Jürgen Renn directs research into the structural transformations of knowledge systems. His work delves into how scientific understanding evolves and reshapes itself over time. Renn examines pivotal moments in scientific history to uncover the mechanisms that shape our comprehension of the world. His approach is grounded in a detailed analysis of historical processes and their influence on contemporary scientific thought.
This four-volume work offers an extensive study of the creation of general relativity, documenting Einstein's 1912 Zurich Notebook and its pivotal role in developing this fundamental theory. It includes translations of key sources, detailed commentaries, and analyses, showcasing the transition from classical to modern physics and redefining concepts of space, time, and gravitation.
The catalog describes the bumpy path of Einstein's life and the political and social revolutions that formed its backdrop, closing with the influence of his work on science and culture today. Supplemented by a bilingual volume of documents, letters, manuscripts and photographs.
100 essays by some of the world's most renowned experts explain the historical background of Einstein's life and work, the many different aspects of his biography and the scientific fields connected to his work, going beyond the traditional picture of the scientific genius.
"Einstein begins his Autobiographical Notes with one problem he never quite solved: 'What, precisely, is thinking?' ... In this book, Autobiographical Notes is accompanied by introductions, essays, and commentary by Hanoch Gutfreud and Jèurgen Renn, who draw on biographical information, written correspondence, and their knowledge of Einstein scholarship to render these difficult texts accessible to readers. They have also collected critical writings by Einstein's contemporaries alongside Einstein's own responses to these interlocutors, as well as Einstein's Autobiographical Sketch, composed just before his death in 1955, which is published for the first time in English"--
"This book presents a new way of thinking about the history of science and technology, one that offers a grand narrative of human history in which knowledge serves as a critical factor of cultural evolution. Jürgen Renn examines the role of knowledge in global transformations going back to the dawn of civilization while providing vital perspectives on the complex challenges confronting us today in the Anthropocene, the present geological epoch shaped by humankind. Covering topics ranging from evolution of writing to the profound transformations wrought by modern science, The Evolution of Knowledge offers an entirely new framework for understanding structural changes in systems of knowledge and a bold, innovative approach to the history and philosophy of science."-- From back cover
The book delves into the development of Einstein's field equations of gravitation, pivotal to his general theory of relativity. It features an introductory essay that contextualizes four influential papers presented to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in November 1915, which address Mercury's perihelion anomaly. Through critical excerpts from various sources, it traces Einstein's intellectual journey, highlighting significant collaborations, particularly with mathematician Marcel Grossmann and confidant Michele Besso. This volume offers an in-depth exploration of the interplay between physics and mathematics in Einstein's groundbreaking work.
A Study of Conceptual Development in Early Modern Science: Free Fall and Compounded Motion in the Work of Descartes, Galileo and Beeckman
Focusing on the evolution of scientific thought, this book explores the shift from Renaissance engineering and philosophy to classical mechanics, emphasizing the role of velocity. It highlights the contributions of figures like Descartes and Galileo, who grappled with essential concepts that laid the groundwork for classical mechanics, often without fully recognizing their significance. The authors argue that this transformation was neither a simple progression nor a sudden upheaval, but rather a complex process of pushing the boundaries of the existing Aristotelian framework.
"The revolution that emerged from Albert Einstein?s work in the early twentieth century transformed our understanding of space, time, motion, gravity, matter, and radiation. Beginning with Einstein?s miracle year of 1905 and continuing through his development of the theory of general relativity, Einstein spurred a revolution that continues to reverberate in modern-day physics."--
Peter Damerow (1939 2011) was a visionary scholar of rare versatility. A key figure in the foundation and early development of the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, he contributed to fields as wide-ranging as pedagogy, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, Near Eastern studies, as well as the history of knowledge and science. Through his work and his dynamic personality, he shaped the careers of many scholars worldwide. He was a paragon of the engaged scientist, having great sensitivity for political and social concerns and a perceptiveness that also shaped his scholarship. The present volume attempts to capture the vivacity of his ever-curious mind. It comprises contributions by some of his closest companions, colleagues, and friends, most of which were presented at a workshop held in Peter s honor at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin in December 19 20, 2013. The contributions are organized in four parts, the first three of which cover some of the areas of Peter s interests: the origins of writing and mathematics; the history of knowledge and science; and societal concerns and the role of information technologies for the humanities. The last part offers a glimpse at his life and also presents the scope of his scholarship with a bibliography of his writings.