Originally posted by not_josh
We've recently been doing about theories for dreaming in Psychology: removing useless information, random neurone firing, fulfilling repressed desires, delayed learning etc etc...

Which theory would best account for lucid dreaming? I would have said Freud (repressed subconscious desires) but it doesn't really fit with the dream being consciously controlled. Or do you think it is an example of humans rising above natural instincts and needs a different explanation?

If there have already been posts on this I apologise. Any links to info on this would be great.
What? Nobody discusses the Theories of Carl Jung anymore?

One needs to consider that a Science that depends upon laboratory Quanification of data particulars is ill equipped to evaluate Dreaming, or indeed anything regarding the Complexities of Life. What exactly is Science supposed to do with Qualities, Values and Aesthetics. What numbers can Science assign to feelings and emotions?

Science insists upon the Random Firing and Neuron theory only because the Quantification of Data can envision no other possibility. We might as well have a Bean Counters Report on the Art Work in the Cistene Chapel, and the importance of Michelangelo in Art History reduced to the number of his brush strokes.

Anyway, just in case the Departments of Psychology are now embargoing the contributions of Carl Jung, you should do some Web Searches on the name. His works are very extensive. where they most apply to Dreaming are in regards to his ideas of the Collective Consciousness and the Archetypes. "Aion" made fascinating reading for me way back decades ago when I was in school.