l. The work of Ludwig Boltzmann (1844-1906) consists of two kinds of writings: in the first part of his active life he devoted himself entirely to problems of physics, while in the second part he tried to find a philosoph 1 ical background for his activities in and around the natural sciences. Most scientists are much more aware of his creative work in physics than of his digressions on the meaning and structure of science. I think in the present case the reason is not so much that most scientists are usually almost entirely occupied with their trade, because Boltzmann's philosophical work is also concerned with the (natural) sciences. I rather believe that the quality and consistency of Boltzmann's purely scientific work is of a more appealing nature than his less structured considerations on human activity in science and in life in general. 2. I think that it may be appropriate for the readers of this anthology to say a few words on the main findings of Boltzmann in physics, since in the end their 'philosophical' inlpact has been larger than the effect of his later writings. Moreover some knowledge of his scientific achievements can be helpful for the understanding and appreciation of the essays printed in this book, which almost all stem from Boltzmann's philosophical period. Boltzmann was one of the main protagonists - at least in continental Europe - of atomistics for explaining the phenomena of physics."

l. The work of Ludwig Boltzmann (1844-1906) consists of two kinds of writings: in the first part of his active life he devoted himself entirely to problems of physics, while in the second part he tried to find a philosoph 1 ical background for his activities in and around the natural sciences. Most scientists are much more aware of his creative work in physics than of his digressions on the meaning and structure of science. I think in the present case the reason is not so much that most scientists are usually almost entirely occupied with their trade, because Boltzmann's philosophical work is also concerned with the (natural) sciences. I rather believe that the quality and consistency of Boltzmann's purely scientific work is of a more appealing nature than his less structured considerations on human activity in science and in life in general. 2. I think that it may be appropriate for the readers of this anthology to say a few words on the main findings of Boltzmann in physics, since in the end their 'philosophical' inlpact has been larger than the effect of his later writings. Moreover some knowledge of his scientific achievements can be helpful for the understanding and appreciation of the essays printed in this book, which almost all stem from Boltzmann's philosophical period. Boltzmann was one of the main protagonists - at least in continental Europe - of atomistics for explaining the phenomena of physics."

The Austrian physicist Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann (1844 1906), educated at the University of Vienna, was appointed professor of mathematical physics at the University of Graz in 1869 at the age of only twenty-five. Boltzmann did important work in the fields of statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics; for instance, he contributed to the kinetic theory concerned with molecular speeds in gas. Boltzmann also promoted atomic theory, which at the time was still highly controversial. He was a member of the Imperial Austrian Academy of Sciences from 1885 and became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1888. This three-volume work, prepared in 1909 by the physicist Fritz Hasen hrl, one of Boltzmann's students, comprises all his academic publications from 1865 to 1905. Volume 1 contains papers from 1865 to 1874, including work on the movement of electricity, the theory of heat, and atoms in gases.

The Austrian physicist Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann (1844 1906), educated at the University of Vienna, was appointed professor of mathematical physics at the University of Graz in 1869 at the age of only twenty-five. Boltzmann did important work in the fields of statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics; for instance, he contributed to the kinetic theory concerned with molecular speeds in gas. Boltzmann also promoted atomic theory, which at the time was still highly controversial. He was a member of the Imperial Austrian Academy of Sciences from 1885 and became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1888. This three-volume work, prepared in 1909 by the physicist Fritz Hasen hrl, one of Boltzmann's students, comprises all his academic publications from 1865 to 1905. Volume 2 contains work from 1875 to 1881 on the thermal conduction of gases, the mechanic theory of heat and its problems, and the friction of gas.

The Austrian physicist Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann (1844 1906), educated at the University of Vienna, was appointed professor of mathematical physics at the University of Graz in 1869 at the age of only twenty-five. Boltzmann did important work in the fields of statistical mechanics and statistical thermodynamics; for instance, he contributed to the kinetic theory concerned with molecular speeds in gas. Boltzmann also promoted atomic theory, which at the time was still highly controversial. He was a member of the Imperial Austrian Academy of Sciences from 1885 and became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1888. This three-volume work, prepared in 1909 by the physicist Fritz Hasen hrl, one of Boltzmann's students, comprises all his academic publications from 1865 to 1905. Volume 3 contains papers from 1882 to 1905, including work on gas diffusion and thermodynamics.

den Einleitung versehen, in der auch einige der Wechselwirkungen der Ideen Boltzmanns mit der traditionellen Ideenwelt unserer Zivilisation zur Sprache kommen. Die, 'popuHiren Schriften", die bei ganz verschiedenartigen Ge- legenheiten und fUr unterschiedliche ZuhOrerkreise verfaBt wurden, sind in ungleichem MaB "popular". Zu beachten ist auch die Weite des Feldes, das Boltzmann behandelte, ohne daB man jemals das Geftihl be- kame, es mit einem Dilettanten zu tun zu haben. Boltzmann war kein enger physikalischer Spezialist, sondern er nahm auch an Problemen der Biologie und der Philo sophie ebenso fachkundigen wie leidenschaft- lichen Anteil. Sicher wird der Leser nicht nur eine Hille tiefer Gedan- ken kennenlernen, sondern auch den titanenhaften Geist bewundern, der sie ausgesprochen hat. Urn die Wtirdigung zu erleichtern, sei nun noch ein kurzer zusammenfassender Uberblick tiber Boltzmanns Leben und besonders tiber sein Werk vorausgeschickt. Ludwig Eduard Boltzmann 2 wurde 1844 in Wien als Sohn eines Staatsbeamten geboren und verlor den Vater irn Alter von 15 Jahren.