Financial background of subdepartment gHF

The center for “Geschiedenis van de Hermetische Filosofie en verwante stromingen” (gHF) was made possible by a financial donation by Mrs. Drs. R. Basten (Antwerpen). Being personally interested in hermetic philosophy and its historical development, during her own philosophy studies at the University of Amsterdam she had been disappointed to discover that no such subject was being taught. Given the existence in Amsterdam of the renowned Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica, which contains the world’s most complete collection of hermetic source materials and a wealth of related documents, the continuing lack of a teaching curriculum and academic research program in this field was all the more surprising. Mrs. Basten’s motivation in making the donation was to make it possible for the University of Amsterdam to fill this hiatus. The donation was made to an independent Foundation newly created to this end, which has signed an agreement with the University enabling the latter to create a new subdepartment and appoint the necessary staff. The agreement stipulates under art. 10 that gHF research and teaching programs will be “independent of any worldview”, thus ensuring the professional detachment and neutrality essential to academic research. Likewise, and for the same reason, all appointments take place under the full responsibility of the University of Amsterdam. The Foundation presently consists of five members: Mr. P.A. van Onzenoort (chairman), Prof. Dr. J.N. Bremmer (secretary), Mr. F.C.M. Tilman (treasurer), Mrs. Drs. R. Basten, and Dr. K. van der Toorn. The center gHF is now part of the department for "Art, Religion, and Cultural Sciences" of the Faculty of Humanities, and participates in the teaching program of Religious Studies.