The Concept of Scientific Philosophy and the Revolutionary Developments in the Natural Sciences from 1870 to 1950

The Department continued its close cooperation with the Moritz Schlick Research Institute at the University of Rostock. The study investigates the relationship between the works of scientists-philosophers such as Hermann von Helmholtz, Ernst Mach, Alois Riehl, Wilhelm Wundt, Pierre Duhem, Henri Poincaré, Moritz Schlick, and Hans Reichenbach and the revolutionary developments in the natural sciences, especially in modern physics but also in experimental psychology and Gestalt psychology during the period from 1870 to 1950. Ongoing activities include the publication of selected parts of the literary estate of Moritz Schlick through the ECHO platform, and research on the relations between modern physics and scientific philosophy in the early 20th century, focusing on two central figures of scientific philosophy: Moritz Schlick and Hans Reichenbach (Olaf Engler, University Rostock).