Gesammelte Abhandlungen III

This volume gathers a series of speeches, lectures and essays that Ernst Abbe delivered on social and economic questions at the turn of the twentieth century. Though best known for his groundbreaking work in optics, Abbe turned his analytical mind to the conditions of workers, the responsibilities of capital, and the role of education in a rapidly industrialising society. The texts were originally presented to academic societies, trade unions and civic groups, offering a contemporary glimpse into the debates that shaped modern labour law and social welfare.

What makes the collection distinctive is Abbe’s self‑described “double standpoint”—the eye of the entrepreneur who runs the Zeiss optical works and the eye of the worker‑son who never lost touch with his own origins. From this perspective he argues for a harmonious balance between profit and social justice, urging practical reforms such as fair wages, pension schemes and worker participation in decision‑making. The prose is clear, often peppered with personal anecdotes, and retains the earnest tone of a scientist insisting that ethical considerations are inseparable from technical progress.