“Acceptance Speech” Frontiers of Knowledge Award 2021 in Humanities

Acceptance speech by Gerald Holton, winner of the 2021 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Humanities, honored for his pioneering contributions to the history of science and the study of its relationships with culture, philosophy and society. His research has helped explain how ideas and cultural contexts shape scientific discoveries, particularly through his analysis of Albert Einstein’s thinking and the recurring concepts he termed themata.

Holton recalls his training as a physicist under Nobel laureate Percy Williams Bridgman and explains how his interests gradually shifted towards the history and philosophy of science. He reflects on the philosophical ideas that guided the thinking of scientists such as Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, and highlights the role of science as a civilizing force that fosters rationality and objectivity. He also advocates overcoming

Acceptance speech by Gerald Holton, winner of the 2021 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Humanities, honored for his pioneering contributions to the history of science and the study of its relationships with culture, philosophy and society. His research has helped explain how ideas and cultural contexts shape scientific discoveries, particularly through his analysis of Albert Einstein’s thinking and the recurring concepts he termed themata.

Holton recalls his training as a physicist under Nobel laureate Percy Williams Bridgman and explains how his interests gradually shifted towards the history and philosophy of science. He reflects on the philosophical ideas that guided the thinking of scientists such as Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, and highlights the role of science as a civilizing force that fosters rationality and objectivity. He also advocates overcoming the divide between science and the humanities, recognizing both as integral parts of a shared culture.