Caspar Isenkrahe
Encyclopedia
Mathias Caspar Hubert Isenkrahe (May 12, 1844 in Müntz near Jülich
– August 12, 1921 in Trier
) was a German mathematician
, physicist
and catholic philosopher of nature.
, 1857 the Marzellengymnasium
in Cologne
and 1858 – 1863 the Realprogymnasium in Bonn
. In 1868 he studied at the University of Bonn
where he chose the subjects mathematics
, physics
, chemistry
, mineralogy
, botany
, zoology
, philosophy, Latin
and German. On July 31, 1866 he made his PhD with an award-winning work about the anatomy of Helicina titanica, a species of snail
. He become a teaching authority as a senior primary school teacher (pro facultate docendi) on February 26, 1869 for his chosen courses.
After a probationary year 1869/1870 at the high school of Bonn, he worked at the high school of Krefeld
(at least to 1878) and then at the Realprogymnasium in Bonn. In the hope to be able to change to a high school career at the mathematical faculty at the University of Bonn he sent a habilitation document. The faculty approved his plan but it failed because of the Berlin government for reasons unconnected with the subject. A later attempt to receive a lectureship at the technical University of Braunschweig
also failed. From 1893 to 1911 he was working as a high school professor at Trier
until his retirement.
Until his death in 1921 he was actively engaged in the fields of mathematics, physics and natural philosophy. He corresponded with well-known mathematician
s and physicist
s, such as Hermann von Helmholtz
, Heinrich Hertz, Felix Klein
and Philipp Lenard
.
Because of his unusual scientific creativity and versatility the philosophical faculty of the University of Bonn
honoured him demonstratively on the occasion of his golden doctor anniversary with the renewal of his doctor dignity on July 31, 1916. Caspar Isenkrahe died after serious physical sufferings on August 12, 1921.
His legacy is kept safe in Trier (to be more precise partly in the town archives and partly in the diocese
archives). The partial papers I (size: 0.5 meters) in the town archives of Trier includes correspondences, poems, clay creations, manuscripts as well as different collections from the cultural life around the time of the turn of 19th to the 20th century. The partial papers II (size: 2.50 meters) in the diocese
archives includes personal documents, works, a biography as well as additional correspondence.
. In particular his works around the theory of the prime numbers were appreciated.
The question of infinity
fascinated him in the field of the Philosophy of nature.
As a physicist
, Isenkrahe criticised the theories of gravitation of his time. Based on a Le Sage type model
, which he developed independently, he presented an explanation of the phenomenon of gravity which was noticed by well-known physicists like Paul Drude, Walter Ritz
and Arnold Sommerfeld
.
As educationalist and religious roman catholic he felt obliged to give a proof of the existence of God on a natural philosophical basis. He also considered it to be necessary to examine the paranormal phenomena which were issued by the Roman Catholic Church as a 'miracle
'. He dealt increasingly with experimental theology
later.
In a book written in 1921 he tried to mediate in the debate around the theory of relativity
, which had partly been led by both sides by scientifically inadmissible means.
Jülich
Jülich is a town in the district of Düren, in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Jülich is well known as location of a world-famous research centre, the Forschungszentrum Jülich and as shortwave transmission site of Deutsche Welle...
– August 12, 1921 in Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
) was a German mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and catholic philosopher of nature.
Life
Caspar Isenkrahe grew up without a father, who died before Caspar's birth. Isenkrahe visited in 1856 the Progymnasium in JülichJülich
Jülich is a town in the district of Düren, in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Jülich is well known as location of a world-famous research centre, the Forschungszentrum Jülich and as shortwave transmission site of Deutsche Welle...
, 1857 the Marzellengymnasium
Dreikönigsgymnasium
The Dreikönigsgymnasium is a regular public Gymnasium located in Cologne, Germany. Founded in 1450 it is the oldest school in Cologne and one of the oldest in Germany.-Alumni:...
in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
and 1858 – 1863 the Realprogymnasium in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. In 1868 he studied at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
where he chose the subjects mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
, botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, philosophy, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and German. On July 31, 1866 he made his PhD with an award-winning work about the anatomy of Helicina titanica, a species of snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
. He become a teaching authority as a senior primary school teacher (pro facultate docendi) on February 26, 1869 for his chosen courses.
