Johann Friedrich Zöllner: Difference between revisions
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[[File:J. K. F. Zollner.jpg|right|200px]] | |||
'''Johann Karl Friedrich Zöllner''' ([[November 8]], 1834, Berlin – [[April 25]], 1882, Leipzig) was a German astrophysicist who studied optical illusions. He was also an early psychical investigator. He was Professor of Physical Astronomy at the University of Leipzig; and a member of the Royal Saxon Society of Sciences. | '''Johann Karl Friedrich Zöllner''' ([[November 8]], 1834, Berlin – [[April 25]], 1882, Leipzig) was a German astrophysicist who studied optical illusions. He was also an early psychical investigator. He was Professor of Physical Astronomy at the University of Leipzig; and a member of the Royal Saxon Society of Sciences. | ||
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== Scientific work == | |||
[[File:Zollner illusion.png|left|150px]] | |||
Prof. Zöllner discovered the optical illusion where lines that are parallel appear diagonal, which is known as the "Zöllner illusion." In 1872 he became a professor of astrophysics at the prestigious University of Leipzig. He proved the Doppler effect of motion of the color of stars. He made the first measurement of the Sun's apparent magnitude. There is a lunar crater named "Zöllner" in his honor. | |||
== Fourth dimension == | == Fourth dimension == | ||
Prof. Zöllner was interested in paranormal phenomena, and this interest was increased in 1875 by his acquaintance with scientist [[William Crookes]]. Eventually, he developed what he called "Transcendental Physics," which involved the study of [[Spiritualism|Spiritualistic]] phenomena. His intention was to take "miracles" out of the realm of religion and magic into that of science. | |||
He developed experimental inquiry into the theory of a fourth dimension of space with the aid of American medium [[Henry Slade]].He wrote his observations in the book ''Transcendental Physics. An account of experimental Investigations'', which was translated from German, with a Preface and Appendices, by [[Charles Carleton Massey]]. In 1881 Mme. Blavatsky wrote that his book "should be in the library of everyone who pretends to hold intelligent opinions upon the subjects of Force, Matter, and Spirit."<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. III (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1995), 15.</ref> | |||
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Revision as of 00:53, 17 November 2016
Johann Karl Friedrich Zöllner (November 8, 1834, Berlin – April 25, 1882, Leipzig) was a German astrophysicist who studied optical illusions. He was also an early psychical investigator. He was Professor of Physical Astronomy at the University of Leipzig; and a member of the Royal Saxon Society of Sciences.
Scientific work
Prof. Zöllner discovered the optical illusion where lines that are parallel appear diagonal, which is known as the "Zöllner illusion." In 1872 he became a professor of astrophysics at the prestigious University of Leipzig. He proved the Doppler effect of motion of the color of stars. He made the first measurement of the Sun's apparent magnitude. There is a lunar crater named "Zöllner" in his honor.
Fourth dimension
Prof. Zöllner was interested in paranormal phenomena, and this interest was increased in 1875 by his acquaintance with scientist William Crookes. Eventually, he developed what he called "Transcendental Physics," which involved the study of Spiritualistic phenomena. His intention was to take "miracles" out of the realm of religion and magic into that of science.
He developed experimental inquiry into the theory of a fourth dimension of space with the aid of American medium Henry Slade.He wrote his observations in the book Transcendental Physics. An account of experimental Investigations, which was translated from German, with a Preface and Appendices, by Charles Carleton Massey. In 1881 Mme. Blavatsky wrote that his book "should be in the library of everyone who pretends to hold intelligent opinions upon the subjects of Force, Matter, and Spirit."[1]
She added:
He is also a profound metaphysician, the friend and compeer of the brightest contemporary intellects of Germany. He had long surmised that besides length, breadth, and thickness, there might be a fourth dimension of space, and that if this were so then that would imply another world of being, distinct from our three-dimensional world, with its own inhabitants fitted to its four-dimensional laws and conditions, as we are to ours of three dimensions.[2]