The concept of complementarity was used as a heuristic tool in the development of quantum mechanics, one of the most complex theories in science. Between 1913 and 1935, Niels Bohr used complementarity to develop his model of the atom, requiring a brand-new way of looking at nature, since classical laws do not apply at the sub-atomic level. Through this process, Bohr also evolved the concept of complementarity as a general method to solve complex problems. The notion of complementarity was first introduced by William James in 1890, as a way of describing the phenomenon of split consciousness. Bohr appears to have been influenced by James's philosophy, both through direct reading of his works and through his connection to Edgar Rubin and Harald Høffding. Bohr applied and further developed the concept more than anybody else in the history of science. Wolfgang Pauli, a key member of Bohr's team, began a close collaboration with the psychologist Carl Jung in 1935, participating with him in the development of the concepts of archetype and Unus Mundus. For this work, Pauli used his previous expertise with complementarity. After quantum mechanics was developed, Niels Bohr's influence expanded into the fields of psychology and biology. Bohr greatly influenced Max Delbrück's decision to move from physics to biology, in search of opportunities to apply complementarity to living organisms; Delbrück later became one of the founding fathers of molecular biology. Also, Francis Crick, one of the discoverers of the structure of DNA, was influenced by a book written by Erwin Schrödinger, another quantum physicist, who later became one of the most influential scientists in the study of genetics. This dissertation follows the development of the concept of complementarity by analyzing the dialogue that occurred between the fields of psychology and physics, and exploring how complementarity has allowed science to tackle some of its most complicated problems, such as the nature of consciousness, the atom, and the relationship between mind and matter. It also explores its evolution into biology and related work on the complexity of living systems and brain processes.
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