The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, Volume 7: The Berlin Years: Writings, 1918-1921

by Albert Einstein, Michel Janssen (Editor), Robert Schulmann (Editor), József Illy (Editor), Christoph Lehner (Editor)

Overview

In the spring of 1919, two British solar eclipse expeditions confirmed the correctness of general relativity theory and propelled Albert Einstein to instant celebrity. Before this major turning point, the majority of Einstein's writings published in this volume dealt with the clarification of general relativistic problems, such as the status of the metric field, the character of gravitational waves, the problem of energy-momentum conservation, and questions of cosmology, such as the nature and size of the universe and the distribution of matter within it. After his rise to international fame, Einstein's publications changed markedly. He faced an increasing demand for popular articles and lectures on relativity, its development and meaning. He also felt compelled to respond to a host of commentators, ranging from skeptical physicists to philosophers trying to reconcile his revolutionary theory with their views. For the first time, he also responded in print to outspoken anti-relativists, some of them fueled by cultural conservatism and, frequently, anti-Semitism.


Einstein used his newly won fame to lend prestige to political causes, especially to the reconciliation among European nations and to Zionism. In the early years of Weimar Germany, Einstein spoke out vigorously for the young republic, emphasizing the rights of the individual. He agonized over the misery of the Central Europeans in the grip of starvation and economic collapse, praised the support of individuals and groups such as the Quakers, and championed the cause of Eastern European Jews. His rejection of assimilation, combined with a fierce defense of the right of Jews to higher education, led Einstein to campaign for the establishment of a university in Palestine, the land which he conceived of as a cultural center for all Jews.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691057170
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	05/26/2002
Series:	Collected Papers of Albert Einstein , #7
Pages:	728
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Language:	German

About the Author

Michel Janssen is Assistant Professor of the History of Science at the University of Minnesota. Robert Schulmann has been a longstanding editor of the Einstein Papers and Associate Professor of History at Boston University. József Illy was Senior Research Associate at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Christoph Lehner is Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy at the California Institute of Technology. Diana Kormos Buchwald is Associate Professor of History at the California Institute of Technology.

