Moritz Schlick

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Moritz Schlick (1930)

Friedrich Albert Moritz Schlick (born April 14, 1882 in Berlin , † June 22, 1936 in Vienna ) was a German physicist and philosopher . Schlick was the founder and one of the leading figures of the Vienna Circle in logical empiricism . His contributions to a scientific philosophy range from natural philosophy and epistemology to ethics and aesthetics .

Life

After graduating from high school, Schlick studied natural sciences and mathematics at the universities of Heidelberg , Lausanne and Berlin at the Luisenstädtisches Realgymnasium in Berlin . In 1904 he received his doctorate from Max Planck with a physical thesis on the reflection of light in an inhomogeneous layer . Schlick spent the following three years studying natural sciences in Göttingen, Heidelberg and Berlin. In 1907 he married the American Blanche Guy Hardy and from the autumn of 1907 studied psychology for two semesters in Zurich .

In 1911 Schlick completed his habilitation with the essay The Essence of Truth According to Modern Logic at the University of Rostock , where he researched and taught until 1921. Here Schlick worked on the reform of traditional philosophy against the background of the scientific revolution. His friendship with Albert Einstein , whose theory of relativity he was one of the first to grapple with its philosophical consequences, also dates from this time . During the First World War, Schlick did military service as a physicist at the Johannisthal military airfield for two years . In 1917 Schlick received the title of professor and in 1921 he was appointed associate professor with a teaching position for ethics and natural philosophy. In 1918 Schlick's main work, the General Epistemology , was published in which he defended an epistemological realism against positivist and neo-Kantian positions .

In 1921, Schlick accepted a full professorship at Kiel University . In 1922 he took over the chair of natural philosophy at the University of Vienna as Ernst Mach's successor . The interdisciplinary discussion group he founded there in 1924 went down in the history of philosophy as the Vienna Circle . In addition, Moritz Schlick was involved in popular education, including a. in the Ethical Society and in the Ernst Mach association . From 1926 Schlick was in contact with Ludwig Wittgenstein , who had a decisive influence on him - from 1929 to 1932 Schlick discussed with him regularly. In 1929, Schlick turned down an appointment to Bonn and in the following years also worked as a visiting professor (in Stanford and Berkeley , California). Since 1929 he also published the series of writings on the scientific world view .

After Austrofascism came to power in Austria in 1934, Moritz Schlick stayed at the University of Vienna.

assassination

Place of murder with memorial text, carved into a floor slab, main building of the University of Vienna
Moritz Schlick's grave at the Pötzleinsdorfer Friedhof

On June 22, 1936, Schlick was shot on the so-called Philosophenstiege in the building of the Vienna University by his former student Hans Nelböck , who had received his doctorate in 1931. He had already started to terrorize his “doctoral supervisor” and Schlick twice threatened to murder him. Schlick had defended himself with a police report. As a result, Nelböck was taken to a psychiatric institution, but after a while he was released as harmless.

The perpetrator, who was found sane by the court, confessed in full and allowed himself to be arrested without resistance, but showed no remorse. The murderer used the jury trial as an opportunity for public self-portrayal and justified himself with ideological arguments, among other things. Schlick's anti-metaphysical philosophy had unsettled his moral convictions, which made him lose his support and cohesion in the world of life. As a trivializing cover story that distracts from the political context, the assassin and the ideological opponents of Moritz Schlick focused on a dispute about a student named Sylvia Borowicka as the motive for the crime. Nelböck was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and in 1938 he was released from prison prematurely by the National Socialists.

In contemporary polemics, the murdered Schlick was stylized by his opponents as the real culprit and responsibility for his own murder was assigned to him: for example, the person behind the pseudonym Prof. Dr. Austriacus hiding lawyer Johannes Sauter , who in the influential Catholic weekly Schoenere Zukunft blamed Schlick for the liberal separation of science, metaphysics and faith.

Since 1993, the following inscription in the stone floor of a landing on the Philosophenstiege at the University of Vienna has been commemorating Moritz Schlick and the place of his murder: “Moritz Schlick, protagonist of the Vienna Circle, was murdered on June 22, 1936 at this point. An intellectual climate poisoned by racism and intolerance contributed to the act. "

Moritz Schlick's grave is located at the Pötzleinsdorfer Friedhof in Vienna's 18th district. It is listed there in the list of grave sites dedicated to honor .

philosophy

ethics

Schlick's book Lebensweisheit was published as early as 1907 . Attempt a doctrine of happiness . The "Questions of Ethics" appeared in 1930 as Volume IV of Schlick's co-edited publications on the scientific world view, a publication organ of the Vienna Circle. In it, Schlick tries to realize a purely empirical ethics that distinguishes itself from ethics with moral to metaphysical intent (such as an ethics of duty, but also cognitivism). Schlick's experiment is also interesting because the possibility of ethics was fundamentally denied by most representatives of logical empiricism.

