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Die Korrespondenz Einstein-Schlick: Zum Verhältnis der Physik zur Philosophie

Pages 475-488 | Received 01 Sep 1985, Published online: 22 Aug 2006
 

Zusammenfassung

Es wird die wechselseitige Beeinflussung Einsteins und Schlicks anhand ihrer ab 1915 erhaltenen Korrespondenz in vier Schwerpunkten untersucht. Schlicks Selbstverständnis als Philosoph wie auch einzelne Themata seines Denkens (wie etwa das der Einfachheit) bildeten sich mit seiner Auseinandersetzung um die Relativitätstheorie Einsteins heraus, deren systematische Explikation durch Schlick auf Einsteins Beifall stieß. Als die Ursache für das Auseinanderdriften beider Denker nach 1925 werden fundamentale Differenzen im Wirklichkeitsverständnis und in der Interpretation des Kausalitätsprinzips aufgewiesen, die beide auch zu komplementären Formen der Wissenschaftsgeschichtsbetrachtung führten.

Summary

Some topics in the Einstein-Schlick correspondence are discussed and embedded in the historical and scientific context of the years 1915–1936.

Different interpretations of the theory of relativity and their relation to Schlick's papers on relativity. It is shown that Einstein welcomed Schlick's interest in relativity because of Schlick's talent to popularize without simplifying, and that Schlick's self-assessment as a ‘Sinndeuter’ (clarifier of sense) of results of science developed in the course of his studies in relativity.

Simplificity as a central theme in Einstein's thought. It is demonstrated, that their exchange of thoughts intensified after Schlick adopted the motiv of simplicity; nevertheless, Schlick realized quite quickly that criteria of ‘simplicity’ have pragmatic and aesthetic components, while Einstein continued to believe in the logical unequivocality of simplicity.

Different concepts of reality. An interesting phase in Einstein's philosophical development, a sort of ‘epistemological neutralism’ or ‘conventionalism’, is discussed in connection with Einstein's confrontation of different possible uses and meanings of reality.

Newton and causality. Einstein's justification of Newton's introduction of the concept of the principle of causality, and their models for the progress of science, are presented.

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