The introduction of the principle of complementarity into
scientific thinking
Before turning to the debate regarding psychiatry and psychotherapy, it
might be useful to recall from the history of science the “principle of
complementarity,” introduced by Niels Bohr in quantum physics to
resolve controversies arising between various behavioral patterns of
science research objects due to different conditions and observers’
criteria. The aforementioned principle implies that the observers will
regard their observation objects from different angles depending on the
criteria and terms they set, e.g. whether they consider an electron to
be a particle or a wave. According to this principle, findings obtained
under different observation conditions and terms cannot be simply summed
up or combined to form a single whole pattern, as they reflect different
(though complementary) features of an entity corresponding to the
research object (Bohr, N., 1929/1961; Bohr, N., 1958/1997). While
formulating the principle, Niels Bohr (1929/1961) suggested employing
two mutually exclusive but complementary theoretical models, each with
its own internal logic, to obtain a complete description of the research
object entity, which would help to explain data obtained under different
conditions and terms. On creating that mode of description for quantum
physics, Niels Bohr (1958/1997) then employed it in biology, psychology,
and cultural studies. He wrote: “…The integrity of living organisms,
and the characteristics of conscious individuals, and most of human
cultures, present features of wholeness, the account of which implies a
typically complementary mode of description” (Bohr, N., 1958/1997, p.
7).