Scientific Autobiography: And Other PapersIn this fascinating autobiography from the foremost genius of twentieth-century physics, Max Planck tells the story of his life, his aims, and his thinking. Published posthumously, the papers in this volume were written for the general reader and make accessible his scientific theories as well as his philosophical ideals, including his thoughts on ethics and morals. Max (Karl Ernst Ludwig) Planck was a German physicist and philosopher known for his quantum theory, for which he won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918. Planck was born in Kiel, Germany, in 1858 to an academic family, and he valued education from a young age. He attended the Universities of Munich and Berlin to study physics under the great scientific leaders Kirchhoff and Helmholtz. His early work mainly focused on the study of thermodynamics, and in 1900 he published a paper on his quantum theory that would change the face of modern physics. Planck worked as a professor at Berlin University his entire life, and he also served as the president of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Promotion of Science. During World War II, Planck experienced great hardships while he remained in Germany but openly opposed the Nazi regime. One of his two sons was executed during this time for an unsuccessful attempt on Hitler's life, and Planck's home in Berlin was eventually bombed. He continued to write on physics and philosophy until his death in 1947. |
Contents
IntroductionMemorial Address | 7 |
A Scientific Autobiography | 13 |
Phantom Problems in Science | 52 |
Copyright | |
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abso absolute answer atom basic Berlin Boltzmann causally determined classical physics classical world picture Clausius conservation of energy corresponding course definite direct electron elementary quantum entropy exact science existence experience external fact feel formulated foundation goal Göttingen Gustav Kirchhoff heat human impressions indeterminists individual internal viewpoint intuitive irreversibility knowledge law of causality Law of Thermodynamics ligion Ludwig Boltzmann magnitude material point matter Max Planck Max von Laue meaning measurements ment mental processes metaphysical mind Munich natural science never object observation occurrence oscillator phantom problem physical processes physicists picture of physics precise predicting principle prob quantum mechanics quantum of action quantum theory question radiation real world reality reason regard religion and natural scientific research scientific world picture sensation sense world significance structure task temperature theoretical physics Theory of Relativity tific tion ture uncertainty universal constants universal validity velocity viewpoint volitional processes words