This blog post examines how ‘Demian’ portrays good and evil not as fixed moralities but as tensions within the human psyche, and why that boundary inevitably fluctuates, through the work’s symbols and the characters’ development. ‘Demian’ was written in 1916 during World War I and published in 1919, immediately after the war ended. Hermann Hesse (1877–1962), already a renowned...
What kind of ‘freedom’ does ‘Perfume’ speak to us about?
In this blog post, we explore the meaning of innovation and freedom demanded by modern society through the characters in ‘Perfume’. Published in 1985, Patrick Süskind’s novel Perfume was translated and exported to 49 countries within a year of its release, selling over 20 million copies. Perfume is regarded as one of the greatest German novels of the 20th century, achieving...
Science and Technology and Values as Seen in Heisenberg’s ‘Physics and Beyond’
This blog post examines how science and technology intertwine with human values through Heisenberg’s ‘Physics and Beyond’. Heisenberg’s Atomic Theory Heisenberg’s book ‘Physics and Beyond’ begins with a chapter titled ‘Encounter with Atomic Theory,’ which recounts discussions Heisenberg had with friends during his high school years. Here, Heisenberg and his friend Robert...
Heisenberg’s ‘Part and Whole’: Why Is an Engineer’s Responsibility So Important?
In this blog post, we explore the essence and importance of the responsibility engineers must uphold amid scientific and technological progress, through Heisenberg’s ‘Part and Whole’. Heisenberg is a physicist renowned for the ‘Uncertainty Principle,’ one of the core theories of quantum physics. ‘Part and Whole’ is a book Heisenberg authored, compiling debates he engaged in with...
Why did noble love become tragic in Goethe’s ‘Urfaust’?
This blog post examines how noble love, through Goethe’s ‘Urfaust’, reveals human frailty and moral limitations, leading to tragedy. When people think of love, they often imagine a sublime and beautiful, yet simultaneously fiery and passionate emotion. This conception of love seems to be a common image that arises in people’s consciousness across cultures and throughout history...
Where do the boundaries lie for a scientist’s responsibility regarding inventions and discoveries?
This blog post examines how much responsibility scientists and engineers should bear for their inventions and discoveries, focusing on Heisenberg’s theory of researcher responsibility. Heisenberg is a physicist famous for the ‘Uncertainty Principle,’ one of the core theories of quantum physics. His book ‘Physics and Beyond: Encounters and Conversations’ compiles debates he had with...
Is the accumulation of parts more important in scientific research, or is holistic insight more crucial?
In this blog post, we explore the essence of scientific research, focusing on the discussions between Heisenberg, Burton, and Dirac. ‘Physics and Beyond: Encounters and Conversations’ is a book recording conversations, debates on various topics with numerous people encountered while researching atomic physics, and the author’s own reflections. This book goes beyond merely explaining...
How do ‘The Last Song’ and ‘Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship’ differ?
This blog post compares ‘The Last Song’ and ‘Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship’, analyzing the distinct characteristics of coming-of-age novels and the differences in personal growth depicted through their respective social contexts. Preface Just as people have diverse tastes in music, each person has their own favorite novels and preferred genres. The thrill and emotion I felt when I...
What is the danger of materialism that Hermann Hesse warned about, and what does it mean for us today?
Through Demian, Hermann Hesse warned that materialism leads to the loss of one’s self and drives society toward war and chaos. His message remains relevant today, and we must seek the path to finding our true selves through it. While appreciating Hermann Hesse’s Demian, what struck me was not merely that this work was written against the backdrop of the great catastrophe of...