This book is the result of the third Erasmus Ascension Symposium organized by the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation in Amsterdam. The Praemium Erasmianum is known primarily for the Erasmus Prize which, since 1958, has been awarded annually to individuals or organizations in Europe that have exceptionally distinguished themselves in the field of European culture. In addition to this activity, every two years the Foundation also organizes a symposium in the Netherlands concerning a specially chosen multi-disciplinary topic of current interest. In 1992, in conjunction with a day that was open to the public, a select group of 40 young Dutch scholars once again had the opportunity to engage in a penetrating and in-depth discussion on the chosen topic with a number of specialists during the three-day symposium.

The choice of the theme for the 1992 symposium, Physics and Our View of the World, was prompted by the great interest that exists for this topic, as is evident from the appearance of so many semi-popular publications in this field. In this way, the Foundation hoped to provide a forum for the useful exchange of views and ideas about the philosophical and religious implications of recent developments in modern physics. We thus hoped to help bridge the gap between the realms of the exact and the spiritual sciences, a division which is still so apparent in our time.