One of the greatest Physicist of the 20th century, Albert Einstein, best known for his theory of relativity. For those know little about his work and his life, the simple theory of space-time is synonymous with "genius", "intellectual challenge", even "authority". Some shout out "I am Einstein" to demonstrate their intelligence as egotism, others say "I am not Einstein" as a sarcastic joke of giving up of thinking hard, the rest feel inferior as if Einstein was born with superior intelligence so they sense inequality.
They are all wrong because the little time they spend with his great mind. They allow "doubt avoidance" intrude their brains and hold a belief in IQ. Their minds are undermined that seek no outlet. When you challenge what they think they already known, an expression of stubborn emerge (Oh, I'm sure you experience the same situation when you are trying to help someone who is doing wrong but he thinks all is fine).
I was one of them until the moment of [The Ultimate Quotable Einstein](file:///home/hangyu5/Downloads/The%20Ultimate%20Quotable%20Einstein%20-%20Calaprice,%20Alice_4550.pdf). It's a little book that teaches you when to hold and when to fold.
(update June.15th 2017)
Part 1. About Einstein himself
When Einstein was a young man, he was nobody. And in a letter, to his future wife, Mileva Maric, he wrote:
"I decided the following about our future: I will look
for a position immediately, no matter how modest it
is. My scientific goals and my personal vanity will
not prevent me from accepting even the most subordinate position."
It is also one of the advice to today's youth. Even Einstein didn't have any entitlement, not to mention you and me. Remember what J. Paul Getty's surefire formula for life success:"Rise early, work hard, strike oil."
On thinking habit, he left a piece of the confusing sentence.
"I very rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterward."
After I read his words, "a thought" comes into my head, and I try to express "it" in words afterward in the following way: The way we respond to virtually anything is by either our knowledge or experience. They are exactly the "thoughts" Einstein was referring to. He disdained the thinking habit of mesmerizing and advocated the translucent knowledge representation.
(update June.16th 2017)
Part 2. About Einstein's Philosophy
Einstein was appealed to reason only, even he walked through countless terrible things include WWI, the bitterness of Meliva (his first wife), scientific battle with the Copenhagen Interpretation, the death of Elsa (cousin & second wife), WWII, and the excessive fame he was granted, Einstein remained calm and objective in most of the time.
This has a dramatic linkage with Stoic philosophy, though Einstein had never mentioned it. Arising and flourishing among the uncertain age of the Hellenistic domain of the third century B.C. -- a time of political and social upheaval following the deaths of Aristotle (322 B.C) and Alexander the Great (323 B.C) -- Stoicism stressed the search of inner peace and ethical certainty despite the external chaos of the external world by emulating in one's personal conduct the underlying orderliness and lawfulness of nature. How humorous is history that Einstein was connected to Zeno of Citium (father of Greek Stoicism). These two minds had never talked to one another but they share almost the same trait.
"The only way to escape the corruptible effect of
praise is to go on working"
"I have never looked upon ease and happiness as
ends in themselves—such an ethical basis I call the
ideal of a pigsty. . . . The ideals which have always
shone before me and filled me with the joy of living
are goodness, beauty, and truth. To make a goal of
comfort or happiness has never appealed to me."
"Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury—to
me these have always been contemptible. I believe
that a simple and unassuming life is best for . . . the
body and mind."
"My passionate interest in social justice and social
responsibility has always stood in curious contrast
to a marked lack of desire for direct association with
men and women. I am a horse for single harness,
not cut out for tandem or team work. I have never
belonged wholeheartedly to country or state, to my
circle of friends, or even to my own family. These ties
have always been accompanied by a vague aloofness,
and the wish to withdraw into myself increases
with the years"
(update June.20th 2017)
Part 3. On Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was a scar in our history enabled by human cognitive biases. Among all the misjudgments, authority bias and social proof are the most significant fallacy that we should learn from that tragedy. Einstein was already a pacifist and his way to fight with Hitler was unique. Einstein remained reasoning and calm, his insights into the nature of Hitler was incisive, and his pungent words are memorable. From my point of view, the way Einstein approach almost problem (that makes others irritated) is stoic philosophy (objective thinking, willing acceptance, unselfish goal -- Marcus Aurelius, Rome Emperor). Again, though
Hitler appeared, a man with limited intellectual
abilities and unfit for any useful work, bursting with
envy and bitterness against all whom circumstance
and nature had favored over him. . . . He picked up
this human flotsam on the streets and in the taverns
and organized them around himself. This is the way
he launched his political career
Yes, my girlfriends and sailboat remained in Berlin.
But Hitler only wanted the latter, which was insulting
to the former.
I am very happy here and enjoying the American
summer as well as the news about Hitler’s mad
deed of desperation. He and his henchmen will be
unable to carry on for a long time after he has destroyed
his powerful tool and his halo. Then a general
will take over and the Jews will have some
breathing room.
