THE UNIVERSITY OF BASEL, HUMANISM AND FREEDOM

Joseph, Claire and The Grandma visited the University of Basel. A university is a great centre of knowledge, learning and debate and the three friends wanted to take a walk around this institution that belongs to the most neutral country.

The University of Basel, in German Universität Basel, is a public research university in Basel, Switzerland.

Founded on 4 April 1460, it is Switzerland's oldest university and among the world's oldest universities. The university is traditionally counted among the leading institutions of higher learning in the country.

The associated Basel University Library is the largest and among the most important libraries in Switzerland. The university hosts the faculties of theology, law, medicine, humanities and social sciences, science, psychology, and business and economics, as well as numerous cross-disciplinary subjects and institutes, such as the Biozentrum for biomedical research and the Institute for European Global Studies.

In its over 500-year history, the university has been home to Erasmus of Rotterdam, Paracelsus, Daniel Bernoulli, Leonhard Euler, Jacob Burckhardt, Friedrich Nietzsche, Tadeusz Reichstein, Karl Jaspers, Carl Gustav Jung, Karl Barth, and Jeanne Hersch. The institution is associated with ten Nobel laureates and two presidents of the Swiss Confederation.

The University of Basel was founded in connection with the Council of Basel. It was during the years the catholic clergy resided in Basel, a temporary university was established between the years 1432 und 1448.

Since 1460, the seal of the University showed a Virgin surrounded with sun rays standing a crescent moon as mentioned in the Revelation of John. Below the moon is the coat of arms of Basel. In her right hand, she holds a scepter, and on her left arm sits Jesus the child. The religious motive is described to denote the religious bond the university counted with at the beginning of its existence. The seal was also used after the reformation and used continuously until 1992.

Since 1 January 1996, the University of Basel has been independent. The University Law of 1995 stipulates that, The University of Basel is an institution established under public law. It has its own legal personality and right to self-government.

More information: University of Basel

The creation of something new is not accomplished 
by the intellect but by the play instinct 

acting from inner necessity. 
The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.

Carl Jung