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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Jun 2010 : 12:57:05
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It is alleged that the pathologist who performed post-mortem on Einstein's body took away his brain perhaps in a glass jar preserved in formaldehide. The pathologist had wanted to find out the reason behind Einstein's extreme genius. Brain exams later found out that Einstein's "Broca's convolution" (a motor speech center of the brain)was unusually well developed like the biceps of a weight-lifter.
Einstein's life has been shrouded in mystery, awe, and veneration. From his wild and unkept hair and his deeply piercing eyes to his unique mastery of the universe and deep sense of social justice, Albert Einstein to date remains the foremost scientist in human history.
In this topic, I will explore some of the reasons I admire and idolize Einstein over a long period of time, from early days in high school to now.
To be continued-
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Edited by - kayjatta on 25 Jun 2010 13:01:34 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jun 2010 : 13:27:00
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| Kay, Einstien was a genius. I look forward to your continuation. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 10:57:33
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I admire and idolize Albert Einstein for three broad reasons:
1. His scientific achievements
2. His socio-political views
3. His personal (philosophical) ideals and principles
Einstein’s intellect (scholarship), sense of social justice, and down-to-earth humility are what endeared him to many. I personally admire these qualities greatly, and many of the people I look up to (including Dr Lenrie Peters, Halifa Sallah, Sam Sarr, Sidia Jatta, Dr. Saine) share these traits.
Scientific achievements:
The father of modern physics, Einstein’s genius, and contribution to science, particularly theoretical physics is next to none in the history of mankind. Before him, the universe as known at the time was explained by the rigid Newtonian laws (Isaac Newton). Einstein’s arrival on the scientific stage has put a lot of strain on the “Newton’s Universe”. The “Theory of Relativity”, Einstein’s signature achievement in astro-physics introduced an unprecedented revolutionary conception and way of looking at and understanding the universe, and his famous equation E=MC2 appears in popular science as the sole key that unlocks the secrets of the universe. After all, this is Einstein’s universe!
It is believed that Einstein, a deeply pensive and meditative character (who is often described to have taken frequents flights on a beam of light, wrote over 450 ground-breaking scientific and non-scientific papers in his life, some while in high school and many immediately after his doctorate (PhD); including his work on the “photoelectric effect” for which he officially received a Nobel Prize in 1921. However, it is widely believed that the Nobel Prize was actually for the Theory of Relativity, but because it was very controversial at the time it was awarded for his work on the photoelectric effect.
In 1911, Einstein, based on his calculations predicted that light from a distant star would be curved by the sun’s gravity. This prediction was later confirmed by other observers, and Einstein became an instant world-wide celebrity.
The industrial applications of Einstein’s works are pervasive today; from refrigerators, televisions, PET and CT scans in hospitals, to telecommunication and radio-active dating just to name a few.
Socio-political views:
Einstein was a pacifist (anti-war) and socialist (leftist) and described capitalism as predatory. He once gave up his German citizenship to avoid military service.
Einstein’s strong social and political views often put him in confrontation with authority starting from high school where according to some versions he was once expelled for challenging the authorities about the rigid curricula. After migrating to the U.S. he was investigated for communist activities and opposition to the Vietnam war, but nothing was found against him.
At the Max Planck Institute in Berlin, Einstein was so outspoken against Nazi germany that a directive was issued that scientist must stay out of politics. He disobeyed the directive, saying that if those (scientist) before him like Hombohlt and others kept quiet, the world would have not been a great place to live. Later, he was listed to be assassinated and a bounty placed on his head.
While teaching at Princeton, New Jersey, he became member of NAACP, and befriended W.E.B. Dubois, and called racism “America’s worst disease”. He was also co-chair of a movement to end lynching of Blacks in America.
Although he convinced F.D. Roosevelt (the U.S. president) about the development of the atomic bomb because of the fear that the Germans would develop it first, and he actively help in the development of the first bomb; Einstein lobbied greatly to stop nuclear testing and developing future bombs.
Einstein (who once called himself “a loner whose sense of belonging to an invisible community of those who stand for truth and justice was what preserved him”) declined an offer, in 1952, to become Israel’s president, saying that he does not have the ability or the experience to deal with human beings.
His personal (philosophical) ideals and principles:
Einstein’s philosophical outlook was greatly influenced by the 18th century German philosopher, Emanuel Kant; the Greek philosopher, Euclid; and the Dutch philosopher, Baruch Spinoza.
When Einstein was introduced to a geometry book by Euclid (Euclidean geometry) he denounced his Jewish studies and refused to undergo a Jewish tradition similar to a ‘Confirmation’ in Catholicism. He later said this: "The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still purely primitive, legends which are nevertheless pretty childish”.
Albert Einstein, in short appears to be a product of Kant’s realism, Spinoza’s determinism, and Euclidean logic. Einstein went on to become a first class mathematician/physicist and a religious skeptic. He once said that even if he had seen a ghost, he wouldn’t believe it; and when asked if he believed in God, his answer was that he believed in Spinoza’s God (Spinoza who was ex-communicated by the Jewish community in Amsterdam for his unreligious statements). Spinoza’s God is one who manifests himself in the harmony of all beings (the universe), it is not a God who is concerned with the fate of human beings.
Einstein was extremely humble and frugal. He is known to have worn torn and ruffled coats, and when his wife, Elsa insisted that he dressed well for his many important visitors, Einstein often argued that if the guests were coming to see his clothes then Elsa could take them to his closet; but if they were coming to see him then he was ready to meet them. His biographers mentioned that he often scoffed at his aides who constantly whisked him off in a car, saying “it is futile to look at the world from the window of a car”. Einstein always preferred to walk, but often told those who approached him: I am sorry, I am not Professor Einstein, and people always confused the two of us”.
During one of his birthday celebrations, Einstein received gifts from several world leaders, scientists and scholars, as well as a gift of tobacco from one ordinary person with a letter saying “this is not much but it is from a good soil (farm)”. That small gift from an ordinary anonymous person was the first Einstein deliberately opened. This again illustrates his desire to retreat from fame and return to the simple and ordinary. He even once said that if he had the chance to start over, he would be a plumber rather than a scientist/scholar so as to avoid fame.
In one of his visits to Japan amid earth-shattering welcome, the kind of attention many would revel in, Einstein stood frozen and told his company that “nobody in the world deserves this…”.
In his final illness, Einstein is believed to have refused surgery, saying that “it is useless to prolong life artificially, and that he has done his share. It is time to go”.
Rest In Peace!!!
Reference:
1. Einstein: His Life and Universe,Isaacson,W.(2007).
2. Einstein: A Life, Brian,D.(1996).
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Edited by - kayjatta on 28 Jun 2010 11:59:53 |
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