Read an Excerpt
Letters to Solovine
1906 â?" 1955
By Albert Einstein Philosophical Library, Inc.
Copyright © 1987 Philosophical Library, Inc.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4532-0484-9
CHAPTER 1
Berne, Friday May 3, 1906
Dear Solovine,
I often think of you and wonder from time to time what you are doing and how you spend your days. I am writing you because of this and something else which has come up.
A few days ago a patent attorney to whom I had previously mentioned your name came to me with a document which was to be translated into flawless French. Naturally, I did not accept, for the matter was urgent. But I want to ask you if you are leading a satisfactory existence now. If not, here you still have a definite opportunity to find employment in the patent office and eventually work up to a good position. Write soon and let me know what you think of it.
All three of us are fine. The filius has already become a haughty, impertinent young chap. At the moment, I myself am not achieving many results from the scientific point of view, and soon I shall reach the stagnant and sterile age at which the revolutionary mentality of youth is deplored. My works are highly esteemed and are giving rise to further research. Professor Planck (Berlin) has written to me recently concerning this.
I have again moved, this time back to Kirchenfeld (Aegertenstr. 53). Since you have been gone, in my private life I have had nothing at all to do with anyone. Even my conversations with Besso on the way home have stopped, and I have heard absolutely nothing more from Habicht. I was pleased to learn from Besso that you successfully finished your examination. It is to be hoped that this will mean a more comfortable material existence for you.
My cordial regards to you and write soon to,
Yours,
A. Einstein
My wife and Mr. Besso send friendly greetings.
August 15, 1908
Dear Solo,
I offer my heartfelt congratulations on your position. You can not imagine how glad I am to know that you are getting along well.
My very best while vacationing.
Your
Einstein
Mileva and Bubi Einstein also send you cordial greetings.
Berne, Thursday December 3, 1908
Dear Solo,
Your apologies, though very gracefully tendered, are still bad. Here we can probably spend sleepless nights no less magnificently than the sleepless academic half-nights which I fondly recall. Your excuses are not accepted, but your unqualified acceptance is awaited.
Cordial regards from
Your
A. Einstein
Berne March 18, 1909
Dear Solovine,
I was elated over your friendly greeting. Yesterday a young Japanese who is going to Paris came to me. I sent him to you, thinking that you would certainly be glad to meet him. When will you ever come to Berne? You can never imagine how often I think of you and how glad I would be to see you. Cordial greetings from my sister and her Pauli.
With friendly regards
Your
A. Einstein
My wife and Bujo also send their best greetings.
Hofstr. 116 Zurich [Spring, 1913]
Dear Solovine,
I am very glad that we shall be able to stroll around in Paris. If only I did not have to give this lecture which—horribile dictu—I must give in French.
With best regards, Your
A. Einstein
W 30 Berlin April 24, 1920
Dear Solovine,
I am very glad to learn that you intend to write something about my theory. I myself have prepared a summary which I am sending to you; aside from that, I have only the original drafts of essays that are, unfortunately, out of print. Books which I recommend for scientific libraries are Weyl's Time, Space, Matter and Schlick's Space and Time in Physics Today (both published by Springer, Berlin), along with another volume entitled The Principle of Relativity and published by Teubner; the third edition of the latter work, soon to appear, will contain the most important of the original essays on the general theory of relativity. I will be glad to read through your manuscript.
Mileva is in good health; I am separated from her; the children are with her in Zurich, Gloriastr. 59. Albert is quite robust; the little one is unfortunately rather sickly.
Besso has roamed through different countries of the world but is again at the Patent Office in Berne. Paul Winteler and my sister are still living happily in Lucerne.
I am very glad to have heard from you again on this occasion; I wish you success in your undertaking.
Best regards from your
A. Einstein
[Undated]
The contents and method of the theory of relativity can, despite the variety of experimental physical facts on which the theory is based, be outlined in a few words. In contrast to the fact, known since ancient times, that movement is perceptible only as relative movement, physics was based on the notion of absolute movement. Optics had assumed that one state of movement, luminous ether, is distinct from all others. All movements of bodies were supposed to be related to the luminous ether, which was the incarnation of absolute motionlessness. If a fixed formal luminous ether filled everything in space, then the movements of bodies would be related to it and one could in this physical sense speak of "absolute movement" and ground mechanics on this notion. But after efforts to discover the privileged state of movement of this hypothetical luminous ether through physical experiments had failed, it seemed that the problem should be restated. That is what the theory of relativity did systematically. It assumed that there are no privileged physical states of movement and asked what consequences could be drawn from this supposition concerning the laws of nature. The method of the theory of relativity is analogous to the method of thermodynamics; for the latter is nothing more than the systematic answer to the question: how must the laws of nature be constructed in order to rule out the possibility of bringing about perpetual motion?
A further characteristic of the theory of relativity is an epistemological point of view. In physics no concept is necessary or justifiable on an a priori basis. A concept acquires a right to existence solely through its obvious and unequivocal place in a chain of events relating to physical experiences. That is why the theory of relativity rejects concepts of absolute simultaneity, absolute speed, absolute acceleration, etc.; they can have no unequivocal link with experiences. Similarly, the notions of "plane," and "straight line," and the like, which form the basis of Euclidian geometry, had to be discarded. Every physical concept must be defined in such a way that it can be used to determine in principle whether or not it fits the concrete case.
Against the concept of an infinite spatial world and in favor of a finite spatial world, this much can be said:
(1) From the point of view of the theory of relativity, it is much simpler to conceive of a finite spatial world than a quasi-Euclidian world bounded by infinite space.
