Hermann von Helmholtz and the foundations of nineteenth-century science / David Cahan.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Cahan, David, Editor.

Series:

California studies in the history of science ; v. 12.

California Studies in the History of Science ; 10

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Helmholtz, Hermann von, 1821-1894.

Helmholtz, Hermann von.

Science--History--19th century.

Science.

Scientists--Germany--Biography.

Scientists.

Physiologists--Germany--Biography.

Physiologists.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (701 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, CA : University of California Press, [1994]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894) was a polymath of dazzling intellectual range and energy. Renowned for his co-discovery of the second law of thermodynamics and his invention of the ophthalmoscope, Helmholtz also made many other contributions to physiology, physical theory, philosophy of science and mathematics, and aesthetic thought. During the late nineteenth century, Helmholtz was revered as a scientist-sage-much like Albert Einstein in this century.David Cahan has assembled an outstanding group of European and North American historians of science and philosophy for this intellectual biography of Helmholtz, the first ever to critically assess both his published and unpublished writings. It represents a significant contribution not only to Helmholtz scholarship but also to the history of nineteenth-century science and philosophy in general.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Contributors

Abbreviations

Chronological Listing of the Principal Events and Publications of Helmholtz's Life and Career

Introduction: Helmholtz at the Borders of Science

1. Helmholtz and the German Medical Community

2. Experiment, Quantification, and Discovery: Helmholtz's Early Physiological Researches, 1843-50

3. The Eye as Mathematician: Clinical Practice, Instrumentation, and Helmholtz's Construction of an Empiricist Theory of Vision

4. Consensus and Controversy: Helmholtz on the Visual Perception of Space

5. Innovation through Synthesis: Helmholtz and Color Research

6. Sensation of Tone, Perception of Sound, and Empiricism: Helmholtz's Physiological Acoustics

7. Helmholtz's Ueber die Erhaltung der Kraft: The Emergence of a Theoretical Physicist

8. Electrodynamics in Context: Object States, Laboratory Practice, and Anti-Romanticism

9. Helmholtz's Instrumental Role in the Formation of Classical Electrodynamics

10. Between Physics and Chemistry: Helmholtz's Route to a Theory of Chemical Thermodynamics

11. Helmholtz's Mechanical Foundation of Thermodynamics

12. Force, Law, and Experiment: The Evolution of Helmholtz's Philosophy of Science

13. Helmholtz's Empiricist Philosophy of Mathematics: Between Laws of Perception and Laws of Nature

14. Helmholtz and Classicism: The Science of Aesthetics and the Aesthetics of Science

15. Helmholtz and the Civilizing Power of Science

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 24. Apr 2020)

ISBN:

9786612356742

9780520914094

0520914090

9781282356740

1282356747

9780585112893

0585112894

OCLC:

630528653