In science, Frantisek (Franz) Wald (1861-1930), oft-cited “F. Wald”, Austrian-born Czech theoretical chemist noted for []
Overview
In 1889, Wald, in his The Energy and its Devaluation, seems to have ventured his opinion on the energetics debate, i.e. on whether atoms exist or alternatively if all is energy; during which time he seems to have partially aligned with the views of Ernst Mach.
In circa 1900, Wald published The Mistress of the World and her Shadow, on energy and entropy, which was read by Robert Emden in his youth, and who, in his 1938 Nature article “Why do we Have Winter Heating?” commented on some of Wald's views.
Education
In 1881, Wald completed a degree in “technical chemistry”, and thereafter worked as chief chemist at Prazska Zelezarska Spolecnost Ironworks, Kladno, near Prague. In 1907, he became chair of the department of theoretical chemistry, physical chemistry, and metallurgy, of Prague Polytechnic (now: Czech Technical University), during which time he was associated with notables, including: philosopher Tomas Maryk, physicist Ernst Mach, and physical chemist Wilhelm Ostwald. [1]
Quotes | Cited
The following are quotes that cite Wald:
“As a student, I read with advantage a small book by F. Wald entitled The Mistress of the World and her Shadow. These meant energy and entropy. In the course of advancing knowledge the two seem to me to have exchanged places. In the huge manufactory of natural processes, the principle of entropy occupies the position of manager, for it dictates the manner and method of the whole business, whilst the principle of energy merely does the bookkeeping, balancing credits and debits.”
— Robert Emden (1938), “Why do we Have Winter Heating?” [2]
Quotes
The following are noted quotes:
“As far as I am concerned the roots of this law [the second law of thermodynamics] go much deeper [than any molecular hypothesis can tell], and to correlate molecular hypothesis and entropy is rather a lucky achievement for this hypothesis than advantageous for the second law of thermodynamics.”
— Franz Wald (1889), The Energy and its Devaluation (pg. 104) [3]
“This [molecular] hypothesis should remain only a makeshift for our weak power of comprehension; by no means should it be used to replace the causal law that is expressed in the theorem of the devaluation of energy”
— Franz Wald (1889), The Energy and its Devaluation (pg. 105) [3]
References
1. Ruthenberg, Klaus. (2007). “Biography: Frantisek Wald (1861-1930)” (pdf), Short Biographies of Philosophizing Chemists, HYLE: International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry, 13(1):55-61.
2. (a) Emden, Robert. (1938). “Why do we Have Winter Heating?” (pdf), Nature, 141:908.
(b) Sommerfeld, Arnold. (1952). Lectures on Theoretical Physics: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (pg. 41) (Thermodynamic und Statistick: Vorlesungen uber theoretische Physik) (translator: Joseph Kestin). Academic Press, 1956.
(c) Dolloff, Norman H. (1975). Heat Death and the Phoenix: Entropy, Order, and the Future of Man (Emden, pg. xi). Exposition Press.
(d) Volkenstein, Mikhail. (2009). Entropy and Information (pg. 59). BirkHauser Basel.
(e) Kreuzer, Hans J. and Tamblyn, Isaac. (2010). Thermodynamics (Emden, pg. 138). World Scientific.
3. (a) Wald, Franz. (1889). The Energy and its Devaluation (Die Energie und ihre Entwertung) (pg. 104). Publisher.
(b) Ruthenberg, Klaus. (2007). “Biography: Frantisek Wald (1861-1930)” (pdf), Short Biographies of Philosophizing Chemists, HYLE: International Journal for Philosophy of Chemistry, 13(1):55-61.
Further reading
● Wald, Franz. (1918). The Chemistry of Phases (Chemie Fasi). Publisher.
External links
● Frantisek Wald (Chez → English) – Wikipedia.
● Frantisek Wald (German → English) – Wikipedia.
