As we all know, Freud started out as a neuroscientist, but became frustrated by the limitations of the field during his time. Psychiatry offered more scope for his talents, and before long he found dreams to be the Royal Road to the unconscious as he developed the new science of psychoanalysis. For several generations, psychoanalysis seemed to be more rewarding than neuroscience. In recent times however, neuroscience has made great strides while psychoanalysis seems to be in the doldrums. As neuroscientists have gained in confidence, some have attacked the very foundations of psychoanalysis. It has been said that contrary to Freud’s teachings, dreams are meaningless. They merely represent a side effect of the brain flushing itself out after a day’s work, in order to have a clean slate in the morning. I found this hard to accept. All those years I spent in psychoanalysis down the drain. Could it be true? The best way to find out was to consult the Master himself. Freud always emphasized the importance of getting at the truth. But where was I to find him? Certainly not in Vienna, or even London. Where else but in a dream? Once I had fallen asleep it took no time at all before I found myself on a couch with him puffing on a cigar behind me. Knowing our time would be limited I got right to the point.

"You probably have heard" I said "that some modern neuroscientists claim that dreams don’t mean anything. What is your present opinion on this subject?"

Puffing away on his cigar for some time, Freud finally responded. "I believe that they are correct" he sighed. "Dreams really have no meaning. You should pay no attention to them."

I jumped from the couch and exclaimed "Don’t you see the paradox? If you tell me in a dream that dreams have no meaning, that shows that this dream does mean something, and your teachings are still valid."