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  • © 2016

From Chemistry to Consciousness

The Legacy of Hans Primas

  • Explores many of the fundamental scientific and philosophical questions that were the focus of Hans Primas' attention
  • Contributions by renowned scientists including the Nobel Laureate Richard Ernst
  • Reveals deep and sometimes unexpected connections between forefront topics in science and philosophy
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
  2. Hans Primas and His Early Pathway

    • Richard Ernst
    Pages 1-14
  3. Hans Primas—An Inspiring Teacher

    • Geoffrey Bodenhausen
    Pages 15-22
  4. Superselection Rules

    • Domenico Giulini
    Pages 45-70
  5. Primas, Emergence, and Worlds

    • William Seager
    Pages 71-93
  6. Contextual Emergence of Deterministic and Stochastic Descriptions

    • Robert C. Bishop, Peter beim Graben
    Pages 95-110
  7. Back Matter

    Pages 147-154

About this book

This book reflects on the significant and highly original scientific contributions of Hans Primas. A professor of chemistry at ETH Zurich from 1962 to 1995, Primas continued his research activities until his death in 2014. Over these 50 years and more, he worked on the foundations of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, contributed to a number of significant issues in theoretical chemistry, helped to clarify central topics in quantum theory and the philosophy of physics, suggested innovative ways of addressing interlevel relations in the philosophy of science, and introduced cutting-edge approaches in the flourishing young field of scientific studies of consciousness. His work in these areas of research and its continuing impact is described by noted experts, colleagues, and collaborators of Primas. All authors contextualize their contributions to facilitate the mutual dialog between these fields.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Collegium Helveticum, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Harald Atmanspacher

  • CHN E 24, ETH Zentrum, Zürich, Switzerland

    Ulrich Müller-Herold

About the editors

Harald Atmanspacher, PhD, is a staff member at Collegium Helveticum, ETH and the University of Zurich. He is also President of the Society for Mind-Matter Research and Editor-in-Chief of its journal "Mind and Matter".  He has pioneered advances in complex dynamical systems research and in the scientific study of consciousness.

Ulrich Müller-Herold is professor emeritus of the ETH Zurich Department of Environmental Systems Science. His research activities have covered algebraic quantum mechanics, prebiotic chemistry, ecological risk prevention and the molecular structure of liquid water.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access