The role of models in Boltzmann's "Lectures on natural philosophy" (1903-1906)

Nadine De Courtenay

pp. 103-119

in: Michael Heidelberger, Friedrich Stadler (eds), History of philosophy of science, Berlin, Springer, 2002

Abstract

During the mathematics lesson dealing with imaginary numbers, Törless, the young hero of Robert Musil's novel, The Confusion of Young Törless, is truly amazed. Imaginary numbers are impossible: numbers which, put to the square, give a negative number cannot exist. Still, these imaginary numbers seem to be used to reach quite definite and concrete results. This looks to Törless as if mathematics could make you walk steadily on a bridge which had only a beginning and an end and nothing in between, as if the bridge were complete.

Cited authors

Musil Robert

Boltzmann Ludwig