Grete Hermann’s Transformation of Neo-Kantianism: From Quantum Physics to Ethics
Andrea Reichenberger
Grete Hermann’s philosophical work on the foundations of quantum mechanics has recently received increased attention and appreciation. This includes her critique of John von Neumann’s “no hidden variables” proof and her neo-Kantian considerations on causality. I argue that Hermann, who was a German mathematician, physicist, and philosopher, took a critical view of Leonard Nelson’s interpretation of Kant. Her aim was to challenge Nelson’s dogmatism through her interpretation of quantum physics. Support for this thesis can be found in her interpretation of Bohr’s complementarity principle and her criticism of Heisenberg’s cut and von Neumann’s proof of the impossibility of hidden variables. Over the years, Hermann progressively distanced herself from Nelson, adopting a more liberal and democratic interpretation of Kant, and became a committed advocate of research ethics and responsibility in science and politics.
HOPOS The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science•Oct 24, 2025•0 citations