Physics and Politics in Revolutionary Russia

Aided by personal documents and institutional archives that were closed for decades, this book recounts the development of physics-or, more aptly, science under stress-in Soviet Russia up to World War II. Focusing on Leningrad, center of Soviet physics until the late 1930s, Josephson discusses the impact of scientific, cultural, and political revolution on physicists' research and professional aspirations.

Political and social revolution in Russia threatened to confound the scientific revolution. Physicists eager to investigate new concepts of space, energy, light, and motion were forced to accommodate dialectical materialism and subordinate their interests to those of the state. They ultimately faced Stalinist purges and the shift of physics leadership to Moscow. This account of scientists cut off from their Western colleagues reveals a little-known part of the history of modern physics.

A propos de l'auteur

Paul Josephson is Professor of Political Science at Sarah Lawrence College.

Résumé

Recounts the development of physics in Soviet Russia up to World War II. This title focuses on Leningrad, center of Soviet physics until the late 1930s, discusses the impact of scientific, cultural, and political revolution on physicists' research and professional aspirations.

Détails du produit

• Auteurs: Paul R. Josephson, Josephson Paul R.
• Edition: University Of California Press
• Langues: Anglais
• Format d'édition: Livre Relié
• Sortie: 16.12.1991
• EAN: 9780520074828
• ISBN: 978-0-520-07482-8
• Pages: 330
• Thèmes: California Studies in the Hist; California Studies in the History of Science
• Catégories: Littérature spécialisée > Dictionnaire, ouvrages de référence > Dictionnaires, encyclopédies; Sciences naturelles, médecine, informatique, technique > Sciences naturelles en général; Sciences sociales, droit, économie > Sciences sociales en général; Cultural Studies, SCIENCE / General, MATHEMATICS / General, Anthropology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural & Social, Mathematics & science, Mathematics and science