After a probationary year 1869/1870 at the high school of Bonn, he worked at the high school of Krefeld
Krefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
(at least to 1878) and then at the Realprogymnasium in Bonn. In the hope to be able to change to a high school career at the mathematical faculty at the University of Bonn he sent a habilitation document. The faculty approved his plan but it failed because of the Berlin government for reasons unconnected with the subject. A later attempt to receive a lectureship at the technical University of Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
also failed. From 1893 to 1911 he was working as a high school professor at Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
until his retirement.
Until his death in 1921 he was actively engaged in the fields of mathematics, physics and natural philosophy. He corresponded with well-known mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
s and physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
s, such as Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann von Helmholtz
Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions to several widely varied areas of modern science...
, Heinrich Hertz, Felix Klein
Felix Klein
Christian Felix Klein was a German mathematician, known for his work in group theory, function theory, non-Euclidean geometry, and on the connections between geometry and group theory...
and Philipp Lenard
Philipp Lenard
Philipp Eduard Anton von Lenard , known in Hungarian as Lénárd Fülöp Eduárd Antal, was a Hungarian - German physicist and the winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1905 for his research on cathode rays and the discovery of many of their properties...
.
Because of his unusual scientific creativity and versatility the philosophical faculty of the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
honoured him demonstratively on the occasion of his golden doctor anniversary with the renewal of his doctor dignity on July 31, 1916. Caspar Isenkrahe died after serious physical sufferings on August 12, 1921.
His legacy is kept safe in Trier (to be more precise partly in the town archives and partly in the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
archives). The partial papers I (size: 0.5 meters) in the town archives of Trier includes correspondences, poems, clay creations, manuscripts as well as different collections from the cultural life around the time of the turn of 19th to the 20th century. The partial papers II (size: 2.50 meters) in the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
archives includes personal documents, works, a biography as well as additional correspondence.
Work
Isenkrahe always had a special inclination towards mathematics and produced a row of publications in the field of abstract mathematicsMathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. In particular his works around the theory of the prime numbers were appreciated.
The question of infinity
Infinity
Infinity is a concept in many fields, most predominantly mathematics and physics, that refers to a quantity without bound or end. People have developed various ideas throughout history about the nature of infinity...
fascinated him in the field of the Philosophy of nature.
As a physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
, Isenkrahe criticised the theories of gravitation of his time. Based on a Le Sage type model
Le Sage's theory of gravitation
Le Sage's theory of gravitation is a kinetic theory of gravity originally proposed by Nicolas Fatio de Duillier in 1690 and later by Georges-Louis Le Sage in 1748. The theory proposed a mechanical explanation for Newton's gravitational force in terms of streams of tiny unseen particles impacting...
, which he developed independently, he presented an explanation of the phenomenon of gravity which was noticed by well-known physicists like Paul Drude, Walter Ritz
Walter Ritz
Walther Ritz was a Swiss theoretical physicist.His father, Raphael Ritz, a native of Valais, was a well-known landscape and interior scenes artist. His mother was the daughter of the engineer Noerdlinger of Tübingen. Ritz studied in Zurich and Göttingen...
and Arnold Sommerfeld
Arnold Sommerfeld
Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld was a German theoretical physicist who pioneered developments in atomic and quantum physics, and also educated and groomed a large number of students for the new era of theoretical physics...
.
As educationalist and religious roman catholic he felt obliged to give a proof of the existence of God on a natural philosophical basis. He also considered it to be necessary to examine the paranormal phenomena which were issued by the Roman Catholic Church as a 'miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
'. He dealt increasingly with experimental theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
later.
In a book written in 1921 he tried to mediate in the debate around the theory of relativity
Theory of relativity
The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word relativity is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance....
, which had partly been led by both sides by scientifically inadmissible means.
Books on Isenkrahe
- Wilhelm Bers (1944) „Professor Dr. phil. Caspar Isenkrahe aus Müntz bei Jülich – (1844–1921) “, Rur-Blumen 23, Nr. 16, Seiten 61 – 62.
- Wilhelm Alfred Miller, Isenkrahe-Bibliographie, 3. ergänzte Aufl., Berlin/Leipzig 1927.
- Adalbert Michael Bock, Die Theorie von Isenkrahe in ihrer Anwendung auf die Anziehung und Bewegung der Himmelskörper (Dissertation), München 1891.