Heinrich Hertz: Classical Physicist, Modern PhilosopherD. Baird, R.I. Hughes, Alfred Nordmann Springer Science & Business Media, 1998 M01 31 - 324 pages The sub-title of this symposium is accurate and, in a curious way, promises more than it states: Classical Physicist, Modem Philosopher. Heinrich Hertz, as the con summate experimentalist of 19th century technique and as brilliant clarifying critic of physical theory of his time, achieved one of the fulfilments but at the same time opened one of the transition points of classical physics. Thus, in his 'popular' lecture 'On the Relations Between Light and Electricity' at Heidelberg in the Fall of 1889, Hertz identified the ether as henceforth the most fundamental problem of physics, as the conceptual mystery but also the key to understanding mass, electric ity, and gravity. Of Hertz's demonstration of electric waves, Helmholtz told the Physical Society of Berlin: "Gentlemen! I have to communicate to you today the most important physical discovery of the century. " Hertz, philosophizing in his direct, lucid, pithy style, once wrote "We have to imagine". Perhaps this is metaphysics on the horizon? In the early pages of his Principles of Mechanics, we read A doubt which makes an impression on our mind cannot be removed by calling it metaphysical: every thoughtful mind as such has needs which scientific men are accustomed to denote as metaphysical. (PM23) And at another place, concerning the terms 'force' and 'electricity' and the alleged mystery of their natures, Hertz wrote: We have an obscure feeling of this and want to have things cleared up. |
Contents
Heinrich Hertz and the Berlin School of Physics | 1 |
From Helmholtzs Philosophy of Science to Hertzs PictureTheory | 9 |
Origin and Development of the Concept of Image in the Thought of Hermann von Helmholtz and Heinrich Hertz | 25 |
His Discovery of Radio Waves and His Delineation of their Properties | 39 |
Two Modes of Experimentation and their Theoretical Underpinnings | 59 |
From Wire Waves to Air Waves | 73 |
Experiment and Theory Reconciled? | 89 |
Hertz and Geometrization of Mechanics | 103 |
The Reception of Heinrich Hertzs Principles of Mechanics by His Contemporaries | 173 |
A Model for Werner Heisenbergs April 1925 Paper on the Anomalous Zeeman Effect | 183 |
Its Elaboration by Hilbert Weyl and Ramsey | 225 |
Hertzs Philosophy of Nature in Wittgensteins Tractatus | 243 |
Reflections on Hertz and the Hertzian Dipole | 269 |
A Bibliography | 281 |
Concordance and Index of Passages | 307 |
313 | |
Other editions - View all
Heinrich Hertz: Classical Physicist, Modern Philosopher D. Baird,R.I. Hughes,A. Nordmann Limited preview - 2013 |
Heinrich Hertz: Classical Physicist, Modern Philosopher D. Baird,R.I. Hughes,Alfred Nordmann No preview available - 2013 |
Heinrich Hertz: Classical Physicist, Modern Philosopher D. Baird,R.I. Hughes,Alfred Nordmann No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
AHQP Alfred Landé angular momentum anomalous Zeeman effect atomic Berlin Bild Bilder Boltzmann Buchwald concept constraints D'Agostino definition Descartes determined Deutsches Museum dipole discovery Doncel dynamical Electric Waves electrodynamic electromagnetic electron empirical energy ether Euclidean geometry existence experimental experiments external fact field Figure force formal Frege fundamental law Heinrich Hertz Heisenberg Helmholtz Helmholtzian Hermann von Helmholtz Hertz's mechanics Hertz's Principles Hertzian hidden masses image of mechanics inertial interpretation Introduction ISBN laboratory logical Mach magnetic mass-particles material points mathematical Maxwell Maxwell's equations Maxwell's theory Misc motion nature Newton's observed op.cit oscillator paper particles Pauli phenomena philosophy of science physics picture theory Principles of Mechanics problem propagation propositions quantum number reality reference relation representation Rutherford scheme scientific sense sentence Sommerfeld space structure symbols systems of points T.S. Kuhn theoretical things Tractatus translation velocity Werner Heisenberg Wittgenstein Wolfgang Pauli