Geschichte der Raumakustik im evangelischen Kirchenbau des 19. Jahrhunderts

The history of the science of room acoustics in the 19 century is studied with the example of the buildings of churches. Many architects of this century tried to make use of the acoustical laws in their plans, but only a few physicists did research work in this field.     

Silvesterbesinnung und Weihnachtsartikel. Jahresendzeitreflexionen großer Physiker des 20. Jahrhunderts

The article deals with the relationship between science and religion (esp. Christian faith) in two articles of physicists Max Planck and Pascual Jordan. The relationship of the two factors is reflected in the treatment of time, a subject that comes up because both articles were written on the occasion of the year's end or even the end of a decade. By analysing the two perspectives on time it is possible to distil the distinctive ideas of Planck and Jordan on religion and how a religious should be related to a scientific world view. From this two different models of a positive relationship of science and religion can be formulated which transcend the framework of present discussions on the subject. In conclusion a possible role of science of religions in the dialogue between science and religion is described.     

Eine naturwissenschaftliche Forschungsbibliothek des 18. Jahrhunderts: Die Bibliothek der ‚Naturforschenden Gesellschaft’︁ zu Jena

The ?Naturforschende Gesellschaft’?, founded in 1793, proved instrumental for the development of science at the University of Jena around 1800. Its library can be considered as one of its most important facilities provided for research and for the education of students. Since this library has been preserved almost without losses, we can ask whether this library served the purpose of a research library in the newly established field of ?science’?. In consequence, the role of scientific societies and the genesis of specialised libraries in the area of science can be investigated in an exemplary case, with implications for the concept of scientific research around 1800.     

Täuschend ähnlich – Bemerkungen zur Geschichte des Modellexperiments

Deceptively Similar. Remarks on the History of Model Experiments. The article argues for a reconsideration of what has been called ‘model experiments’ or ‘mimetic experiments’. After providing a short overview of the historical developments and the occurences of such types of experiments, three aspects pertaining to their practical functions are discussed. First, the aspect of control: Model experiments are often employed to get a grasp on phenomena that are otherwise beyond the control of human actors. Second, their aesthetic dimension: Model experiments often employ aesthetic strategies that, far from being epistemic obstacles, establish their function as models and may generate new areas of research. Third, meta‐theories: The practice of experimenting on models is often accompanied by discussions about their representativeness. Albeit triggered by problems in local contexts, this self‐reflective discourse did acquire a more general relevance with the formulation of scaling laws in the 19th century.     

Von der „Natur der Sache”︁ zur Geschichte der Sprache Der Übergang von der Sprachforschung zur Sprachwissenschaft zu Beginn des 19. Jahrhunderts

From the “nature of things” to the history of language: The transition from the study of language to historico-comparative linguistics. This brief essay deals with a somewhat problematic phase in the history of linguistics and tries to investigate the process by which language could be understood as a historical phenomenon with a history of its own. This new understanding of language turned out to be the starting condition for a new and very prolific way in the study of language. The conjecture is that this is due to certain alterations in the semantic field of some important notions relating to language and its study. The process of alteration began by the end of the eighteenth century with conceptual achievements which could adequately be termed as temporalization of aspects of language and the notions related to these aspects. In connection with the so called discovery of the Sanskrit language and the gradual reception of its grammatical structure, looking upon language as an organic entity with autonomous and internal structures of developpement became possible after the German romantic language philosophy had developped a strictly abstract concept of language as a notion of form. This essentially metaphorical mode of speaking nevertheless inaugurated that languages were concieved of as having their own history totally independent of their speakers. With language as an autonomous object the study of language rapidly became the science of language.     

„Und setzet eure Worte nicht auf Schrauben”︁ Medizinische Semiotik vom Ende des 18. bis zum Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts - Gegenstand und Forschung

There is no doubt that medical semiotics are having a revival at the moment. Different aspects of yesterday's and today's interest in semiotics and in the historical interpretation of signs of disease in the context of theory and history of medicine can be illuminated: their deciphering as the history of the sign in medicine by historic science, their overestimation by philosophy during the Age of Enlightenment, their reduction to a phenomenology of medicine and natural science during the first half of the 19th century and their transformation to medical diagnostics since the middle of the 19th century and recently even their functionalization as methodical instrument within the history of science. The following will show the change in meaning of medical semiotics. Modern development and especially the transition to medicine, based on natural science, will be emphasized.     

Unterscheidung und Synthese: Rezeptionsformen akustischer Forschung in der Musikliteratur des 19. Jahrhunderts

Differentiation and synthesis. Forms of reception of acoustical research in the musical literature of the nineteenth century. In the nineteenth century, both musical scholars and natural scientists discussed the relevance of acoustical research for the theory and practice of music. Whereas some musical theorists and acousticians plead together for an acoustical foundation of musical theory, other scholars questioned the significance of physical and physiological knowledge for a deeper understanding of music. Based on an analysis of musical journals, popular scientific writings, theoretical treatises and musical dictionaries this article demonstrates how musical scholars and natural scientists argued about the question which discipline should have the final say about musical concepts and terminologies. To merge both heterogeneous spheres – music and acoustics – or to carefully distinguish between them – these two positions shaped the dispute over the relationship between music and natural sciences in the nineteenth century.     

“他者”的映像——读《19世纪德国新教传教士的中国观》

自 2 0世纪 70年代美国文学评论家爱德华·W .萨义德 (EdwardW .Said)对 19世纪欧洲东方学自我理解的客观主义和真理性要求提出尖锐批评以来 ,文化间的接触与感知、理解“他者”的可能性等问题便成为西方学术界主要的关注点之一。一系列方法和主题相近的论著脱颖而出 ,欧洲 /西方对作为自己“他者”的、欧洲以外和非西方的文明的种种认识受到了多方面的讨论。与西方学术发展的这一新动向紧密联系 ,孙立新用德文写作并在德国出版了《19世纪德国新教传教士的中国观———关于文化间接触和感知问题的一项个案研究》① 一书。其主旨是 ,通过研…