Analogien in Physik und Technik im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert

In this paper the use of analogies in physics and in technology is analysed. First the important role philosophically deep rooted analogies played in romantic physics is discussed. The work of Schelling and Ritter is treated in particular. Second the mechanical analogue models in the kinetic theory of gases and in electrodynamics are examined, as well as the severe philosophical criticism which they received. A sketch of the theory of the electron gas is presented as an example for the success and the shortcomings of analogue models. Finally mechanical and electric analogue models in technology are considered; moreover biological analogies in engineering research, and the principle of similitude as applied to model experiments in shipbuilding are discussed. The analysis of the historical examples shows that in the 19th and 20th century the word “analogy” is no longer a vague notion. It represents a scientific method, which, however, inevitably leads to both an extension of the original theoretical models and to special theories of mapping.     

Wissenschaftsgeschichte und Ur- und Frühgeschichte

During the past few years a history of special subjects and a history of science, being critical and historical as well as taking into account scientific theory and methodology, has established itself under the influence of philosophy in many domains of the sciences. Such a scientific history is now also required in the branch of the science of history. It demands the ability of re-evaluating historical sources and studies as well as the knowledge of the political aspect of a future scientific history. As a matter of fact a future scientific chronicle of prehistory has to examine not only the subject of historical research itself, but also its aim, method and the whole sociopolitical background. This is more important than a positivist study of individual and specific historical aspects, a thorough compilation of different approaches in historical research, scientists and institutions. It is also better than making an arbitrary selection of single biographies in order to have a political legitimation of the present state of research. Moreover, the danger of such a selection is the degradation of persons in history and the falsification of historical facts. Apart from a determination of the subject with regard to scientific and political aspects the search of historical clues as well as the re-evaluation of historical and archeological sources could both lead to a revision of prehistory.     

Spekulation und Physik im 18. Jahrhundert. Lomonossow,Kant und Lavoisier in Sachen Erhaltungsgesetz und Äther

As far as the law of preservation of matter and the existence of ether are concerned, Kant, Lomonossow and Lavoisier had very similar views. Nevertheless, according to historical evidence they worked out their theories never taking each other's results for granted. Whereas it is well known that Lavoisier did not base his experiments on the former ones by Lomonossow, it has been argued that Kant based his philosophy of nature on Lavoisier's experiments. I try to show here, that Kant had his philosophy of nature done, prior to Lavoisier's Elements of Chemistry. Further that the only one to have been able to influence Kant was not Lavoisier but Lomonossow. But Kant never mentioned Lomonossow. There is strong evidence that the similarity of views in Kant, Lomonossow and Lavoisier is not due to any kind of interaction between them. This also holds of the (same) mistakes, which Kant and Lomonossow made. The only substantial difference is that Kant thought, that some laws of nature may be logically inferred without experiments.     

Justinian I. und die Patriarchate Rom und Konstantinopel

In Auseinandersetzung mit einigen neueren Beiträgen (Andreae, Görler) sucht der Verf. die Schwierigkeiten im Abschnitt über die Laokoongruppe aufzuzeigen und zu lösen. Er behandelt dabei u.a. den logischen Zusammenhang, den Sinn von nec plures pariter nuncupari possunt, die Beziehung von sicut in Laocoonte zum Ganzen und nicht zuletzt die Bedeutung der Apposition opus omnibus ... praeferendum. Das Ergebnis der Analyse bestätigt wichtige Elemente der traditionellen Deutung.     

Wirtschafts- und Regionalpolitik in China:

In den vergangenen Jahrzehnten verfolgte die Volksrepublik China eine Raum- und Wirtschaftspolitik, die zu ausgeprägten regionalen Ungleichgewichten führte. In jüngster Zeit versucht die Regierung Chinas, dieser Entwicklung entgegenzusteuern. Eine Maßnahme zur Überwindung der Disparitäten ist das Drei-Schluchten-Projekt am Yangtze. Dieses Projekt, das als derzeit weltgrößte Infrastrukturmaßnahme bezeichnet werden kann, wird international kontrovers diskutiert. Zumeist sind die mit dem Projekt verbundenen Umsiedlungsmaßnahmen und die Umweltschäden Gegenstand der Kritik. Eine Auseinandersetzung mit den durchaus positiven Effekten auf die Entwicklung der benachteiligten Zentral- und Westregionen Chinas findet dagegen kaum statt. Der Artikel greift ausgewählte Aspekte dieser bislang kaum beachteten Wirkungen des Drei-Schluchten-Projektes auf.     

Migrations- und Integrationsforschung in der Praxis

Das aktuelle Interesse an Fragen der Migration und Integration von Ausl?ndern und eingebürgerten Deutschen hat zu einer gro?en Vielfalt an Forschungsans?tzen geführt. Die M?glichkeiten zur Analyse von Migrations- und Integrationsprozessen werden in einem hohen Ma?e durch die verfügbaren statistischen Daten und empirischen Umfrageergebnisse bestimmt, die spezifische Anforderungen erfüllen müssen. Der folgende Beitrag führt kurz in die besonderen Erfordernisse der Migrations- und Integrationsforschung ein und stellt eine Auswahl an Datenquellen vor. Im Mittelpunkt des Interesses steht der aktuelle Integrationssurvey des Bundesinstituts für Bev?lkerungsforschung, dessen Analysem?glichkeiten exemplarisch gezeigt werden. Correspondence to:Frank Swiaczny     

Verzeitlichungs- und Historisierungstendenzen in der frühen Geologie und Paläontologie

Steno described in 1669 geological sections which were interpreted as the result of a series of earlier events. Steno used actuogeological methods. This was the first step towards temporalizing nature. Steno was succeeded by a lot of other researchers from different European countries. It is amazing to see, that “actualism” was widespread during the 18th century. The next step was the discovery that fossils are extinct beings (Ray, Hooke and others). Using methods of comparing anatomy W. Hunter (forerunner of Cuvier) could prove in 1769 that the Mastodon is an extinct vertebrate. The work of Soulavie in France (1780) is stressed. He held in his hand the key for solving the problem of index-fossils. About 1800 the importance of fossils for stratigraphy and describing a history of the earth was recognized. Theories and hypotheses were needed to explain the fossil documents (strange shells in older strata and higher developed mammals in younger strata). All these theories couldn't propose a feasible mechanism for the change of beings during the history of the earth. But it could be said, that all fossils proove a history of life and the earth i. e. a progressive development in one sense, a development which is not reversible.     

Folgen der Emigration deutscher und österreichischer Wissenschaftstheoretiker und Logiker zwischen 1933 und 1945

The paper begins by delimiting the scope of ‘logic’ and ‘philosophy of science’ and goes on to present the biographies and select bibliographies of 36 émigré scholars from Germany and Austria working in these fields. An evaluation of this material, and of data on societies, congresses, lecture series, books and periodicals on logic and philosophy of science, is then undertaken. Against the rich background of activity in the 20s and 30s of our century, there is manifest a rapid decline of high-ranking research in the philosophy of science and (to a lesser degree) in logic in Germany and Austria. Since, with one exception, émigré logicians and philosophers of science did not return after the breakdown of the Third Reich, recovery in these fields has been extremely slow. Pertinent knowledge had to be re-imported, and a satisfactory level has been reached only with the coming of a new generation.