INSTEAD OF A "FESTSCHRIFT" In June 1998 Hans Primas turned 70 years old. Although he himself is not fond of jubilees and although he likes to play the decimal system of numbers down as contingent, this is nevertheless a suitable occasion to reflect on the professional work of one of the rare distinguished contempo rary scientists who attach equal importance to experimental and theoretical and conceptual lines of research. Hans Primas' interests have covered an enormous range: methods and instruments for nuclear magnetic resonance, theoretical chemistry, C* - and W* -algebraic formulations of quantum me chanics, the measurement problem and its various implications, holism and realism in quantum theory, theory reduction, the work and personality of Wolfgang Pauli, as well as Jungian psychology. In many of these fields he provided important and original food for thought, in some cases going far beyond the everyday business in the scien tific world. As is the case with other scientists who are conceptually inno vative, Hans Primas is read more than he is quoted. His influence is due to his writings. Even with the current flood of publications, he still performs the miracle of having scientists eagerly awaiting his next publication.

Autorentext
Anton Amann ist emeritierter Universitätsprofessor für Soziologie und Sozialgerontologie am Institut für Soziologie der Universität Wien und Wissenschaftlicher Leiter des "Zentrums für Alternswissenschaften, Gesundheits- und Sozialpolitikforschung" (ZENTAS) an der Niederösterreichischen Landesakademie.

Klappentext

This volume deals with fundamental problems of the natural sciences and the philosophy of nature. The issues addressed touch upon the many research areas of Hans Primas, and they reflect both the depth and the breadth of his interests, ranging from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, theoretical chemistry, theory reduction, the measurement problem, holism and realism in quantum theory, to the dialogue between W. Pauli and C.G. Jung. Each individual contribution is prefaced by a short editorial introduction, relating diverse topics to each other and embedding them in a wider frame. br/ emAudience:/em This book will be an inspiring source of knowledge for everyone who is seriously interested in research in basic topics of physics, chemistry, and their philosophical aspects.

Inhalt
The Primas Effect: On Quanta and Beyond.- Hans Primas and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.- Fragments of an Algebraic Quantum Mechanics Program for Theoretical Chemistry.- Matter.- C*- and W*-Algebras of Observables, Their Interpretations, and the Problem of Measurement.- Temporal Nonlocality.- Macroscopic Purification of States by Interactions.- Macroscopic Quantum Phenomena at the SQUID.- The Geometry of Quantum Probabilities.- Probability and Quantum Dynamics.- Perspectives on the Molecular Microworld.- The Science of Matter: Fascination and Limits.- Mind.- Holism.- Concepts of Reality: Primas' Nonstandard Realism.- Relative Onticity.- Rationalism, Determinism, Freedom.- Cuts and Symbols.- Reflections on the Foundations of Quantum Theory.- Appendices.- Publications by Hans Primas (until 1998).- List of Contributors.