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From Quantum Physics to Ethics: Grete Hermann on Heisenberg’s Cut

Andrea Reichenberger

Published Jun 19, 2025• 0 citations

Abstract

In recent years, Grete Hermann (1901–1984) has been rediscovered as a principal figure in the history and philosophy of quantum physics. In particular, her criticism of Johann von Neumann’s so-called “no hidden variables” proof is a focal point of interest. Did she really find a mistake in this proof? We argue that the whole debate is misleading. It fits too well with the image of a forgotten woman who disproved a result of a mathematical genius, but it is neither historically nor systematically justified. Despite Hermann’s challenging thoughts on quantum physics, her impressive and important achievements were in ethics and politics. We offer a new and broader reading of Hermann’s interpretation of quantum physics and try to build a bridge between her works on quantum physics and ethics. In doing so, we focus on her interpretation of Heisenberg’s cut as a methaphorical device to argue against Leonard Nelson’s theory of free will and for freedom and responsibility as cornerstones of any democratic society.

DOI: 10.1017/9781009535816.013

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In recent years, Grete Hermann (1901–1984) has been rediscovered as a principal figure in the history and philosophy of quantum physics. In particular, her criticism of Johann von Neumann’s so-called “no hidden variables” proof is a focal point of interest. Did she really find a mistake in this proof? We argue that the whole debate is misleading. It fits too well with the image of a forgotten woman who disproved a result of a mathematical genius, but it is neither historically nor systematically justified. Despite Hermann’s challenging thoughts on quantum physics, her impressive and important achievements were in ethics and politics. We offer a new and broader reading of Hermann’s interpretation of quantum physics and try to build a bridge between her works on quantum physics and ethics. In doing so, we focus on her interpretation of Heisenberg’s cut as a methaphorical device to argue against Leonard Nelson’s theory of free will and for freedom and responsibility as cornerstones of any democratic society.

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.

Grete Hermann war eine Pionierin in der mathematischphysikalischen Grundlagenforschung. Mitte der 1930er-Jahre setzte sie sich intensiv mit Johann (John) von Neumanns Überlegungen zu verborgenen Variablen in der Quantenmechanik auseinander.G rete Hermann wurde am 2. März 1901 in Bremen geboren.Sie studierte Mathematik, Physik und Philosophie in Göttingen und Freiburg und promovierte 1925 bei der Mathematikerin Emmy Noether mit einer Dissertation zur "Frage der endlich vielen Schritte in der Theorie der Polynomideale".Nach ihrer Promotion arbeitete Grete Hermann als private Assistentin beim Philosophen Leonard Nelson, einem Freund und Kollegen David Hilberts.Nach Nelsons Tod 1927 veröffentlichte sie zusammen mit Minna Specht Nelsons Arbeiten und hielt Vorträge zu seinem Werk.Specht war eine führende Figur des Internationalen Sozialistischen Kampfbunds ISK, einer kleinen intellektuellen Elite aus Göttingen.Daher war es kein Zufall, dass Grete Hermann ihre beiden wichtigsten Aufsätze zur Philosophie der Quanten-mechanik in der von Nelson begründeten "Neuen Folge der Abhandlungen der Fries'schen Schule" publizierte.Die heute antiquiert klingenden Titel der Aufsätze -"Die naturphilo sophischen Grundlagen der Quantenmechanik" [1] und "Über die Grundlagen physikalischer Aussagen in den älteren und den modernen Theorien" [2] -behandeln zur damaligen Zeit hoch aktuelle Fragen nach dem revolutionären Charakter der Quantenphysik.Grete Hermann argumentierte in beiden Arbeiten, dass der Indeterminismus der Quantenmechanik zwar bedeute, dass sich die Ergebnisse einer Messung nur mit einer bestimmten Wahrscheinlichkeit vorausberechnen lassen.