Ernst Mach
Ernst Mach
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#### Full Name and Common Aliases
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Ernst Mach was a renowned Austrian philosopher, physicist, mathematician, and biologist born on February 18, 1838.
#### Birth and Death Dates
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Born: February 18, 1838, in Brno (then known as Brno)
Died: February 19, 1916
#### Nationality and Profession(s)
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Mach was an Austrian national and held various professions throughout his life:
Physicist
Mathematician
Biologist
Philosopher
#### Early Life and Background
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Ernst Mach was born to a family of modest means. His father, Franz Mach, was an engineer, while his mother, Anna Koller Mach, came from a family of artists. Mach's early life was marked by an intense curiosity for science and the natural world.
He began studying mathematics and physics at the University of Vienna in 1856, later transferring to the University of Prague to study medicine. However, it was during this time that he became deeply interested in philosophy, particularly in the works of Immanuel Kant.
Major Accomplishments
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Mach's significant contributions span multiple disciplines:
Physiology: Mach conducted pioneering research on sound and its properties, laying the groundwork for modern acoustic theory.
Physics: He made notable contributions to the field of mechanics, introducing the concept of the "Mach number," which is still used today in aerodynamics.
Philosophy: Mach developed a philosophical system known as "empiriocriticism," emphasizing the importance of direct experience and sensory perception.Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Mach's notable works include:
"The Analysis of Sensations" (1886): This book introduced his concept of empiriocriticism, arguing that knowledge arises from direct sensory experience.
"The Science of Mechanics" (1909): A comprehensive textbook on mechanics, showcasing Mach's unique perspective on the subject.Impact and Legacy
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Ernst Mach's work has had a lasting impact on various fields:
Modern Physics: His contributions to physics have influenced notable figures such as Albert Einstein, who credited Mach as an inspiration.
Philosophy of Science: Mach's empiriocriticism continues to influence contemporary debates in the philosophy of science.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Ernst Mach is remembered for his groundbreaking work in multiple disciplines. His emphasis on direct experience and sensory perception has made him a significant figure in both scientific and philosophical circles.
Today, Mach's quotes are often cited due to their insight into the nature of knowledge and reality:
"The value of a college education is not the learning of many facts but the ability to sift and critically examine individual facts."
* "In science, there are no fixed, fastened, or immutable truths; on the contrary, it lives and develops, as does everything living."
Quotes by Ernst Mach
Ernst Mach's insights on:
To us investigators, the concept ‘soul’ is irrelevant and a matter for laughter. But matter is an abstraction of exactly the same kind, just as good and just as bad as it is. We know as much about the soul as we do of matter.
Science is the most complete presentment of facts with the least expenditure of thought.
Thing, body, matter, are nothing apart from the combinations of the elements, – the colours, sounds, and so forth – nothing apart from their so-called attributes.
Strange as it may sound, the power of mathematics rests on its evasion of all unnecessary thought and on its wonderful saving of mental operations.
What Mach calls a thought experiment is of course not an experiment at all. At bottom it is a grammatical investigation.
Science is the most complete presentment of facts with the least expenditure of thought
I can accept the theory of relativity as little as I can accept the existence of atoms and other such dogmas.
Science itself, therefore, may be regarded as a minimal problem, consisting of the completest possible presentment of facts with the least possible expenditure of thought.
The mathematician who pursues his studies without clear views of this matter, must often have the uncomfortable feeling that his paper and pencil surpass him in intelligence.