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How Einstein Created Relativity out of Physics and Astronomy pp 121–125Cite as

1920: Year of Fame, Year of Infamy

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Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 394))

Abstract

Albert Einstein was not “Einstein” until the 1920s. Before entering the world of fame and renown, which included derision and hatred too, he was well-known only within the insular world of theoretical physicists – witness his landing the prestigious position in Berlin. The catalyst for the celebrity status was the eclipse experiment of 1919, organized primarily by the English scientist, Arthur S. Eddington of the Royal Society of London and Director of the Cambridge University Observatory.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Eddington [37] [1923/1924], The Mathematical Theory of Relativity. Einstein referred to Eddington’s book as the finest on the topic. I remember trying to read through it as an undergraduate, and being first exposed to tensor calculus.

  2. 2.

    For more on both the pre- and a post-history of using solar eclipses to test Einstein’s prediction, see Crelinsten [30]. Our focus is only on the famous 1919 event.

  3. 3.

    For the history of changing interpretations of the veracity of Eddington’s experimental results, see Crelinsten [30], Chaps. 5 and 6. It is customary to quote here an often printed story that when asked, what if the experiment had not confirmed his theory, Einstein remarked: “I would have been sorry for the dear Lord. The theory is correct.” But Klaus Hentschel [88], convinced me that the story is not true, as I reported in Topper [198]. p. 8. Nonetheless, since writing that I have found this story in Rothman [175], p. 77, who knew the philosopher, Paul Oppenheim, who lived near Einstein in Berlin at the time of the eclipse. Oppenheim told Rothman that when he heard of the positive eclipse result he ran to Einstein to inform him. Einstein’s remark was: “It would have been too bad for God had I been wrong.”

  4. 4.

    Much has been written on how he became a scientific celebrity; for example, Friedman and Donley [69]. On this, and how the theory of relativity was seen as being “incomprehensible” not only in the popular press but also among some scientists and engineers, see Crelinsten’s interesting two-part article, [28].

  5. 5.

    Reiser [171], pp. 132–133; Frank [67], pp. 149–158. Recall his short-lived fervent orthodox pre-teen period, mentioned inChap. 1

  6. 6.

    As mentioned before, his first trip to the United States in 1921 was to raise funds for a Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where he saw his role “as high priest and decoy,” as he wrote to Solovine. He had been reluctant to go, but as he went on, “I am really doing whatever I can for the brothers of my race who are treated so badly everywhere.” Einstein [54] [1921], p. 41. For an overview of Einstein’s involvement and attitude toward Zionism, see Ze’ev Rosenkranz [174].

  7. 7.

    For the following I draw primarily on Van Dongen [203]. See also Frank [67], pp. 158–166 and pp. 250–256; Michelmore [141], Chap. 5; and Cassidy [25], Chap. 6, especially pp. 100–107. For more, and even a reported death threat, see Renn [172], Volume Two, pp. 122–125, and Volume Three, pp. 335–367.

  8. 8.

    Einstein Papers, Vol. 10, Docs. 154, 165, and 166.

  9. 9.

    Frank [67], pp. 177–178. It turned out to be twelve years.

  10. 10.

    A few quotations from his and others writings, revealing their malevolent, racist, and downright despicable ideas, are in Frank [67], pp. 251–256.

  11. 11.

    How ironic it is that in Einstein’s 1905 paper on the quantum theory of light, besides mentioning Planck, the only other references are to the work of Lenard and Stark.

  12. 12.

    See, for example, Fishbane [64].

  13. 13.

    http://www.conservapedia.com/Main_Page

  14. 14.

    Pais [162], p. 182.

  15. 15.

    http://www.conservapedia.com/Relativity

  16. 16.

    See Will [212]. Serious and certainly not malicious critiques of Einstein, such as Ohanian [155], unfortunately often become ammunition for nefarious attacks on Einstein. On the general issue of the acceptance of relativity, see Brush [18].

  17. 17.

    Frank [67], pp. 167–201. Recall fromChap. 2 that he spoke on the origins of special relativity and especially the role of Michelson’s experiment during his visit to a high school in Chicago and in Kyoto, Japan.

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    David R. Topper

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Topper, D.R. (2013). 1920: Year of Fame, Year of Infamy. In: How Einstein Created Relativity out of Physics and Astronomy. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 394. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4782-5_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4782-5_16

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