[Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker - physicist and philosopher].

Abstract

The subject of this paper is the philosopher Carl Friedrich von weizsäcker, especially under the aspect of the relation between physics and philosophy in his works. The decisive role of time in physics as well as in philosophy is described, and thereof is derived the comprehension of probability as a predicted relative frequency. Consequently quantum mechanics is interpreted as a theory of probability that uses "quantum logic" instead of classical propositional logic that is used in "normal" probability. The philosophical fruit of that is the interpretation of potentiality as the modality of the future. Weizsäcker's proposals for a justification of physics a priori are dealt with as well as his approach to a theory of "ur-objects", which are atoms in the strictest sense: q-bits.--Questions of Weizsäcker's personality are addressed: His role in the development of the nuclear reactor and atomic bomb in Nazi time, his enthusiasm and his religiousness as well as his efforts towards world peace.