Dr Faustus of Modern Physics - Department of Speech, Music and ...

132 CHAPTER 29. PLANCK
29.2 Confession
• About God.
• We shall now derive strange properties of heat radiation described by
electromagnetic wave theory.
• ...the whole procedure was an act of despair because a theoretical interpretation
had to be found at any price, no matter how high that might
be... (Planck on the statistical mechanics basis of his radiation law)
• Either the quantum of action was a fictional quantity, then the whole
deduction of the radiation law was essentially an illusion representing
only an empty play on formulas of no significance, or the derivation
of the radiation law was based on sound physical conception. Mechanically,
the task seems impossible, and we will just have to get used to it
(quanta). (Max Planck)
• My futile attempts to fit the elementary quantum of action into classical
theory continued for a number of years and cost me a great deal of
effort. Many of my colleagues saw in this something bordering on a
tragedy (Planck shortly before his death).
• I tried immediately to weld the elementary quantum of action somehow
in the framework of classical theory. But in the face of all such attempts
this constant showed itself to be obdurate...My futile attempts to put the
elementary quantum of action into the classical theory continued for a
number of years and they cost me a great deal of effort.
• The assumption of an absolute determinism is the essential foundation
of every scientific inquiry.
• There are different sorts of Jews (to Hitler), some valuable for mankind
and others wortless.
• All matter originates and exist only by virtue of a force which brings
the particle of an atom to vibration and hold this most minute solar
system of the atom together. We must assume behind the existence of
this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind
is the matrix of all matter