Erwin Schrödinger — A Biographical Sketch

Abstract

Erwin Schrödinger, who never liked chronologically structured biographies, only saw certain individual experiences as being significant. He was 72 when he presented an autobiographical overview that focuses on six periods of his life. The following sketch is thus in accordance with his wishes in that it does not attempt to give a complete account of his life and only concentrates on certain important aspects. In this first period, from 1887 to 1920, Schrödinger’s special relationship with his father was most important during his childhood and teenage years. Rudolf Schrödinger was his intellectual mentor, someone he could confide in and also discuss every subject from school. From this period of bis life Schrödinger remembers best the unforgettable talks he had with bis father who had an amateur interest in botany. They discussed Darwin’s The Origin of Species, a book Schrödinger remained enthusiastic about for the rest of his life. The nightly “talks” Schrorigin had with his deceased father whenever something extraordinary happened are illustrative of this very elose relationship. Schrödinger grew up under exceptionally favorable circumstances. Being the only child in a well-to-do family, he had lacked nothing that could be beneficial to his intellectual development from a private tutor at elementary school level to extensive travel and regular visits to the theatre. His mOther, who came from England, and her sister taught bim to speak excellent English when he was a young boy. (This may have influenced his later decision to go to Oxford and Dublin.) Schrödinger was described as having been a sensitive but bright and vivacious child. It is thus not surprising that he had happy memories of his childhood and youth.