(2) Mach's supposition that inertia depends on the reciprocal action of bodies is approximated in the equations of the theory of relativity; from these equations it follows that inertia depends, partly at least, on the reciprocal action of masses. Mach's supposition is therefore well founded, for it is hardly appropriate to suppose that inertia depends partly on reciprocal action and partly on the independent properties of space. But Mach's supposition calls for a finite spatial world, not a quasi-Euclidian infinite world. In short, from the epistemological point of view it is better to have the mechanical properties of space wholly determined by matter, and this obtains only if the world is spatially finite.
(3) An infinite world is possible only if the average density of its matter is lost. Such a supposition is logically possible, to be sure, but it is less probable than the supposition that the world's matter has an average finite density.
March 8, 1921
Dear Solovine,
Thank you for the cheerful report. But are you collecting the 10% per copy which I had intended for you? If not, then simply keep for yourself one-third of the sum (20%) due me. I can tell by your question that you have been very conscientious about the translation. For that reason I am writing to offer you the exclusive translation right and promise always to place at your disposal whatever I decide to have translated into French. Just how do mathematical writings fit into the picture? I approve of the contract.
That abominable X… falsified my foreword by inserting letters—without my permission— which came, not directly from me, but from an acquaintance of mine whom he had showered with French comeliness. You would be rendering me a great service if you could help me expose the blackguard publicly. Soon you will receive a short lecture and supplement to be translated. You may be surprised to learn that I have to ask the Academy for permission to have it translated. Perhaps those chauvinists will allow me to publish this nonsense in French.
I am not eager to go to America but am doing it solely in the interest of the Zionists, who must beg for dollars to build educational institutions in Jerusalem, and for whom I act as high priest and decoy. If we were at all interchangeable, I would gladly send you in my place. But I am really doing whatever I can for the brothers of my race who are treated so badly everywhere. I am sure that we would understand each other perfectly if we met again. I do not think that all this undeserved incense has blackened my soul. I regret that I failed to give you my little book to translate too. But how could I have done so? If I could do something to put that wretched X… in his place, I would not hesitate. Write me here. Perhaps it is still possible, before the trip. If necessary, I will have it forwarded. I am leaving here on March 21. Leave out the titles of the Leyde lectures—just do whatever you think best.
Most cordial greetings,
Your
A. Einstein
March 16, 1921
Dear Solovine,
I am returning the signed contracts (Gauthier-Villars) to you. Please send the money to Professor Ehrenfest, Witte Rozenstr., Leyde, and indicate that it is for me. I am doing this because I need a considerable amount of money in other countries, especially in Holland and Switzerland, and this arrangement simplifies matters. I have the permission of the Academy. I am leaving this Sunday, with the result that none of your letters will reach me here. In two months I hope to be back here. If I give any lectures in science, it will probably be at Princeton University, where I was first invited. If you wish to send letters to me in America, please address them to the Kuhn Loeb Bank in New York.
Dear Solovine! Neither am I a flagwaver, and I believe firmly that the Jews, considering the smallness and dependency of their colony in Palestine, are not threatened by the folly of power.
Dear Solovine! I would like to talk longer with you, but I am like a hare at bay and must use the minutes sparingly. Meanwhile, I send you my cordial regards.
Your
A. Einstein
March 19, 1921
Dear Solovine,
Many thanks for the splendid article and your proposal. But I myself can not write for a newspaper. That is against my most cherished principles and practices. I could express my opinion only if someone asked me a question, but that is now too late, for I am leaving the day after tomorrow. Besides, you misunderstood me. I wrote no foreword for X…, but he committed a forgery, using among other things, of course, some sentences from one of my letters. I would be pleased to have this circumstance known.
With warmest regards to you,
Your
A. Einstein
Berlin January 14, 1922
Dear Solovine,
Much work and the horror of writing books make it impossible for me to write what you wish. Soon you will receive my Princeton lectures. They can not be published, however, until they have appeared in America. Terms to the publisher are 20% of the selling price, of which you will receive 5% and I the rest.
With cordial regards Your
A. Einstein
It would be better for you to write to Mrs. Untermayer in English to show her that you know the language. But you should also let her know that you understand German and French better. You should also tell her that, when we were youngsters, we stayed side by side for a long time and studied together. A firm approach is indispensable everywhere in America; otherwise one receives no pay and little esteem.
Berlin W. 30 Haberlandstr.5 March 14, 1922
Dear Solovine,
How glad I will be to see you again in Paris! I am to arrive on March 27 or 28. Langevin has made arrangements for a hideout, but I beg you to keep it a deep secret, for the days that I spend in Paris are going to be very trying.
Concerning the provisional contract with Gauthier-Villars, I have two reservations:
(1) The paragraph which I designated as b must be deleted since I am naturally giving him only the French publishing rights.
(2) The paragraph marked a makes no sense to me.
Perhaps we can settle the matter during my stay in Paris.
I am very glad that we are going to be together. I only wish I had a better tongue for French.
With friendly regards Your
A. Einstein
Berlin March 22, 1922
Dear Solo,
I expect to arrive the evening of the 28th on the only evening train or the morning of the 29th at the latest if I miss a connection along the way. I have already gotten rid of everything possible in order to have some time for living.
Looking forward to seeing you, I am
Yours
A. Einstein
April 20, 1922
Dear Solovine,
Hearty thanks for having sent me the things that I left in Paris. Those days were unforgettable but devilishly tiring; my nerves still remind me of them. Here I have not yet seen anyone, but I am told that the newspapers did a good job, with the result that the aim of the operation was fully realized. The corrections have not been completed, but you will receive them. The initial operation was successful; it is good that I was there. I am sending you a letter for Baron Rothschild which I would like for you to give him. Let us hope that we may again spend a day together just as we used to in Berne.
Cordial greetings Your
A. Einstein
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Letters to Solovine by Albert Einstein. Copyright © 1987 Philosophical Library, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Philosophical Library, Inc..
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