Einstein Unveiled

John_Renne writes "One of the most well known scientists in the near history is Albert Einstein. Pictures of him can be found on allmost everything varying from lunchboxes to t-shirts and cartoons. On the other hand there's little knowledge of who Einstein really was and the human being behind the genius. This article tries to create a view of the inner Einstein. A nice read for everyone interested in the person inside the phenomenon."

Albert

[joelwest]

Ad hominem arguments never explain the 'how' of physicists just the 'who'. Still Einstein was a facinating man, but just as fascinating was Richard Feinman. I suggest reading about Feinman as well.

exactly

[tps12]

I think current physicists would rather try to pass their work off as some sort of homage than to come right out and admit that they're chasing a pipe dream.

Another thing that irks me is the whole idea of wanting to know what people like Einstein were "really like." This always results in a deluge of personal details, the publication of which is not only disrespectful of the dead but largely useless. I mean, he was a brilliant physicist: do I really need to read his poetry from when he was 15?

Re:Favorite Einstein quotes??

[simong_oz]

oooh, there are so many good Einstein quotes, but if I had to pick a favourite, I would probably go for:

"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit next to a pretty girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. Now that's relativity!"

My other favourite would be:

"The important thing is not to stop questioning."

Re:LSD?

[GigsVT]

Dr. Albert Hofmann didn't synthesize LSD until 1938. Einstein was a very old man by then, and had already written many of his most famous works.

WMD

[primus_sucks]

A committed socialist, he distrusted capitalism and communism in equal measure and believed that "world government" was the only way to control nuclear weapons and eventually abolish war entirely.

Seems like Einstein would like to see UN weapons inspections for all countries. Personally I'd sleep better if all weapons of mass destruction were banned and all countries were subject to inspection. Let's not wait for millions of people to die before we consider this!

Re:"unknown"? Light article...

[Elwood P Dowd]

It's also important to rememer that his quote, "God does not play dice," was famous, fun, and mostly wrong. That was his opinion on the study of quantum mechanics, which has its limitations, but is widely accepted and has predicted experimental outcomes.

Einstein made a few interesting mistakes. That was one of them. Another was mucking up the theory of relativity when one of its implications was too incredible. Don't get me wrong. He was huge, and that is measured by the fact that he admitted his mistakes.

Re:WMD

[rogerz]

I was waiting for a comment on this well-known aspect of Einstein's views. I credit the poster for implicitly acknowledging that this perspective is a matter of both his and Einstein's opinion, and does not deserve any special credence because of the source. This is important, as, in today's impoverished intellectual climate, people often reach to the source of a viewpoint in order to validate it, without considering the supporting arguments.

In this area, Einstein was simply regurgitating a "sense" and "feeling" he had derived from powerful political/social forces which were in the air during his formative years. In his comments and writings on the subject, he shows no special grasp of the issues. Indeed, his naivity and lack of moral judgement are glaring.

Einstein was a brilliant physicist, but this has no bearing on the validity of his politics.

Re:Favorite Einstein quotes??

[Speed Racer]

I've always been partial to this one:

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

Re:Didn't he get his start...

[Becki]

Stein isn't really used with the meaning of beer mug by native German speakers all that often. It would rather be:

Ein = one
Stein = stone

Einstein = one stone

Re:The God who plays with dices

[mindstrm]

Newton was not proven wrong. A new theory came around that could account for all of Newton's findings, as well as the results of experiments that Newton didn't/couldn't do.

Science is not about absolutes.. it is about observation. Newton was correct.

Re:exactly

[bay43270]

Another thing that irks me is the whole idea of wanting to know what people like Einstein were "really like." This always results in a deluge of personal details, the publication of which is not only disrespectful of the dead but largely useless. I mean, he was a brilliant physicist: do I really need to read his poetry from when he was 15?

From a historical point of view, I think it IS important. People need to understand the nature of history makers such as Einstein (among others). It gives us perspective when dealing with events and history makers of today. If we don't address personality of historical figures, then we stand a good chance of loosing historically important information. If not, we may not let the next Einstein into a good college, or ignore his work because he is non-conventional or eccentric. How and Why are every bit as important as What, When and Where.