Abstract

The philosophical work of Grete Hermann on the foundations of quantum mechanics has recently received increased attention and appreciation. This includes her critique of John von Neumann’s no-hidden-variables proof and her Neo-Kantian considerations on causality. I argue that Hermann, who was a German mathematician, physicist, and philosopher, took a critical view of Leonard Nelson’s interpretation of Kant. Her aim was to challenge Nelson’s dogmatism through her interpretation of quantum physics. Support for this thesis can be found in her interpretation of Bohr’s complementarity principle and her criticism of Heisenberg’s cut and von Neumann’s proof of the impossibility of hidden variables. Over the years, Hermann progressively distanced herself from Nelson, adopting a more liberal and democratic interpretation of Kant, and became a committed advocate of research ethics and responsibility in science and politics.