Table of Contents

LIST OF TEXTS AND APPENDIXES xiii
INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL
Introduction to Volume 7 xxi
Supplement to the Editorial Method xliii
Acknowledgments xliv
Note on the Translation xlvi
Location Symbols xlvii
Descriptive Symbols xlviii
TEXTS 1
Vol. 6, Doc. 44a. "The Principal Ideas of the Theory of Relativity," after December 1916 3
"Die hauptsächlichen Gedanken der Relativitätstheorie"
Vol. 6, Doc. 45a. "On the Questionnaire Concerning the Right of National Self-Determination," July 1917-before 10 March 1918 8
"Zum Fragebogen über das Selbstbestimmungsrecht der Völker"
1."On Gravitational Waves," 31 January 1918 11
"Über Gravitationswellen" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1918)
2."Note on E. Schrödinger's Paper 'The Energy Components of the Gravitational Field'," 5 February 1918 29
"Notiz zu E. Schrödingers Arbeit 'Die Energiekomponenten des Gravitationsfeldes'" Physikalische Zeitschrift 19 (1918)
3."Comment on Schrödinger's Note 'On a System of Solutions for the Generally Covariant Gravitational Field Equations'," 3 March 1918 33
"Bemerkung zu Herrn Schrödingers Notiz 'Über ein Lösungssystem der allgemein kovarianten Gravitationsgleichungen'" Physikalische Zeitschrift 19 (1918)
4."On the Foundations of the General Theory of Relativity," 6 March 1918 37
"Prinzipielles zur allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie" Annalen der Physik 55 (1918)
5."Critical Comment on a Solution of the Gravitational Field Equations Given by Mr. De Sitter," 7 March 1918 45
"Kritisches zu einer von Hrn. De Sitter gegebenen Lösung der Gravitationsgleichungen" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1918)
6."Is It Possible to Determine Experimentally the X-Ray Refractive Indices of Solids?" 21 March 1918 50
"Lassen sich Brechungsexponenten der Körper für Röntgenstrahlen experimentell ermitteln?" Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. Verhandlungen 20 (1918)
7."Motives for Research," 26 April 1918 54
"Motive des Forschens" Zu Max Plancks sechzigstem Geburtstag. Ansprachen, gehalten am 26. April 1918 in der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft von E. War burg, M. v. Laue, A. Sommerfeld und A. Einstein. Karlsruhe: C. F. Müllersche Hofbuchhandlung, 1918
8."Supplement" to Hermann Weyl, "Gravitation and Electricity," 2 May 1918 60
"Nachtrag" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1918)
9."The Law of Energy Conservation in the General Theory of Relativity" and "Note Added in Proof," 16 May 1918 63
"Der Energiesatz in der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie" and "Nachtrag zur Korrektur" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1918)
10.Review of Hermann Weyl, Space-Time-Matter: Lectures on General Relativity, 21 June 1918 78
Raum-Zeit-Materie Die Naturwissenschaften 6 (1918)
11."Private Expert Opinion on the Objection to Patent Application G 43359 of the Society of Nautical Instruments on the Basis of Patent 241637," 16 July 1918 81
"Privatgutachten zu dem Einspruch gegen die Patentanmeldung G43359 der Gesellschaft für nautische Instrumente auf Grund des Pantentes 241637"
12.Lecture Notes for Courses on Special Relativity at the University of Berlin and the University of Zurich, Winter Semester 1918-1919, 11 October 1918-second half of February 1919 81
Editorial Note: Einstein's Encounters with German anti-Relativists 101
13."Dialogue about Objections to the Theory of Relativity," before 20 October 1918" 114
"Dialog über Einwände gegen die Relativitätstheorie" Die Naturwissenschaften 6 (1918)
14.On the Need for a National Assembly, 13 November 1918 123
15."Comment on E. Gehrcke's Note 'On the Ether'," 29 November 1918 126
16. "To the Society 'A Guaranteed Subsistence for All'," 12 December 1918 129
"An den Verein ',Allgemeine Nährpflicht'"
17."Do Gravitational Fields Play an Essential Role in the Structure of the Elementary Particles of Matter?" 10 April 1919 130
"Spielen Gravitationsfelder im Aufbau der materiellen Elementarteilchen eine wesentliche Rolle?" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1919)
18."Comment about Periodical Fluctuations of Lunar Longitude, Which So Far Appeared to Be Inexplicable in Newtonian Mechanics," 24 April 1919 141
"Bemerkung über periodische Schwankungen der Mondlänge, welche bisher nach der Newtonschen Mechanik nicht erklärbar schienen" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1919)
19.Lecture Notes for Course on General Relativity at the University of Berlin, Summer Semester 1919, May-June 1919 147
20.Excerpt from Lecture Notes for Course on General Relativity at the University of Zurich, Summer Semester 1919, after 3 July 1919 185
21."Court Expert Opinion in the Matter of Anschütz & Co. vs. Kreiselbau Co.," 23 July 1919 190
"Gerichts-Gutachten in Sachen Anschütz & Co. contra Kreiselbau-Gesellschaft m.b.H."
22.Comment on Albert von Brunn, "On Mr. Einstein's Remark about the Irregular Fluctuations of Lunar Longitude with an Approximate Period of the Rotation of the Lunar Nodes," 24 July 1919 196
"Bemerkung zur vorstehenden Notiz" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1919)
23."A Test of the General Theory of Relativity," 9 October 1919 199
"Prüfung der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie" Die Naturwissenschaften 7 (1919)
24."Leo Arons as Physicist," 17 November 1919 202
"Leo Arons als Physiker" Sozialistische Monatshefte 53 (1919)
25."What Is the Theory of Relativity?" before 28 November 1919 206
"Was ist die Relativitäts-Theorie?"
26."Time, Space, and Gravitation," 28 November 1919 212
The Times (London), 28 November 1919
27."Welcoming Address to Paul Colin," 16 December 1919 216
"Begrüssung an Herrn Colin, gesprochen im Bund Neues Vaterland am 16. XII. 19"
28."Induction and Deduction in Physics," 25 December 1919 218
"Induktion und Deduktion in der Physik" Berliner Tageblatt, 25 December 1919
Editorial Note: Einstein and the Jewish Question 221
29."Immigration from the East," 30 December 1919 237
"Die Zuwanderung aus dem Osten" Berliner Tageblatt, 30 December 1919
30."Expert Opinion on German Patent 269 498 of the A.E.G., Berlin, on a 'Method for the Production of Tungsten Wires for Filaments in Incandescent Lamps,'" 10 January 1920 242