According to Schlick, ethics is possible as an empirical science, as part of psychology. You should understand in which situation something is called good, not how and when something is good, let alone should be. Ethics thus becomes a factual science by stating what is the case, namely the rule by which something is called good: the norm of the ethical. However, ethics should not remain limited as a pure “norm science” of what, but should also seek to explain causally how it comes about. The question of what is joined by the question of cognitive ethics: "Why is it the guideline for action?" The great danger here is that ethics, instead of describing observationally, wants to determine what is good itself and becomes moral.

As a factual science, ethics must adhere to what can be observed and justified. Ethical judgments of value or worthlessness are made with regard to human actions, actually with regard to the motive on which the action is based. A motive that leads to the action is what the agent wants, but not necessarily that and certainly not the only thing he can want. A lot can be wished for, but "Willing is something completely different, is 'more' [...] Willing is 'identical' to the first, purely internal stage of the action, the effort." If what is wanted is compelling, what is wanted can be without consequence stay and take on different, conflicting forms. This is the basis of the competition of motives, through which the question of value alone has a meaning, provided that the person could have acted differently.

According to Schlick, after all, people want the most pleasurable idea, which is not to be equated with egoism. While the egoist behaves inconsiderately, there are many pleasurable ideas that require consideration, especially the social instincts that Schlick describes as "the moral instincts par excellence". It cannot be one's own sudden pleasure satisfaction that determines human action, insofar as it leads to weariness. Schlick differentiates between “motivation” and “success”, between which there is a connection, but no identity. The joys of success can lag behind motivating expectations; Spending desire to succeed can reduce renewed motivation. At the same time, discipline or renunciation, even pain or sadness can be experienced with pleasure, provided that pleasure is not simply identical with happiness, discomfort with unhappiness. The determination of the pleasurable or the listless is not just based on natural or individualistic needs, but repeatedly refers people to their dealings with others, i. H. on society.

Just as the will of the individual must be understood with regard to society, so the concept of the good is only to be understood as a function of society. The content of the moral precepts depends on the living conditions; society appears as the “moral lawgiver”; moral is that behavior "which human society believes is most beneficial to its own welfare."

It is true that the individual is also led to such action through suggestion, education and reward and punishment, but in essence he follows his own inclination, goodness. "Goodness and happiness bear the same expression on their faces, the friendly is also the joyful and vice versa", which is the obvious expression for the fact that the well-being of the individual is fundamentally in association with others. This is the reason why people do not just suddenly seek their own satisfaction, but often do without or expose themselves to suffering. People are not most happy about their happiness, but rather their own “ability to be happy”, the essence of which is that the desire for motivation and the desire for success remain in a stable relationship and the individual does not oppose his environment in his actions.

Others

For the 500th anniversary of the University of Rostock in 1919, the faculties of the University of Rostock were able to name personalities who should be honored. When Schlick found out that Albert Einstein was not named, he stood up for him. Einstein was placed on the only list that had vacancies, medicine. So it came about that Einstein was made an honorary doctor of medicine from the University of Rostock, the only German honorary doctorate that Einstein was awarded.

Works (selection)

