Hermann von Helmholtz was a leading figure of nineteenth-century
European intellectual life, remarkable even among the many scientists of
the period for the range and depth of his interests. A pioneer of
physiology and physics, he was also deeply concerned with the
implications of science for philosophy and culture.
From the 1850s to the 1890s, Helmholtz delivered more than two dozen
popular lectures, seeking to educate the public and to enlighten the
leaders of European society and governments about the potential benefits
of science and technology to a developing modern society. David Cahan
has selected fifteen of these lectures, which reflect the wide range of
topics of crucial importance to Helmholtz and his audiences. Among the
subjects discussed are the origins of the planetary system, the relation
of natural science to science in general, the aims and progress of the
physical sciences, the problems of perception, and academic freedom in
German universities. This collection also includes Helmholtz's
fascinating lectures on the relation of optics to painting and the
physiological causes of harmony in music, which provide insight into the
relations between science and aesthetics.
"Science and Culture" makes available again Helmholtz's eloquent
arguments on the usefulness, benefits, and, intellectual pleasures of
understanding the natural world. With Cahan's Introduction to set these
essays in their broader context, this collection makes an important
contribution to the philosophical and intellectual history of Europe at
a time when science played an increasingly significant role in social,
economic, and cultural life.
