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"The Innermost Kernel" recounts the physicist and Nobel Laureate Wolfgang Pauli and his interest in Jungian psychology, philosophy and western world-view. It is also an exploration of the intellectual setting and context of Pauli's thinking, which has its starting point in the cultural and intellectual climate of fin-de-siècle Europe. As a contribution to the general history of quantum physics this study has a special focus on the psychological and philosophical issues discussed by physicists belonging to the Copenhagen school. The work is mainly based on the correspondence of the principle characters and explores some of the central issues discussed there, as for instance the subject-object relation, complementarity, the relation of conscious and unconscious, the process underlying concept-formation, the psychology of scientific discovery, the symbolic world of alchemy, the theories of archetypes and of synchronicity. Ultimately this book is about a remarkable scientist searching for a new understanding of the interrelatedness of man and world.
List of contents
to Wolfgang Pauli's Dialogue with C.G. Jung.- Wolfgang Pauli, the Copenhagen School and Philosophy.- The Copenhagen School and Psychology.- Pauli and Jung.- Incarnation and Quantum Physics.- Summary and Concluding Remarks.
Summary
"The Innermost Kernel" offers an insightful examination of the research and history of the physicist and Nobel Laureate Wolfgang Pauli and his interest in Jungian psychology, philosophy and western world-view. It is also a study of the intellectual setting and context of Pauli's thinking, i.e. a contribution to the general history of quantum physics, especially concerning the relation of the new physics to psychology. The focus highlights psychological, philosophical and ontological issues and ultimately the possibility of a new understanding of the interrelatedness of man and world. The work is primarily based on the correspondence of the principle characters, and the terminology is mostly from philosophy, Jungian psychology and, a minor part, from physics/mathematics. The author seeks to enhance our understanding of the history of quantum physics and to offer original insight into the fascinating thoughts of Wolfgang Pauli.
Additional text
From the reviews:
"This revised translation of a Swedish Ph. D. thesis in philosophy offers far more than a discussion of Wolfgang Pauli’s encounters with the psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung … . Here the book explains very well how Pauli attempted to extend his understanding beyond superficial esotericism and spiritism … . To understand Pauli one needs books like this one, which … seems to open a path to a fuller understanding of Pauli, who was seeking to solve a quest even deeper than quantum physics." (Arne Schirrmacher, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2006 g)
"This book is a revised and extended version of a doctoral thesis for the degree in philosophy at the University of Uppsala. It is an interesting compilation of basic material concerning Pauli and his contacts and thinking in the world of psychology. It gives moreover a good review of the man behind the physicist. The book contains very extensive bibliographic notes, and specific references. In brief, a must, for the interested reader. The hard cover book is nicely edited following Springer’s high-quality standards." (Roland Carchon, Physicalia, Vol. 28 (4-6), 2006)
"Suzanne Gieser presents us with an exceptional work of scholarship, which should become a standard source of reference for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of Jung’s theories and their relationship to 20
th century science. … the essential framework of her study derives its form and significance at least as much from the philosophy of science, particularly the implications for Jung’s analytical psychology of the epistemological conclusions of quantum mechanics. This is really where the value of this book lies … ." (George B. Hogenson, Journal of Analytical Psychology, Vol. 53, 2008)
Report
From the reviews:
"This revised translation of a Swedish Ph. D. thesis in philosophy offers far more than a discussion of Wolfgang Pauli's encounters with the psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung ... . Here the book explains very well how Pauli attempted to extend his understanding beyond superficial esotericism and spiritism ... . To understand Pauli one needs books like this one, which ... seems to open a path to a fuller understanding of Pauli, who was seeking to solve a quest even deeper than quantum physics." (Arne Schirrmacher, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2006 g)
"This book is a revised and extended version of a doctoral thesis for the degree in philosophy at the University of Uppsala. It is an interesting compilation of basic material concerning Pauli and his contacts and thinking in the world of psychology. It gives moreover a good review of the man behind the physicist. The book contains very extensive bibliographic notes, and specific references. In brief, a must, for the interested reader. The hard cover book is nicely edited following Springer's high-quality standards." (Roland Carchon, Physicalia, Vol. 28 (4-6), 2006)
"Suzanne Gieser presents us with an exceptional work of scholarship, which should become a standard source of reference for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of Jung's theories and their relationship to 20th century science. ... the essential framework of her study derives its form and significance at least as much from the philosophy of science, particularly the implications for Jung's analytical psychology of the epistemological conclusions of quantum mechanics. This is really where the value of this book lies ... ." (George B. Hogenson, Journal of Analytical Psychology, Vol. 53, 2008)