  • About the reflection of light in an inhomogeneous layer , Diss. Berlin 1904.
  • Wisdom. Attempt a doctrine of happiness . Becksche Verlagbuchhandlung, Munich 1908.
  • The basic problem of aesthetics in terms of developmental history . In: Archives for the whole of psychology 14, 1909, pp. 102-132.
  • The limit of scientific and philosophical concept formation . In: Quarterly journal for scientific philosophy and sociology . Vol. 34, 1910, pp. 121-142.
  • The essence of truth according to modern logic. In: Quarterly journal for scientific philosophy and sociology. Vol. 34, 1910, pp. 386-477.
  • Is there intuitive knowledge? . In: Quarterly journal for scientific philosophy and sociology. Vol. 37, 1913, pp. 472-488.
  • The philosophical meaning of the principle of relativity. In: Journal for Philosophy and Philosophical Criticism. 159, 1915, pp. 129-175.
  • Ideality of space, introjection and psychophysical problem . In: Quarterly journal for scientific philosophy and sociology. Vol. 40, 1916, pp. 230-254.
  • Space and Time in Contemporary Physics. As an introduction to understanding general relativity . In: Die Naturwissenschaften Vol. 5, 1917, pp. 161–167, 177–186.
  • Appearance and essence (lecture in Berlin 1917). In: Kant Studies 23, 1918, pp. 188–208.
  • General epistemology . Published by Julius Springer, Berlin 1918 (2nd edition 1925)
  • Space and Time in Contemporary Physics. As an introduction to understanding general relativity . Published by Julius Springer, Berlin 1919 (4th edition 1922)
  • Natural-philosophical considerations on the causal principle . In: Die Naturwissenschaften , Vol. 8, 1920, pp. 461–474.
  • Einstein's theory of relativity . In: Mosse Almanach, 1921, pp. 105–123.
  • Critical or empirical interpretation of the new physics? In: Kant studies. 26, 1921, pp. 91-111.
  • Hermann von Helmholtz. Epistemology writings. Ed .: Moritz Schlick & Paul Hertz. Springer, Berlin 1921.
  • Helmholtz as an epistemologist (lecture in Berlin 1921). In: Helmholtz as a physicist, physiologist and philosopher. Karlsruhe 1922, pp. 29-39.
  • The theory of relativity in philosophy. (Lecture in Leipzig 1922). In: Negotiations of the Society of German Natural Scientists and Doctors , 87, Leipzig 1922, pp. 58–69.
  • Natural philosophy. In: Max Dessoir (ed.), Philosophy in its individual areas. (Textbook of Philosophy, II). Berlin 1925, pp. 395-492.
  • Experience, recognition, metaphysics. In: Kant studies. 31, 1926, pp. 146-158. Reprinted (with a supplement in the footnote on page 7) in the volume “Collected Essays 1926–1936” pp. 1–17.
  • About the meaning of life. In: Symposium. Philosophical journal for research and pronunciation. Vol. 1, 1927, pp. 331-354.
  • Epistemology and Modern Physics. In: Scientia 45, 1929, pp. 307-316.
  • The turn of philosophy. In: Knowledge I 1930, pp. 4–11.
  • Questions of ethics . (= Writings of the scientific worldview , 4). Published by Julius Springer, Vienna 1930.
  • The Future of Philosophy . In: Proceedings of the Seventh International Congress of Philosophy / Oxford 1930 , London 1931, pp. 112-116.
  • The causality in contemporary physics . In: Die Naturwissenschaften 19, 1931, pp. 145–162.
  • Is there a material a priori? (Lecture in Vienna 1930). In: Annual scientific report of the Philosophical Society at the University of Vienna for the year 1931/32 , Vienna 1932, pp. 55–65.
  • The Future of Philosophy (talk in Stockton, Cal.). In: College of the Pacific Publications in Philosophy I, 1931, pp. 45-62.
  • A new Philosophy of Experience (Stockton, Cal.). In: College of the Pacific Publications in Philosophy I, 1931, pp. 63-78.
  • Causality in Everyday Life and Recent Science (Presentation in Berkeley, Cal.). In: University of California Publications in Philosophy XV, 1932, pp. 99-125.
  • Positivism and Realism. In: Knowledge 3, 1932, pp. 1–31.
  • About the foundation of knowledge. In: Knowledge 4, 1934, pp. 79-99.
  • Philosophy and science. (Lecture in Vienna 1929). In: Knowledge 4, 1934, pp. 379-396.
  • About the concept of wholeness. In: Knowledge 5, 1934, pp. 52-55.
  • Supplementary remarks on P. Jordan's attempt at a quantum-theoretical interpretation of the phenomena of life. In: Knowledge 5, 1934, pp. 181-183.
  • About the concept of wholeness (lecture in Vienna). In: Scientific annual report of the Philosophical Society at the University of Vienna for the association years 1933/34 and 1934/35 , Vienna 1935, pp. 23–37.
  • Facts and Propositions. In: Analysis 2, 1935, pp. 65-70.
  • Unanswerable Questions? In: The Philosopher 13, 1935, pp. 98-104.
  • De la Relation entre les Notions Psychologiques et les Notions Physiques. In: Revue de Synthèse 10, 1935, pp. 5-26.
  • Are laws of nature conventions? In: Actes du Congrès International de Philosophie Scientifique, Paris 1935 , IV: Induction et Probabilité (= Actualités Scientifiques et Industrielles 391), Paris 1936, pp. 8-17. 2, 1935, pp. 65-70.
  • Law and probability In: Actes du Congrès International de Philosophy Scientifique, Paris 1935 , IV: Induction et Probabilité (= Actualités Scientifiques et Industrielles 391), Paris 1936, pp. 8-17. 2, 1935, pp. 46-57.
  • Meaning and Verification. In: The Philosophical Review 45, 1936, pp. 339-369.
  • About the concept of wholeness. In: Actes du Huitième Congrès International de la Philosophie à Prague, September 2-7, 1934 Prague 1936, pp. 85–99.
  • Quantum Theory and Recognizability of Nature. In: Knowledge 6, 1937, pp. 317-326.
  • L'École de Vienne et la Philosophy Traditional. In: Travaux du IXème Congrès IOnternational de Philosophie , IV: L'Unité de la Science: la Méthode et les Méthodes (= Actualités Scientifiques et Industrielles 533), Paris 1937, pp. 199-107.
  • Collected essays 1926-1936 . Gerold & Co., Vienna 1938. Online archive
  • Principles of Natural Philosophy , ed. by W. Hollitscher and J. Rauscher, Vienna 1948.
  • The problems of philosophy in their context . Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt 1986.
  • Moritz Schlick Complete Edition . Springer Verlag, Vienna / New York 2006 ff. - Almost complete author's copy of Vol. I / 1 , I / 2 , I / 3 , I / 5 , I / 6

