Hermann von Helmholtz

Hermann von Helmholtz
Born	Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz (1821-08-31)August 31, 1821 Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia
Died	September 8, 1894(1894-09-08) (aged 73) Charlottenburg, German Empire
Residence	Germany
Nationality	German
Fields	Physics Physiology Psychology
Institutions	University of Königsberg University of Bonn University of Heidelberg University of Berlin
Alma mater	Medicinisch-chirurgisches Friedrich-Wilhelm-Institut ()
Thesis	De fabrica systematis nervosi evertebratorum (1842)
Doctoral advisor	Johannes Peter Müller
Doctoral students	Albert A. Michelson Wilhelm Wien William James Heinrich Hertz Gabriel Lippmann Loránd Eötvös Otto Lummer Michael I. Pupin Friedrich Schottky Arthur Gordon Webster
Other notable students	Émile Boutroux Johannes von Kries Edward Nichols Henry Augustus Rowland Wilhelm Wundt
Known for	Studies in the conservation of energy Helmholtz condition Helmholtz decomposition Helmholtz equation Helmholtz free energy Helmholtz free entropy Helmholtz layer Helmholtz pitch notation Helmholtz reciprocity Helmholtz resonance Helmholtz temperament Helmholtz classical theorem Helmholtz's theorems Generalized Helmholtz theorem Gibbs–Helmholtz equation Helmholtz-Ellis notation Helmholtz–Kohlrausch effect Helmholtz-Smoluchowski eqn. Kelvin–Helmholtz instability Kelvin–Helmholtz mechanism Young–Helmholtz theory Additive synthesis Efference copy Hydrodynamic stability Keratometer Pure tone Supercapacitor
Influences	Johann Gottlieb Fichte Kant
Influenced	Ludwig Wittgenstein
Notable awards	Matteucci Medal (1868) Copley Medal (1873) Albert Medal (1888)

Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz (August 31, 1821 – September 8, 1894) was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions in several scientific fields. The largest German association of research institutions, the Helmholtz Association, is named after him.

In physiology and psychology, he is known for his mathematics of the eye, theories of vision, ideas on the visual perception of space, color vision research, and on the sensation of tone, perception of sound, and empiricism.

In physics, he is known for his theories on the conservation of energy, work in electrodynamics, chemical thermodynamics, and on a mechanical foundation of thermodynamics.

As a philosopher, he is known for his philosophy of science, ideas on the relation between the laws of perception and the laws of nature, the science of aesthetics, and ideas on the civilizing power of science.

Helmholtz was born in Potsdam the son of the local Gymnasium headmaster, Ferdinand Helmholtz, who had studied classical philology and philosophy, and who was a close friend of the publisher and philosopher Immanuel Hermann Fichte. Helmholtz's work is influenced by the philosophy of Johann Gottlieb Fichte and Immanuel Kant. He tried to trace their theories in empirical matters like physiology.

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