Albert Einstein as scientist and socialist

Submitted by dalcassian on 3 December, 2015 - 12:33 Author: Carl Darton
Einstein

From the US revolutionary socialist paper Labor Action, July 10 1950


If your school-age son is somewhat better than clever in any field of science, you may have heard the expression: "He's an Einstein."

It is indeed unprecedented that the name of a scientist working in highly specialised mathematical physics has become a by-word in the homes of his adopted land. This unique status of Albert Einstein rests not only on his scientific pre-eminence but also upon his keen interest in social and political affairs.

Dr. Einstein's great scientific works — the Special Theory of Relativity (1906), the General Theory of Relativity (1915-20), and the extension of the General Theory to cover electromagnetic phenomena (1950) — can be understood only with the aid of [word unclear] calculus. Obviously, only those versed in higher mathematics can begin to understand the technical phases of Einstein's theories. But there are different levels of understanding in science and it is perfectly possible to choose a level of relativity theory which can be understood even by those with no special mathematical training. Einstein himself has done an excellent job of "popularising" in his Relativity, The Special and General Theory. Also recommended is Leopold lnfeld's Albert Einstein, His Work and Its Influence on Our World (Charles Scribner, N.Y., 1950, $2.00).

On capitalism and Jewish nationalism

Einstein has become almost as noted a philosopher as a scientist.

His views appear to spring from these fundamental beliefs:

1. "I believe... in... God who reveals himself in the harmony of all being, not in a God who concerns himself with the fate and actions of men."

2. There is a spontaneous activity of the mind, altogether apart from experience, which can make contributions of the utmost value to natural philosophy.

3. The simplest equations are most likely to be true, and "The aim of science is... a comprehension as complete as possible... and on the other hand the accomplishment of this aim by the use of a minimum of primary concepts and relations."

Just as Einstein's belief in "harmony of all being" leads him away from simple experience, deduction, and abstraction in scientific endeavor, so it also leads him toward a cooperative society, However, there is no General Theory dealing with social relations. In 'Why Socialism?' (a chapter in his Out of My Later Years) Dr. Einstein investigates the difficulty of making general formulations of social phenomena.

He does indicate the "essence of the crisis of our time": "The individual has become more conscious than ever of his dependence upon society. But he does not experience this dependence as a positive asset... but rather as a threat to his natural rights, or even his economic existence... Man can find meaning in life, short and perilous as it is, only through devoting himself to society." Further in this essay, written in 1949, Einstein assails capitalist production "for profit, not for use," unemployment, inadequate wages, and the worship of acquisitive success.

Dr. Einstein has been active in recent years in two political movements; Zionist and One World. Although he grew up in a non-observant Jewish home and early rejected the concept of a personal God, he has accepted and retained the ethical teachings of Judaism. He supported the opening of Palestine to the dispersed Jews of Europe. On the issue of partition he stated: "I should much rather see reasonable agreement with the Arabs on the basis of living together in peace than in the creation of a Jewish state. Apart from practical considerations, my awareness of the essential nature of Judaism resists the idea of a Jewish state with borders, an army, and a measure of temporal power... I am afraid... of... the development of a narrow nationalism within our own ranks."

The threat of another war concerns Albert Einstein constantly.

His road to peace lies in "One World"—a supra-national government having the sole function of military security. National troops are to be replaced by international police and offensive weapons are to be outlawed. Einstein now advocates that the Western powers take the lead in the formation of this world government, leaving the door open at all times for Russia to join.

Is he breaking with Russian illusion?

These proposals for One World exposed Einstein to attack by four famous Russian scientists in November 1947. These Stalinist spokesmen rationalised their nationalist ambitions and denounced Einstein as a "virtual supporter of the schemes and ambitions of the bitterest foes of peace and international cooperation." This attack brought to an end a period during which Dr. Einstein was noticeably non-critical of Stalinism and was used by their front movements.

Perhaps nothing shows more clearly the essentially Utopian nature of Einstein's socialism than does this experience with Stalinism. The utopianism is rooted in the belief that planning is equivalent to socialism and not in the failure to recognise the economic factors undermining capitalist society. There are evidences, however, that this weakness is being corrected, since in the conclusion of 'Why Socialism' read: "Nevertheless... it is necessary to remember that a planned economy is not yet socialism. A planned economy as such may be accompanied by the complete enslavement of the individual. The achievement of socialism requires some extremely difficult socio-political problems." Einstein has no answer for the further question: "How can the rights of the individual be protected and therewith a democratic counterweight to the power of bureaucracy be assured?"

Edmund Whittaker, a reviewer of the book Albert Einstein, Philosopher-Scientist, writes: "Some of the observational confirmations [to the General Theory of Relativity] do not appear to he so secure as they were thought to be a few years ago." It is possible that Einstein may share the fate of other scientists of our era and outlive his most famous works. Already it has been questioned as to whether Einstein is one of the three men who understand Einstein best.

Nevertheless, it may well be his greatest contribution that he has foreshadowed the ideal citizen of the socialist tomorrow — a specialist in his vocational sphere, where there is no room for amateurs; and a serious participant in political life, where there should be no professionals in the sense that special interests and privileges are accrued.

Comments

Submitted by Josh (not verified) on Wed, 05/01/2022 - 14:51

In the above the "[word unclear]" from the original article is "tensor"

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