Across the Frontiers

by Werner Heisenberg

English, German (translation)

Genres: Science, History, Philosophy, Physics, Nonfiction

229 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Werner Heisenberg (AKA W. Heisenberg) was a German theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to quantum mechanics and is best known for asserting the uncertainty principle of quantum theory. In addition, he made important contributions to nuclear physics, quantum field theory, and particle physics.

He won the 1932 Nobel prize in physics "for the creation of quantum mechanics, the application of which has, inter alia, led to the discovery of the allotropic forms of hydrogen".

Reviews

[Daniel Stepke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heisenberg's work is illuminating on a number of topics, especially the overall survey of physics and the nature of the specific problems facing physics in the 20th century. He describes abstraction in a way that helps one realize exactly what one can expect of abstraction. Of course it is general and vague--the abstracted thing has been stripped of all its other attributes. He even provided a masterful summary of the origin of Greek metaphysics, and how the problems of being fell out of Presocratic discoveries one by one. However, the part of this book that will stick with me for a while is his meditations on revolutions (scientific or social). For Heisenberg, a revolution comes about by seeking to change as little as possible and by hyperfocusing on a singular problem. Empirically, he cites Planck and others to support what can only be called a conservatism. It makes sense on its own basis--trying to change an object, and not begin a new object, requires that you stick to the object as much as possible. Hopefully, future revolutions will learn Heisenberg's lesson.