The Decline of Deutsche Physik
Contextual Analysis of the Exodus of German Physicists in the Early Twentieth Century
“So we see that we cannot attach any absolute signification to the concept of simultaneity, but that two events which, viewed from a system of co-ordinates, are simultaneous, can no longer be looked upon as simultaneous events when envisaged from a system which is in motion relatively to that system” In 1905 German physicist Albert Einstein published the first paper of a new age of Physics. His theory of special relativity, followed by general relativity and the Einstein Field Equations in 1915, and the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics in 1925 combined to form a more significant shift in natural philosophy …show more content…
My aim is to show how the social, political, and economic contexts brought on by the rise of the Nazi party actively stifled the development of physics in Germany and actively positioned the United States as the new center of …show more content…
While due in part to the economic factors of the war; this stifling of progress from scientists who before lead the world in their prolificness, was also due to the political climate imposed upon them by the Nazis. Even though Heisenberg was as close to Aryan as the Nazis could want, the fact that he supported the science of Einstein and other Jewish scientists made him fall out of favour. In fact the longer he stayed in Germany the more opposition he received, being labeled a “White Jew” for supporting relativity forced him to undergo scrutiny by the government and do special “cultural missions” in occupied countries. Despite his staying in Germany he was still conflicted about the nature of the actions taken by the Nazis. He stayed because he had faith that the Nazis would win the war8 but still did not necessarily approve of the actions of the Third Reich. In his response to a colleague regarding the treatment of the Jews in Germany he responded, “I find that it is very difficult to judge from the character of the people, that what can happen during a revolution, and also from a revolution to judge the character of the people.” Here you can see Heisenberg trying to reconcile his belief in the German people and the horrendous acts of their government. This conflict of morality is a significant context for all of the scientists
Contextual Analysis of the Exodus of German Physicists in the Early Twentieth Century
“So we see that we cannot attach any absolute signification to the concept of simultaneity, but that two events which, viewed from a system of co-ordinates, are simultaneous, can no longer be looked upon as simultaneous events when envisaged from a system which is in motion relatively to that system” In 1905 German physicist Albert Einstein published the first paper of a new age of Physics. His theory of special relativity, followed by general relativity and the Einstein Field Equations in 1915, and the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics in 1925 combined to form a more significant shift in natural philosophy …show more content…
My aim is to show how the social, political, and economic contexts brought on by the rise of the Nazi party actively stifled the development of physics in Germany and actively positioned the United States as the new center of …show more content…
While due in part to the economic factors of the war; this stifling of progress from scientists who before lead the world in their prolificness, was also due to the political climate imposed upon them by the Nazis. Even though Heisenberg was as close to Aryan as the Nazis could want, the fact that he supported the science of Einstein and other Jewish scientists made him fall out of favour. In fact the longer he stayed in Germany the more opposition he received, being labeled a “White Jew” for supporting relativity forced him to undergo scrutiny by the government and do special “cultural missions” in occupied countries. Despite his staying in Germany he was still conflicted about the nature of the actions taken by the Nazis. He stayed because he had faith that the Nazis would win the war8 but still did not necessarily approve of the actions of the Third Reich. In his response to a colleague regarding the treatment of the Jews in Germany he responded, “I find that it is very difficult to judge from the character of the people, that what can happen during a revolution, and also from a revolution to judge the character of the people.” Here you can see Heisenberg trying to reconcile his belief in the German people and the horrendous acts of their government. This conflict of morality is a significant context for all of the scientists