Wittgenstein s World of Mechanics: Including Transcriptions of Lectures by Wittgenstein s Teacher Joseph Petzoldt and Related Texts on Mechanics

ISBN 10: 3211328165 / ISBN 13: 9783211328163

Published by Springer, 2007

Auflage: 2006. Seller Inventory # 3746478_f6b

Synopsis:

Ludwig Wittgenstein refers to Heinrich Hertz as one of his major influences. However, up to now it was not clear from where he acquired his knowledge of mechanics and in which way it contributed to his philosophy. The aim of this book is to answer these questions. It shows that Wittgenstein came in contact with Hertz’s physical world view during his studies in Berlin. It had an effect on his view of the natural sciences in the Tractatus, and Hertz's conception of mass-particles led to its central notion of a simple object. It was especially Wittgenstein’s teacher in Berlin, Joseph Petzoldt, who played an important intermediary role. The manuscript of his 1907 course of lectures "Grundbegriffe der Mechanik" is published here for the first time. It is complemented by reprints of related texts on the topic by Neumann, Lange and Petzoldt.

About the Author:

Gerd Graßhoff studied physics, mathematics, philosophy and the history of the natural sciences at the universities of Bochum, Hamburg and Oxford. Has, since 1999, held the Berne University Chair of the Theory and History of Science and been director of the university’s Institute of Philosophy.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Wittgenstein s World of Mechanics: Including...
Publisher: Springer
Publication Date: 2007
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good