Flavio Rossi

Thèse en cours sous la direction de la Prof. Laurence Monnais & Dre Josephine Selander, IHM, CHUV-Unil

Résumé 

This thesis constitutes the first part of the NSF project ‘Mind-cures at the Margins: Forming Transcultural Psychology in the Global Age, 1916 – 2020’ (https://data.snf.ch/grants/grant/10003537). The project studies the overlaps of psychology and Asian religious practices. By referring to “psychology”, The project adopts a broad perspective on the ways the mind can be healed which also encompass philosophical, practical, and medical perspectives. By referring to “Asian religious practices”, the project refers also to thought and representations as well as methods such as meditation and yoga.  My PhD thesis focuses on three places as case studies in Switzerland between 1900 and 1950: (1) the Monte Verità community in Ascona, (2) the Psychology Club founded by C.G. Jung in Zürich and (3) the Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn’s property in Ascona-Moscia – Casa Eranos and Casa Gabriella. The first case study promoted a naturist lifestyle in 1900, with strong ties to spiritual practices such as yoga. The second case study focused on the development of Jungian analytical psychology since 1916 and progressively broadened its interests towards Asian religious practices after the First World War. The third case study hosted a yearly meeting called Eranos that, since 1933, promoted discussion between experts in Western and Eastern spiritualities. The overarching question is: How did Monte Verità, the Psychology Club and Eranos function as knowledge hubs for exploring religion and psychology in the period 1900-1950?