Identifiers refer to the 1990 reprint unless otherwise noted
Intellectual Mastery of Nature: Theoretical Physics from Ohm to Einstein is a two-volume reference work on the history of theoretical physics by Christa Jungnickel and Russell McCormmach that was initially published in 1986 by the University of Chicago Press. The book was well received, and it won the 1987 Pfizer Award, given annually by the History of Science Society.[1] In 2017, the duo released a revised and condensed version of the book through Springer International Publishing, titled The Second Physicist: On the History of Theoretical Physics in Germany. The authors also wrote the 1996 and updated 1999 biography of Henry Cavendish, originally titled Cavendish. The book was given the subtitle The Experimental Life in the revised version of 1999.
Background
The book draws its name from Hermann von Helmholtz's view that the objective of theoretical physics is "intellectual mastery of nature".[2]
Content
Volume I: The Torch of Mathematics: 1800-1870
Establishing Physics at the Universities
German Physicists Before 1830
Promoting a New Physics: Earth Magnetism at Gottingen
Reforms in Teaching University Physics: Development of the Seminar and the Laboratory in the 1830s and 1840s
Physics Research in "Poggendorff's Annalen" in the 1840s
Connecting Laws: Careers and Theories in the 1840s
Contributions of Mathematicians to Physics: Dirchlet, Riemann, Carl Neumann
Developments in Switzerland and Austria Bearing on German Physics
Physics at German Universities from 1840 to 1870
Physics in Berlin: Relations to Secondary Education
Physics in Munich: Relations to Technology
Kirchhoff and Helmholtz at Heidelberg: Relations of Physics to Chemistry and Physiology
Volume 2: The Now Mighty Theoretical Physics: 1870-1925
Physical Research in the Annalen and Other Journals, 1869-1871
Helmholtz, Kirchhoff, and the Physics at Berlin Universities
The Creation of Extraordinary Professorships for Theoretical Physics
Boltzmann at Graz
Electrical Researches
Physical Research in the Annalen and in the Fortschritte
Gottingen Institute for Theoretical Physics
Mechanical Researches and Lectures
Munich Chair for Theoretical Physics
Theoretical Physics at Leipzig
Vienna Institute for Theoretical Physics
New Foundations for Theoretical Physics at the Turn of the Twentieth Century
Institutional Developments, Research, and Teaching in Theoretical Physics after the Turn of the Century
Theoretical Physics Unbound: Examples from the Theories of the Quantum, Relativity, the Atom, and the Universe
In his 1986 review, John L. Heilbron wrote that the book "is a unique, important, and rich study" that is "useful to both historians and scientists".[2] The review noted that the book provides a good account of the deeds of "the professors who made theoretical physics" and continued: "This is a considerable achievement, though not the intellectual mastery that the authors promised."[2] The review then goes on to analyse the book by first stating that the first volume "gives a definitive account of the establishment of the institutions of German academic physics," but that it "does not integrate institutional and intellectual aspects of the history and scarcely touches on wider social forces and cultural values."[2] Heilbron also criticised the book's organisation, which, to him, exemplifies the volume's shortcomings.[2] Heilbron notes that the second volume is more successful in this integration than the first.[2] The review closes by stating: "Their stately recount ultimately overwhelms annoyance with the detail, the poor arrangement, and the imperfect integration of their book and leaves the impression that they as well as their subjects engaged in a grand enterprise."[2]
Identifiers refer to the 2017 eBook edition unless otherwise noted
The Second Physicist: On the History of Theoretical Physics in Germany is a revised and condensed version of Intellectual Mastery of Nature by the same authors that was published by Springer International Publishing in 2017. The book was reviewed in HOPOS in 2019.[3] The first chapter, which is new for this book, is titled "Toward a Characterization of Theoretical Physics in Germany" and contains a discussion on how theoretical physics differs from mathematical and experimental physics.[3] The final chapter of the book, titled "Concluding Observations," is also new and contains a discussion on how theoretical physics evolved from mathematical physics.[3] A review of the book stated that "it is a splendid one-volume history of German theoretical physics in the nineteenth century," though its "appropriate audience" is stated to be "readers with a background in physics and mathematics and an interest in the history of physics".[3] The reviewer went on to write that the work "stands on its own as a model of intellectual clarity" and that he "highly" recommends it "to readers with the requisite background and interest, as well as to other readers who would like to experience something different and really amazing."[3] Jungnickel died before the book was published, and the new material and the updates are credited to McCormmach.[3]
Table of contents
Toward a Characterization of Theoretical Physics in Germany
Establishing Physics at the Universities
German Physicists Before and Around 1830
Promoting a New Physics: Earth Magnetism at Gottingen
Reforms in Teaching University Physics: Development of the Seminar and the Laboratory in the 1830s and 1840s
Physics Research in "Poggendorff's Annalen" in the 1840s
Connecting Laws: Careers and Theories in the 1840s
Mathematicians and Physicists
Kirchhoff, Clausius, Weber, and Connectedness
Physical Research in the Annalen and Other Journals Around 1870
Positions in Theoretical Physics
Methods of Theoretical Physics
Ordinary Professorships for Theoretical Physics
Physical Research in the Annalen and in the Fortschritte