"Gutachten betreffend D.R.P. 269 498 der A.E.G., Berlin, auf ein 'Verfahren zur Herstellung von Wolframdrähten für Glühkörper elektrischer Glühlampen'"
31."Fundamental Ideas and Methods of the Theory of Relativity, Presented in Their Development," after 22 January 1920 245
"Grundgedanken und Methoden der Relativitätstheorie, in ihrer Entwicklung dargestellt"
32.In Support of Georg Nicolai, 26 January 1920 282
33.Uproar in the Lecture Hall, 13 February 1920 284
8-Uhr Abendblatt (Berlin), 13 February 1920
34."Assimilation and Anti-Semitism," 3 April 1920 289
"Assimilation und Antisemitismus"
35."Anti-Semitism. Defense through Knowledge," after 3 April 1920 294
"Antisemitismus. Abwehr durch Erkenntnis"
36.An Exchange of Scientific Literature, 4 April 1920 298
Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 4 April 1920
37.A Confession, 5 April 1920 302
Israelitisches Wochenblatt für die Schweiz, 24 September 1920
38.Ether and the Theory of Relativity, before 7 April 1920 305
Äther und Relativitätstheorie. Berlin: Springer, 1920
39."Propagation of Sound in Partly Dissociated Gases," 8 April 1920 324
"Schallausbreitung in teilweise dissoziierten Gasen" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1920)
40.To the German Central Committee for Foreign Relief, 11 July 1920 332
41.On the Quaker Relief Effort, after 11 July 1920 334
42.To the "General Association for Popular Technical Education," 16 July 1920 335
Neue Freie Presse, 24 July 1920
43.On New Sources of Energy, 25 July 1920 338
Berliner Tageblatt, 25 July 1920
44."Comment on the Paper by W. R. Heß, 'Contribution to the Theory of the Viscosity of Heterogeneous Systems'," 3 August 1920 341
"Bemerkung zu der Abhandlung von W. R. Heß 'Beitrag zur Theorie der Viskosität heterogener Systeme'" Kolloid-Zeitschrift 27 (1920)
45."My Response. On the Anti-Relativity Company," 27 August 1920 344
"Meine Antwort. Ueber die anti-relativitätstheoretische G.m.b.H." Berliner Tageblatt, 27 August 1920
46.Discussions of Lectures in Bad Nauheim, 23-24 September 1920 350
Physikalische Zeitschrift 21 (1920)
47.On the Contribution of Intellectuals to International Reconciliation, after 29 September 1920 360
Thoughts on Reconciliation (1920)
48."Private Expert Opinion for Telefunken on the Patents of Meissner and Kühn," after 11 November 1920 365
"Privat-Gutachten für Telefunken über die Patente von Meissner und Kühn"
49.Response to Ernst Reichenbächer, "To What Extent Can Modern Gravitational Theory Be Established without Relativity?" 20 November 1920 368
"Antwort auf vorstehende Betrachtung" Die Naturwissenschaften 8 (1920)
50."Brief Outline of the Development of the Theory of Relativity," after 8 December 1920 372
"Kurze Skizze zur Entwicklung der Relativitätstheorie"
51."The Common Element in Artistic and Scientific Experience," 27 January 1921 379
"Das Gemeinsame am künstlerischen und wissenschaftlichen Erleben" Menschen 4 (1921)
52.Geometry and Experience, 27 January 1921 382
Geometrie und Erfahrung. Berlin: Springer, 1921
53."A Brief Outline of the Development of the Theory of Relativity," 17 February 1921 406
Nature 106 (1920-21)
54."On a Natural Addition to the Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity," 3 March 1921 411
"Über eine naheliegende Ergänzung des Fundamentes der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1921)
55."In My Defense," 16 March 1921 417
"Zur Abwehr" Die Naturwissenschaften 9 (1921)
56."A Simple Application of the Newtonian Law of Gravitation to Globular Star Clusters," ca. 18 March 1921 420
"Eine einfache Anwendung des Newtonschen Gravitationsgesetzes auf die kugelförmigen Sternhaufen" Festschrift der Kaiser Wilhelm Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften zu ihrem zehnjährigen Jubiläum dargebracht von ihren Instituten. Berlin: Springer, 1921
57."How I Became a Zionist," before 30 May 1921 426
"Wie ich Zionist wurde" Jüdische Rundschau, 21 June 1921
58.King's College Lecture, before 13 June 1921 431
59.On a Jewish Palestine. First Version, before 27 June 1921 434
60.On a Jewish Palestine. Final Version, 27 June 1921 438
Jüdische Rundschau, 1 July 1921
61.On Reporters, 10 August 1921 422
"Einstein und die Interviewer"
62."On the Founding of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem," 26 August 1921 445
"Zur Errichtung der hebräischen Universität in Jerusalem" Jüdische Pressezentrale Zürich, 26 August 1921
63."On the Special and General Theory of Relativity," after 1 September 1921 449
"Über die spezielle und allgemeine Relativitätstheorie"
64.Lecture on the Special Theory of Relativity, after 1 September 1921 458
"Spezielle Relativitätstheorie"
65.On the Misery of Children, 7 October 1921 470
66.Court Expert Opinion in the Matter of Signal Co. vs. Atlas Works, ca. 3 December 1921 472
67."Court Expert Opinion in the Matter of Atlas Works vs. Signal Co.," 3 December 1921 480
"Gerichtsgutachten in Sachen Atlaswerke gegen Signal GmbH"
68."On an Experiment Concerning the Elementary Process of Light Emission," 8 December 1921 483
"Über ein den Elementarprozeß der Lichtemission betreffendes Experiment" Königlich Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Berlin). Sitzungsberichte (1921)
69.Impact of Science on the Development of Pacifism, before 9 December 1921 488
Kurt Lenz and Walter Fabian, eds. Die Friedensbewegung. Ein Handbuch der Weltfriedensströmungen der Gegenwart. Berlin: Schwetschke, 1922
70."The Plight of German Science. A Danger for the Nation," 21 December 1921 492
"Die Not der deutschen Wissenschaft. Eine Gefahr für die Nation" Neue Freie Presse, 25 December 1921
71.Four Lectures on the Theory of Relativity, Held at Princeton University in May 19/21, before 4 January 1922 496
APPENDIXES
A. Calculations for Doc. 56, after 14 December 1920 579
B. "On the Moment of Momentum in a Magnetized Body," before 2 April 1921 585
Lecture by Wander de Haas after notes by Einstein
C. Lectures on Relativity at Princeton University, and Their English Summaries, 9 and 10 May 1921 590
D. "An Interview with Professor Albert Einstein," 4 July 1921 620
"Een interview met prof. Albert Einstein" Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, 4 July 1921
E. Impressions of America, 10 July 1921 628
"Einsteins amerikanische Eindrüche. Was er wirklich sah" Vossische Zeitung, 10 July 1921
LITERATURE CITED 631
INDEX 655
INDEX OF CITATIONS 683

