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The sub-title of this symposium is accurate and, in a curious way,
promises more than it states: Classical Physicist, Modem
Philosopher. Heinrich Hertz, as the con summate experimentalist of
19th century technique and as brilliant clarifying critic of
physical theory of his time, achieved one of the fulfilments but at
the same time opened one of the transition points of classical
physics. Thus, in his 'popular' lecture 'On the Relations Between
Light and Electricity' at Heidelberg in the Fall of 1889, Hertz
identified the ether as henceforth the most fundamental problem of
physics, as the conceptual mystery but also the key to
understanding mass, electric ity, and gravity. Of Hertz's
demonstration of electric waves, Helmholtz told the Physical
Society of Berlin: "Gentlemen I have to communicate to you today
the most important physical discovery of the century. " Hertz,
philosophizing in his direct, lucid, pithy style, once wrote "We
have to imagine." Perhaps this is metaphysics on the horizon? In
the early pages of his Principles of Mechanics, we read A doubt
which makes an impression on our mind cannot be removed by calling
it metaphysical: every thoughtful mind as such has needs which
scientific men are accustomed to denote as metaphysical. (PM23) And
at another place, concerning the terms 'force' and 'electricity'
and the alleged mystery of their natures, Hertz wrote: We have an
obscure feeling of this and want to have things cleared up."
The sub-title of this symposium is accurate and, in a curious way,
promises more than it states: Classical Physicist, Modem
Philosopher. Heinrich Hertz, as the con summate experimentalist of
19th century technique and as brilliant clarifying critic of
physical theory of his time, achieved one of the fulfilments but at
the same time opened one of the transition points of classical
physics. Thus, in his 'popular' lecture 'On the Relations Between
Light and Electricity' at Heidelberg in the Fall of 1889, Hertz
identified the ether as henceforth the most fundamental problem of
physics, as the conceptual mystery but also the key to
understanding mass, electric ity, and gravity. Of Hertz's
demonstration of electric waves, Helmholtz told the Physical
Society of Berlin: "Gentlemen I have to communicate to you today
the most important physical discovery of the century. " Hertz,
philosophizing in his direct, lucid, pithy style, once wrote "We
have to imagine." Perhaps this is metaphysics on the horizon? In
the early pages of his Principles of Mechanics, we read A doubt
which makes an impression on our mind cannot be removed by calling
it metaphysical: every thoughtful mind as such has needs which
scientific men are accustomed to denote as metaphysical. (PM23) And
at another place, concerning the terms 'force' and 'electricity'
and the alleged mystery of their natures, Hertz wrote: We have an
obscure feeling of this and want to have things cleared up."
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