Carlo Strenger: Embracing Internal Contradictions

Carlo Strenger, PhD, was a person of mysteries, riddles, and contradictions. He lived in Israel, but his heart and mind were really global. Born and raised in Switzerland, he spoke freely all dialects of the European language and culture. Having treated many American patients and having strong professional and personal relationships with people in the USA and Canada, he was intimately familiar with North American culture, science, and psychology. Although not all of those who knew Carlo took a liking to his flamboyant style, his intellectual powers and his contribution to bridging (existential) philosophy, (scientific) psychology, and psychoanalysis were widely acknowledged. In this special section, we honor Strenger’s diverse contribution to psychoanalysis. This introduction includes a brief exposition of Carlo’s work, followed by a description of six contributions to this special section by authors addressing Strenger’s writing.