Holistic Aspects of the Schrödinger Equation

Abstract

The following reflections will focus on some issues related to the interpretation of Schrödinger’s wave equation. Since, of course, the emphasis will be on Schrödinger’s role in this game, it is in order to descrit)e his personality at least in a few words. In doing so I would like to quote from the lecture Schrödinger held on the occasion of his nomination as full professor. Schrödinger dedicated this lecture to his predecessor Michael Radakowic and one of his successors, Paul Urban, edited this lecture.¹ The topic of this opening lecture in 1936 was: “Die Grundidee der Wellenmechanik” (The basic idea of wave mechanics). At the very beginning Schrödinger says that Michael Radakowic’s way of thinking and working reflected uncompromising clarity, wellstructured ideas and a refutation of any unclear babble which may seem ingenious but in truth only admits lack ofunderstanding.