In 1932, Wolfgang Pauli, a renowned physicist on the brink of winning the Nobel Prize, faced personal turmoil following his mother's suicide and a troubled marriage. His heavy drinking and public quarrels were compounded by unsettling dreams, prompting him to seek help from C. G. Jung, with whom he established a regular meeting. This led to a remarkable intellectual partnership that bridged physics and psychology, documented in eighty letters exchanged over twenty-six years. Although Jung never formally analyzed Pauli, he interpreted over 400 of his dreams, contributing to his later works, including "Psychology and Alchemy" and "The Analysis of Dreams." Their discussions explored the connections between dreams and reality, revealing unexpected parallels between depth psychology and quantum physics. Their collaboration culminated in the joint publication of Jung's treatise on synchronicity and Pauli's essay on archetypal ideas in Kepler's writings. This correspondence not only refined their understanding of synchronicity—a term Jung had proposed—but also influenced the development of Jungian psychology through insights from physics. This portrait of their extraordinary friendship appeals to historians of science and those interested in human creativity, showcasing the profound impact of their meeting of great minds.
Wolfgang Pauli Books
Wolfgang Ernst Pauli was a theoretical physicist and a pivotal figure in the development of quantum mechanics. His scientific contributions, including the exclusion principle, were revolutionary, with his work remaining a standard reference. Pauli also delved into profound philosophical questions, exploring the interplay between science and archetypal dreams, leading to a fascinating dialogue between quantum physics and psychology.







Physical Chemistry
- 172 pages
- 7 hours of reading
The biography chronicles the life of Wolfgang Pauli, highlighting his early education in Vienna and advanced studies under notable physicists like Arnold Sommerfeld, Max Born, and Niels Bohr. Born in 1900, Pauli earned his doctorate in 1921 and significantly contributed to the field of physics through his collaborations and research during his formative years in prestigious European institutions.
Colloid Chemistry Of The Proteins; Volume 1
- 158 pages
- 6 hours of reading
A technical treatise on the chemical properties of proteins, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the behavior of these essential biomolecules in solution. Written by one of the foremost experts in the field, Colloid Chemistry of the Proteins is an essential resource for biochemists and other scientists working with proteins in a laboratory setting.
Writings on Physics and Philosophy
- 296 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Wolfgang Pauli, a pivotal figure in modern physics, is explored through his influential articles on physics and epistemology in this comprehensive collection. Edited and annotated by his former assistant, the book delves into concepts such as complementarity, causality, and the unconscious's impact on scientific thought. It features Pauli's notable writings on Kepler and historical essays on other great scientists like Bohr and Einstein, making it accessible to physicists, philosophers, historians, and the general public alike.
Meson Theory Of Nuclear Forces
- 80 pages
- 3 hours of reading
Focusing on the fundamental scientific theories behind nuclear forces, this treatise delves into meson fields, including pseudoscalar and vector-field theories, and explores quantum scattering. Written by Nobel laureate Wolfgang Pauli, a pioneer in quantum physics, the work is essential for those interested in the evolution of scientific thought. The book is presented in a modern, accessible format and includes a new biography of Pauli, making it a valuable addition to any scientific literature collection.
Die Sammlung von über 2000 Briefen aus Paulis letztem Lebensjahrzehnt bietet einen tiefen Einblick in seine Gedanken zur Physik sowie zu geistesgeschichtlichen Themen. In diesem ersten Teilband sind 430 Briefe aus den Jahren 1950 bis 1952 versammelt, die Pauli mit 72 Personen austauschte. Im Mittelpunkt stehen die physikalischen Grundlagenforschungen der frühen 50er Jahre, ergänzt durch Diskussionen über ideengeschichtliche Fragestellungen. Besonders hervorzuheben ist Paulis Glaube an einen psycho-physischen Wirklichkeitszusammenhang, den er mit Kollegen und Psychologen wie C.G. Jung erörterte.
Wissenschaftlicher Briefwechsel mit Bohr, Einstein, Heisenberg u.a. / Scientific Correspondence with Bohr, Einstein, Heisenberg, a.o.
Band III/Volume III: 19401949
- 1204 pages
- 43 hours of reading
Die Sammlung bietet wertvolle Quellen zur Geschichte der Elementarteilchen- und Quantenfeldtheorie aus den 1940er Jahren. Chronologisch geordnete und kommentierte Briefe dokumentieren den Austausch zwischen den Pionieren dieser Disziplin während ihrer Entstehung. Umfangreiche Verzeichnisse erleichtern den Zugang zu den Informationen. Dieses Werk ist ein unverzichtbares Standardwerk für alle, die sich intensiv mit der Geschichte der modernen Physik beschäftigen möchten.
Wissenschaftlicher Briefwechsel mit Bohr, Einstein, Heisenberg u.a.
Band 1: 19191929
- 632 pages
- 23 hours of reading
Die Briefsammlung dokumentiert den Austausch zwischen Wolfgang Pauli und anderen Physikern in der Zeit von 1919 bis 1929, einer Ära, die als "goldene Periode der Physik" gilt. In dieser Zeit wurden grundlegende Fragen zur Atomstruktur aufgeworfen, die das klassische Physikverständnis herausforderten. Während das Bohrsche Atommodell nur für einfache Atome funktionierte, brachte die Quantenmechanik ab 1925 eine radikale Wende. Sie ermöglichte es, das Verhalten von Atomen logisch und berechenbar zu erklären und legte die Basis für das Verständnis chemischer Bindungen sowie die Struktur von Festkörpern.