Editorial Reviews

"This latest volume documents Einstein's transformation from obscure physicist to international celebrity. Unlike earlier volumes, the focus is not on pure science but on how Einstein used his new-found fame both to popularize his theories and to contribute to the political and social debates of the day. . . . The Einstein Collected Papers is a superb example of scholarly publishing, documenting the words and thoughts of one of the most subtle yet humane intellects of the 20th century. As this volume shows, his insight into both science and society was equally profound."—-P. D. Smith, The Guardian

From the Publisher

This latest volume documents Einstein's transformation from obscure physicist to international celebrity. Unlike earlier volumes, the focus is not on pure science but on how Einstein used his new-found fame both to popularize his theories and to contribute to the political and social debates of the day. . . . The Einstein Collected Papers is a superb example of scholarly publishing, documenting the words and thoughts of one of the most subtle yet humane intellects of the 20th century. As this volume shows, his insight into both science and society was equally profound.

The Guardian - P. D. Smith

This latest volume documents Einstein's transformation from obscure physicist to international celebrity. Unlike earlier volumes, the focus is not on pure science but on how Einstein used his new-found fame both to popularize his theories and to contribute to the political and social debates of the day. . . . The Einstein Collected Papers is a superb example of scholarly publishing, documenting the words and thoughts of one of the most subtle yet humane intellects of the 20th century. As this volume shows, his insight into both science and society was equally profound.

The Guardian - P.D. Smith

This latest volume documents Einstein's transformation from obscure physicist to international celebrity. Unlike earlier volumes, the focus is not on pure science but on how Einstein used his new-found fame both to popularize his theories and to contribute to the political and social debates of the day. . . . The Einstein Collected Papers is a superb example of scholarly publishing, documenting the words and thoughts of one of the most subtle yet humane intellects of the 20th century. As this volume shows, his insight into both science and society was equally profound.
— P. D. Smith

The Guardian