Position Max Planck Research Group Leader e-mail Address Max Planck Institute for the History of Science Boltzmannstraße 22 14195 Berlin Research History of Physics, Theory of Everything, Final Theory, Particle Physics, Quantum Gravity Weblinks Group webpage Divisions History of Physics (GP) Particle Physics (T)

© Amac Garbe/MPG

Research Agenda: In 1916, Albert Einstein suggested for the first time that it would be necessary to merge his newly constructed general theory of relativity and the emerging quantum theory. One hundred years later, this challenge remains unanswered, and the problem of constructing a theory of "quantum gravity" (as such a hypothetical merging came to be known) has become synonymous with physicists' search for a final, fundamental theory. The Max Planck Research Group "Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program" reflects on and evaluates this century-long search using the methods of historical epistemology. It is the explicit aim of the group to conduct historical research that connects directly to contemporary physical research, providing a novel, historico-critical view of its status and prospects.

Short Bio: Alexander has a PhD in theoretical particle physics from the University of Heidelberg (research at the MPI for Nuclear Physics, 2009). In 2010 he moved into the History of Science, and to the MPIWG, where he started out as a member of the Quantum History Project (until 2012). Since 2017 he is the leader of the Independent Max Planck Research Group "Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program".