literature

Web links

Commons : Moritz Schlick  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files
Wikisource: Moritz Schlick  - Sources and full texts

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Friedrich Stadler: Documentation: The murder of Moritz Schlick , in: Friedrich Stadler (Ed.), Studies on the Vienna Circle. Origin, Development and Effect of Logical Empiricism in Context. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp 1997, pp. 920-961.
  2. ↑ Renata Lotz-Rimbach: Mord does not expire: Psychogram of a political murder , in: Friedrich Stadler, Fynn Ole Engler (ed.): Stations: the philosopher and physicist Moritz Schlick on his 125th birthday. Springer, Vienna, New York 2009, pp. 81-104.
  3. ↑ Peter Csendes: Vienna: From 1790 to the present. Böhlau Verlag, 2006, p. 499 f.
  4. ↑ Friedrich Stadler: The other cultural history using the example of emigration and exile of the Austrian intellectuals 1930 - 1940 , in: Rolf Steininger, Michael Gehler (ed.): Austria in the 20th century. A study book in two volumes. From the monarchy to the Second World War. Böhlau, Vienna, Cologne, Weimar, 1997, pp. 535-553.
  5. ↑ Peter Malina: Tatort: ​​Philosophenstiege , in: Michael Benedikt, Rudolf Burger (Ed.): Consciousness, Language and Art, Vienna, 1988, pp. 231-253.
  6. ↑ Prof. Dr. Austriacus: Displaced Reason. The Moritz Schlick case
  7. ^ The murder of Prof. Moritz Schlick: Assassination attempt in the main building of the University of Vienna univie.ac.at, accessed November 27, 2017. - With picture.
  8. ^ Moritz Schlick in the Vienna History Wiki of the City of Vienna
  9. ↑ Vienna cemeteries: Graves dedicated to honor in the Pötzleinsdorf cemetery
  10. ↑ M. Schlick: Questions of ethics. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt a. M. 2002, ISBN 3-518-28077-5 , p. 71.
  11. ↑ M. Schlick: Questions of ethics. 2002, p. 90.
  12. ↑ M. Schlick: Questions of ethics. 2002, p. 195.
  13. ↑ M. Schlick: Questions of ethics. 2002, p. 120.
  14. ↑ M. Schlick: Questions of ethics. 2002, p. 167.
  15. ↑ M. Schlick: Questions of ethics. 2002, p. 191.
  16. ↑ Die Welt November 16, 2011
  17. ↑ Competition entry for Scientific American ; For background information, see p. 31ff in: Fynn Ole Engler, Moritz Schlick and Albert Einstein , MPI for the History of Science , 2006
personal data
SURNAME Schlick, Moritz
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Schlick, Moritz Friedrich Albert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German physicist and philosopher
DATE OF BIRTH April 14, 1882
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin
DATE OF DEATH June 22, 1936
Place of death Vienna