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Research

Schwarz-Weiß-Porträt von Grete Hermann. Photo: Fotosammlung des Archivs der sozialen Demokratie [AdsD] der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Bonn, Sig. 6/FOTA189903

Interrelations between science, technology and society

Grete Hermann: From Mathematics and Physics to Politics and Ethics

Content

Grete Hermann: From Mathematics and Physics to Politics and Ethics. Integrating History and Philosophy of Science

Funded by

Gefördert von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG

Edited by

Project description

Through an in-depth case study of Grete Hermann (1901–1984), this research project delivers a vital contribution to scholarship on women in philosophy, mathematics, and quantum physics. By bridging theoretical and practical philosophy with the history of physics and political practice, the project offers an integrated history and philosophy of science. It synthesizes Hermann’s multifaceted contributions—as a pioneer in quantum mechanics, a precursor of computer algebra, a philosopher in exile, an educator, an anti-fascist resistance worker, and a political reformer—into a unified, coherent analysis.

At the core of the project lies the dynamic interplay between scientific reflection and political practice. Hermann’s mathematical training and foundational philosophical inquiry into quantum mechanics—specifically her rejection of absolute certainty and her recognition of physical contextuality—provided the groundwork for her systematic critique of dogmatic philosophical systems. Conversely, her firsthand experience in anti-Nazi resistance and post-war educational reform directly informed her situated, experiential ethics. Ultimately, this project enriches scholarship on women in science and the interplay of philosophy, science, and politics, while deepening our understanding of rationality and social responsibility.

Research Design & Methods

The research design integrates three complementary methodological approaches:

  • Archival and Historical-Critical Research: Systematic retrieval, collation, and synthesis of primary source materials from institutional and private archives (notably the Archive of Social Democracy at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Bonn-Bad Godesberg). 
     
  • Conceptual and Argumentative Reconstruction: Grounded in the methods of analytic philosophy and Integrated History and Philosophy of Science (HPS/HOPOS). Hermann’s mathematical, quantum-physical, and ethical texts are evaluated with regard to their logical rigor, implicit premises, and conceptual transformations. 
     
  • Interdisciplinary Synthesis and Science Communication: The project operates at the intersection of the history of philosophy, history of mathematics, and history of physics. Research outcomes are disseminated across specialized academic platforms and public outreach channels, fostering dialogue across disciplines and engaging a broader public audience with female intellectual heritage
     

Publications

(1) Publications about Grete Hermann

  • Reichenberger, A. (2027, im Erscheinen). Grete Hermann’s Path to Social Democracy: From Nelson’s Ethical Socialism to the Balancing of Interests. In A. Vrahimis & M. Vagnetti (Hrsg.), Women in the history of philosophy of science and analytic philosophy. Springer.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2026a). Grete Hermann's transformation of Neo-Kantianism: From quantum physics to ethics. HOPOS: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science, 16(1), 81–107. https://doi.org/10.1086/739307
  • Reichenberger, A. (2026b). From paper proofs to executable code: Reframing the path from Grete Hermann’s procedures to Bruno Buchberger’s algorithm. Historia Mathematica. [Preprint] https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7455499
  • Reichenberger, A. (2025a). From quantum physics to ethics: Grete Hermann on Heisenberg’s cut. In P. Charbonneau, M. Frank, M. van der Heijden, & D. Monaldi (Hrsg.), Women in the history of quantum physics: Beyond Knabenphysik (S. 309–336). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009489430
  • Reichenberger, A. (2025b). Grete Hermann: Eine Brückenbauerin zwischen Physik, Philosophie und Politik. Physik Journal, 24(6), 34–36.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2024a). Grete Hermann’s ethical philosophy of physics. Physics Today, 77(9), 44–50. https://doi.org/10.1063/pt.etra.qcce
  • Reichenberger, A. (2024b). Philosophie und Physik: Zu Grete Hermanns neukantianischen Interpretation der Quantenmechanik. In K. Herrmann & B. Schwitzer (Hrsg.), Kantisches Denken in der Tradition von Jakob Friedrich Fries und Leonard Nelson im 20. Jahrhundert: Wirkungen und Aktualität (S. 271–295). Springer-Verlag / J.B. Metzler. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-68345-3_18

