German Museum of Technology

As Hermann indicated in the title of her main work, ‘Die naturphilosophischen Grundlagen der Quantenmechanik’, philosophy of nature plays an important role in her critical study of quantum mechanics. However, what exactly does Hermann mean by ‘philosophy of nature’? A new analysis of the largely forgotten philosophy of nature by Jakob Friedrich Fries (and its interpretation by Hermann’s mentor Leonard Nelson) will allow us to judge to what degree Hermann’s work has been influenced and guided by Friesian philosophy. I will show that the aim, methodology and understanding of her philosophical work have been determined by Friesian philosophy. However, although Friesian philosophy is pervasive in the elaboration of her ideas, Hermann did not pedantically follow the teachings of Fries or Nelson, and presented her own original contribution to Friesian philosophy (as well as she did for physics). Hermann both grounds her ideas in, and expands upon, Friesian philosophy.

Abstract Das Modell des Schiffshebewerks Niederfinow im Maßstab 1 : 50 bereichert seit dem 8. Dezember 2014 die Dauerausstellung des Deutschen Technikmuseums (DTM). In diesem Funktionsmodell stecken rund 140 000 Miniaturniete, über 36 000 größtenteils ehrenamtliche Arbeitsstunden und unzählige originalgetreue Details. Das Modellbau‐Kunstwerk besteht fast ausschließlich aus Messing, zum Teil auch Stahl, Aluminium, Kunststoff, Holz, Blei und ist das Ergebnis aus Akribie, Leidenschaft, Geduld, Einfallsreichtum sowie handwerklichem Können während einer Bauzeit von 20 Jahren. Das Modell stellt das Hebewerk bei Niederfinow dar, etwa 70 km nordöstlich von Berlin gelegen, das Schiffe wie in einem Fahrstuhl 36 m von der unteren Oderhaltung auf die obere Kanalhaltung hebt und in der anderen Richtung senkt. Es ist heute das älteste noch im Dienst befindliche Hebewerk Deutschlands. Während und vor der Bauzeit dieses 1934 eröffneten Bauwerks entstanden verschiedene Modelle, die nachfolgend ebenfalls kurz beschrieben werden.Niederfinow Boat Lift Model in the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin. The 1 : 50 scale model of the Niederfinow boat lift has enriched the permanent exhibition at the Deutsches Technikmuseum (DTM) since 8 December 2014. Around 140 000 miniature rivets, over 36 000 mostly unsalaried hours of work and countless authentic details went into the construction of this functional model. This masterpiece of model‐building consists almost entirely of brass, but also in part of steel, aluminium, plastic, wood, and lead; above all, it is the product of 20 years of tinkering, exactitude, passion, patience, ingenuity and craftsmanship. The model shows the boat lift located near Niederfinow, around 70 km north‐east of Berlin. It raises ships 36 m from the lower Oder reach to the upper canal reach and also lowers them in the other direction. It is the oldest boat lift in Germany which is still in commission today. Various models were commissioned during and prior to the building phase of this construction, which began operation in 1934. These models as well are described in brief below.

It is ironic: for 25 years the German Tank Museum showed dozens and dozens of tanks, AFVs (armoured fighting vehicle), artillery pieces, military trucks and motorbikes and yet managed to keep the war out of the museum – not in spite of the objects shown, but because of them. Huge pieces of military equipment, especially if well restored, have a hypnotizing effect on the visitors. The unproblematic fascination for the technical aspects of the sterile objects completely dominates the experience of the visitors. So, although standing in a hall filled with war machines, the visitors could enjoy the exhibition untroubled; and the Museum supported this tendency, being able to conveniently avoid the complex and controversial field that is the topic of this conference. War and death were basically hidden behind the tanks. Although a few attempts were made to professionalize the museum, the situation was never substantially altered. But, in 2008, a real transformation was initiated. To fulfil the ICOM standards in the long run, the Museum no longer ignores the dark side of the history of tanks. It now tries to establish as much critical contextualization as possible to counteract the strong technical aura of the objects. So, the German Tank Museum has an interesting mission to accomplish: actually to bring war into a museum full of war machines.