Erwin Schrodinger
Biography
Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger (1887-1961) was an Austrian physicist whose groundbreaking work laid the foundations of quantum mechanics. He is best known for his wave equation, which describes how the quantum state of a physical system changes over time. This equation, published in 1926, was a pivotal development in quantum theory, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933, shared with Paul Dirac. Beyond physics, Schrödinger had deep philosophical interests, exploring questions of consciousness, free will, and the nature of life. His book "What Is Life?" (1944) significantly influenced the nascent field of molecular biology, suggesting the concept of an "aperiodic crystal" for genetic information before the discovery of DNA's structure. He held academic positions in Zurich, Berlin, Oxford, and Dublin, eventually returning to Austria. His legacy spans both theoretical physics and the philosophy of science, making him one of the most influential scientific thinkers of the 20th century.
Selected Thoughts
«The task is, not so much to see what no one has yet seen; but to think what nobody has yet thought, about that which everybody sees.»
«The total number of degrees of freedom of the biological world must be rather small.»
«The world is a construct of our sensations, perceptions, memories. It is convenient to regard it as existing objectively on its own. But it is not a prerequisite.»
Writing Style
His writing style, particularly in his scientific and philosophical works, is characterized by clarity, intellectual rigor, and an ability to translate complex concepts into understandable prose. He often employed vivid thought experiments and analogies to explain abstract ideas, and his philosophical writings show a deep reflective and speculative tendency, bridging scientific inquiry with metaphysical questions.