradictions to these potentialities. Untruth and self-deception are-as Nietzsche has already shown-dimensions of the unconsciousness.