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Birth of Ernst Mach
Ernst Mach was born in Morovia, Austrian Empire on 18 February, 1838. (Gregerson, 2020) -
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Mach attends Vienna University
Mach attended the University of Vienna from 1855 to 1860 and studied physics. (Gregerson, 2020) -
Doctorate of Physics
Mach received his Doctorate of Physics from Vienna University in 1860. (Gregerson, 2020) -
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Professor of Mathematics
Mach became a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Graz from 1864 to 1867. While mostly remembered for the measuring system bearing his name and commonly used to quantify the speed of supersonic aircraft, Mach's ideas would have a tangible impact on scientists for generations to come (Gregerson, 2020). View the below youtube video to see physicist John Wheeler discussing Mach's impact on the philosophy of science. John Wheeler on Mach. -
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Professor of Experimental Physics
Mach became a Professor of Experimental Physics at Charles University in Prague from 1867 to 1895. During this time he developed methods to study and measure sound waves. Also in 1887 he developed the principles of supersonics and the concept behind the Mach number. (Gregerson, 2020) -
Contributions to the Analysis of the Sensations
In 1886 Mach wrote the book "Contributions to the Analysis of the Sensations", in which proposed his ideas that all knowledge is derived from sensation. This idea was strongly supportive of Empiricism, and led Mach to conclusions that both differ wildly from what modern science has established and also seemed before his time. Among these were his refutation of the exitance of Atoms, as well as fundamental concepts which Einstein eventually used as inspiration for his work. (Gregerson, 2020) -
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Professor of Inductive Philosophy
Mach became a Professor of Inductive Philosophy at the University of Vienna from 1895 to 1901. (Gregerson, 2020) -
Stroke
Mach suffered a stroke in 1897 which eventually led to him retired from his work in science in 1901. Mach continued to write, however, with his important works including "The Science of Mechanics: A Critical and Historical Account of Its Development", "The Analysis of Sensations and the Relation of the Physical to the Psychical", and "Contributions to the Analysis of the Sensations" among others. (Gregerson, 2020) -
Austrian Parliament
Mach was appointed to the Austrian Parliament in 1901 following his retirement from science. (Gregerson, 2020) -
Death
Mach died in Haar, Germany on 19 February, 1916. Mach's outlooks on the philosophy of science laid the foundations for scientists to follow him. Most notably Einstein looked to some of Mach's ideas when forming his theories of relativity. While never captured in writing, Mach's ideas on inertia in relation to mass in the universe were coined Mach's principle by Einstein. (Gregerson, 2020)