(2) Publications about Women in Physics

  • Reichenberger, A. (2026a, im Erscheinen). Ilse Rosenthal-Schneider (1891–1990) zwischen Einstein und Exil: Eine marginalisierte Pionierin der Wissenschaftsphilosophie im Exil. Zeitschrift Kultur & Technik, 4.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2026b). Geschichte hat viele Gesichter: Quantenphysikerinnen – historische Herausforderungen und integrative Perspektiven. Physik Journal, 25(6), 32–35.
  • Reichenberger, A., & van Holten, J.-W. (2026c, im Erscheinen). Framing hypotheses: Émilie Du Châtelet and Willem Jacob ’s Gravesande. In C. Carus & P. R. Anstey (Hrsg.), Émilie Du Châtelet's scientific methodology. Oxford University Press.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2025a). Shaping the history of quantum physics to make women visible. Nature Reviews Physics, 7(8), 404–405. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-025-00850-4
  • Reichenberger, A. (2025b). Zum Beitrag von Forscherinnen zur Physik von Licht und Materie. In J.-G. Hagmann, K. Stuhrberg, & E. Wallis (Hrsg.), Licht und Materie: Die Quantenphysik des Lichts (S. 18–24). Verlag Deutsches Museum.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2023a). Brief lives: Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749). Philosophy Now, 154, 60–62.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2023b). Diversifying history and philosophy of physics: Teaching Émilie Du Châtelet, Luise Lange and Grete Hermann. In C. C. Harry & G. Vlahakis (Hrsg.), Exploring the contributions of women in the history of philosophy, science, and literature, throughout time (S. 151–162). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39630-4_10
  • Reichenberger, A. (2022). Between science & philosophy: Émilie du Châtelet, a key figure of the European Enlightenment. Encyclopédie d'histoire numérique de l'Europe. https://ehne.fr/en/node/21988
  • Reichenberger, A. (2021). Émilie du Châtelet on space and time. Revue d'histoire des sciences, 74(2), 331–355. https://doi.org/10.3917/rhs.742.0331
  • Reichenberger, A. (2020). Du Châtelet and Newton. In D. Jalobeanu & C. T. Wolfe (Hrsg.), Encyclopedia of early modern philosophy and the sciences (S. 504–510). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31069-5_26
  • Reichenberger, A. (2018a). Émilie du Châtelet’s interpretation of the laws of motion in the light of 18th century mechanics. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, 69, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2018.01.006
  • Reichenberger, A. (2018b). The clock paradox: Luise Lange’s discussion. In A. Christian, D. Hommen, N. Retzlaff, & G. Schurz (Hrsg.), Philosophy of science: Between the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities (S. 55–61). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72577-2_4
  • Reichenberger, A. (2012). Leibniz’s quantity of force: A heresy? Émilie du Châtelet’s Institutions in the context of the vis viva controversy. In R. Hagengruber (Hrsg.), Emilie du Châtelet between Leibniz and Newton (S. 157–171). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2093-0_6

(3) Publications about Gender in the History of Science and Technology

  • Reichenberger, A. (2027, im Erscheinen). (Un-)Doing gender at the intersection between history and philosophy of artificial intelligence. In F. Grewe & R. Hagengruber (Hrsg.), Call for interferences: Science, medicine and technology. De Gruyter.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2026a, im Erscheinen). The Wikipedia effect: Digital gendered spaces in the history of philosophy and science. In L. Brunner, T. Eigner-Grassmugg, & S. Seinitzer (Hrsg.), Making women visible in philosophy and history of science. Herder WBG.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2026b). Feminist perspectives on the history and philosophy of science and technology. In G. Dell'Eva, A. Konsek, & V. Weidner (Hrsg.), Feminisms: Positions and perspectives (S. 319–330). Karl Alber.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2026c). Science and gender in the history and philosophy of Western science: 1750–1900. In E. Crull & E. L. Peterson (Hrsg.), History and philosophy of science: 1750 to 1900 (S. 303–318). Bloomsbury Academic.
  • Reichenberger, A. (2024). Logic matters, gender and diversity, too. Studia Humana, 13(3), 52–54. https://doi.org/10.2478/sh-2024-0019
  • Reichenberger, A. (2023). Historiography of science and gender. In M. L. Condé & M. Salomon (Hrsg.), Handbook of the historiography of science (S. 543–564). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99498-3_30-1

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