The Determinate World: Kant and Helmholtz on the Physical Meaning of Geometry

David J. Hyder

Published by De Gruyter 2009

The Determinate World

Kant and Helmholtz on the Physical Meaning of Geometry

David J. Hyder

Volume 69 in the series Quellen und Studien zur Philosophie

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110217209

Overview
Contents

About this book

This book offers a new interpretation of Hermann von Helmholtz’s work on the epistemology of geometry. A detailed analysis of the philosophical arguments of Helmholtz’s Erhaltung der Kraft shows that he took physical theories to be constrained by a regulative ideal. They must render nature “completely comprehensible”, which implies that all physical magnitudes must be relations among empirically given phenomena. This conviction eventually forced Helmholtz to explain how geometry itself could be so construed. Hyder shows how Helmholtz answered this question by drawing on the theory of magnitudes developed in his research on the colour-space. He argues against the dominant interpretation of Helmholtz’s work by suggesting that for the latter, it is less the inductive character of geometry that makes it empirical, and rather the regulative requirement that the system of natural science be empirically closed.

Author / Editor information

David Hyder, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

"David Hyder's The Determinate World is ambitious and challenging. It is an exciting and tough read, and it covers a great deal of ground. Hyder constructs a careful and stimulating narrative, to make a number of significant and well-constructed arguments concerning Helmholtz's epistemology, his relationship to Kant, and his empirical geometry. The Determinate World is an excellent contribution to the history of philosophy of 19th century science - those who work in the field will need to engage with this book."
Lydia Patton in: http://ndpr.nd.edu/review.cfm?id=20627

Topics

Frontmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	I
Contents Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	VII
1. Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. The Empirical Determination of Physical Concepts in Kant’s Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	19
3. Helmholtz on the Comprehension of Nature Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	76
4. Colour-theory and Manifolds Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	105
5. The Road to Empirical Geometry Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	134
6. Helmholtz on Geometry, 1868 – 1878 Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	162
7. Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	197
Backmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	215

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Academic Departments, Libraries, Scholars, Students
Pages
- Front matter: 8
- Main content: 229
Keywords: Helmholtz; Hermann von; Kant; Immanuel; philosophy of science

eBook

Published: October 28, 2009
ISBN: 9783110217209

Hardcover

Published: November 16, 2009
ISBN: 9783110183917

Paperback

Published: June 20, 2016
ISBN: 9783110481570