(update June.21st 2017)
Part 4. On Jews, Israel, Judaism, and Zionism
In his youth, Einstein did not identify strongly with Jewish culture and religion. His parents were assimilated Jews in southern Germany who had distanced themselves from their Jewish roots and were more interested in the realities of entrepreneurship and making a good living. However, he did receive private religious instruction in Judaism at home and at first embraced it intensely, only to reject it decisively by the age of twelve as his interest in science became stronger. He then declared himself “without religious affiliation.” He “rediscovered” his Jewish roots after moving to Berlin and becoming aware of the prejudicial treatment of Eastern European Jews. This was coincident both with the advent of anti-Semitism
and Zionism and with the confirmation of his general theory of relativity in 1919, which brought him worldwide fame. Einstein’s Zionism was cultural rather than political. It emphasized the cultural and spiritual renewal of the Jewish people, as opposed to political Zionism, which focused on the establishment of a Jewish state. Still, he supported the creation of Israel as a refuge for Jews because he believed in the power of a community as a cohesive force and felt Jews should have a safe place to study and teach. He favored a two-state solution for Palestine, but realized there was no turning back after the creation of Israel, and late in his, life he supported the new state even as he advocated fairness to the Arabs. However, he also supported his friend Erich Kahler in admonishing Arab landowners and politicians who “did nothing to improve the nature, the civilization, or the living standards of their countries”
(Princeton Herald, April 14 and 28, 1944).
*In my opinion, aversion to Jews is simply based
upon the fact that Jews and non-Jews are different. It
is the same feeling of aversion that is always found
when two nationalities have to deal with each other.
This aversion is a consequence of the existence of
Jews, not of any particular qualities. . . . The feeling
of aversion toward people of a foreign race with
whom one has, more or less, to share daily life will
emerge by necessity
I am neither a German citizen, nor do I believe in
anything that can be described as a “Jewish faith.”
But I am a Jew and glad to belong to the Jewish people,
though I do not regard it in any way as chosen.
Einstein simply put the conflicts of Jews and "non-Jews" as the fraction of nationalities. This, to me, is great way to break down a complicated problem. His ability to simplify a problem is remarkable.
*The word “Jewish” has two meanings: it has to do
with (1) nationality and descent; (2) religion. I am a
Jew in the first sense but not in the second.
*Only when we have the courage to regard ourselves
as a nation, only when we respect ourselves, can we
win the respect of others. . . . Anti-Semitism . . . will
always be with us as long as Jews and non-Jews are
thrown together. It may be thanks to anti-Semitism
that we owe our survival as a race; that at any rate is
what I believe
*I confidently believe that the Jews will be prevented
by the smallness and the dependency of their Palestinian
a colony from becoming obsessed with power.
His stoic thinking revealed again in regarding power and gaining respect for oneself!
(update June.22nd 2017)
Part 5. On Race & Prejudice
Racism and prejudice have been prolonged throughout the history of mankind. Will Durant, American historian, Pulitzer Price winner, argued the group of people who has more egotism are more motivated, and thus has a competitive advantage. Therefore, those who don't adopt egotism might be 'unfit' and lose the game of survival tens of thousands years ago. The change of human society is its habit, not its instinct. Thousands year later, now in a modern world, we encounter more than 1,000 strangers each day, it's not a surprised that a few of us employ either snap-judgement or apathy in regarding other people. But after all, adaptability is the core of our life. What can we learn from this giant of Physics? Einstein rejected racial discrimination and national pride very decisively. His manner deserved to applaud.
Race is a fraud. All modern people are a conglomeration
of so many ethnic mixtures that no pure race
remains.
*It is really a rather comforting thought that in India,
too, the all-too-human trait of knavery predominates.
After all, it would be just too bad if this were
the privilege of the proud white race. I believe that
all creatures who can have young ones together are
very much the same
This country still has a heavy debt to discharge for
all the troubles and disabilities it has laid on the
Negro’s shoulders. . . . To the Negro and his wonderful
songs and choirs, we are indebted for the finest
contribution in the realm of art which America has
so far given the world.
*As regards conduct toward others, people would
be truly democratic were it not for the still present
dark shadow of racial prejudices, particularly toward
Negroes. I believe that each individual must
work within his or her circle to eradicate this shameful
evil.
There is, however, a somber point in the social outlook
of Americans. Their sense of equality and
human dignity is mainly limited to men of white
skin. . . . The more I feel like an American, the more
this situation pains me.
(update June.23rd 2017)
Part6. On Science and Scientists, Mathematics, and Technology
Einstein was one of the most phenomenal, brilliant, smartest, talented, highly motivated, proactive, BOLD, anti-fragile person on this planet. He was an absolute definition of a genius. His work of relativity is enjoyable to the intelligent and has an amazing effect to fools -- so they feel privileged, entitled, and are willing to squander their lives proving they are smarter than Einstein, and if they couldn't outsmart Einstein, they become the "royal" believer of Einstein.
Holy Einsteinism!
People who have been privileged to contribute something to the advancement of science should not let [arguments about priority] becloud their joy over the fruits of common endeavor.
Thanks to my fortunate idea of introducing the relativity principle into physics, you (and others) now enormously overrate my scientific abilities, to the point where this makes me quite uncomfortable.
It seems that scientific distinction and personal qualities do not always go hand in hand. I value a harmonious person far more than the craftiest formula jockey or experimentalist.
(to be continued)