Hermann and the relative context of observation

Elise Crull

pp. 149-169

in: Elise Crull, Guido Bacciagaluppi (eds), Grete Hermann, Berlin, Springer, 2016

Abstract

Prior analyses of Grete Hermann's 1935 essay on the philosophical foundations of quantum mechanics have taken her central aim to be the recovery of an appropriately Kantian notion of causality from this new indeterministic physics. I argue that if one instead reads this essay as primarily an investigation into the meaning and implications of the relative nature of quantum mechanics—not only for physics, but also for fields as different as ethics—certain dimensions of her work appear with greater clarity. Among these are her particular Kantian interpretation of Bohr's complementarity and correspondence principles , her unique understanding of the quantum-classical divide , the failure of Kant's a priori categories of space, time and causality to apply literally—even for obtaining classical natural knowledge, and the splitting of truth.

Cited authors

Kant Immanuel

Henry-Hermann Grete