Albert Einstein: Man of Imagination
Prepared by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

March 14th, 2005 marks the 126th birthday of the great physicist and peace champion Albert Einstein. Born in Germany on March 14th, 1879, Einstein is known for the general theory of relativity. His work dramatically altered the world’s conception of space, time, and energy. In his quest to understand the universe, Einstein laid the theoretical foundations for nuclear energy and, ultimately, the atomic bomb. Although Einstein helped to usher in the Nuclear Age, he was not a scientist detached from social responsibility. He continues to be honored for his ceaseless struggle to achieve peace, world order, and international cooperation.

Einstein's Early Years

After receiving a Doctorate degree in 1905 from Eidgenossische Technishe Hockshule, a technical university in Zurich, Switzerland, Einstein worked as a technical assistant at the Swiss Patent Office. During his spare time he produced much of his remarkable scientific work. Einstein found Newtonian mechanics to be inadequate and, using his idea of relativity, attempted to reconcile the laws of mechanics with the laws of electromagnetic fields. Einstein believed that a unified theory was possible to explain the seemingly contradictory laws of the movement in large objects to the laws governing subatomic particles. In 1921, Einstein received a Nobel Prize for his 1905 work on photoelectric effects.

Albert Einstein’s political activism began during World War I. After the war, he participated in the League of Nations (the predecessor to the United Nations) and in other disarmament groups. He soon became a leader and advocate for pacifism and non-violent conflict resolution. In December 1932, Einstein accepted an offer of a post at Princeton University and left Germany for the United States. The following month the Nazis came to power in Germany and Einstein was never to return there.

With the onset World War II in 1939, Europe was further destabilized and Einstein feared that the Nazi regime would be victorious. At the urging of fellow scientist Leo Szilard , Einstein wrote a letter to US President Roosevelt warning that the US must develop the atomic bomb before the Germans did. As a result, President Roosevelt initiated a research project to create an atomic bomb, and the Nuclear Age was set in motion. However, as the realization of nuclear weapons drew near, Einstein looked beyond World War II to future problems that such weapons could bring. In December 1944, Einstein wrote to physicist Niels Bohr, “When the war is over, then there will be in all countries a pursuit of secret war preparations with technological means which will lead inevitably to preventative wars and to destruction even more terrible than the present destruction of life.”

While Einstein’s recommendation led to the Manhattan Project, after the devastation of Japan by the atomic bomb – which occurred three months after the surrender of Germany – Einstein deeply regretted his role in encouraging the project. In November 1954, five months before his death, Einstein summarized his feelings about his role in the creation of the atomic bomb: “I made one great mistake in my life... when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made; but there was some justification - the danger that the Germans would make them.”

Following World War II, Einstein became even more outspoken. He was a leading figure in the World Government Movement and continued to work for peace and world order, campaigning for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. When asked what kind of weapons World War III would be fought with, Einstein responded, “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

On July 9, 1955, Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell issued the Russell-Einstein Manifesto warning of the peril of nuclear weapons and the dangers of continuing an arms race and called upon Congress, scientists and the general public to join in a resolution. The Russell Einstein Manifesto resolved: “In view of the fact that in any future world war nuclear weapons will certainly be employed, and that such weapons threaten the continued existence of mankind, we urge the Governments of the world to realize, and to acknowledge publicly, that their purpose cannot be furthered by a world war, and we urge them, consequently, to find peaceful means for the settlement of all matters of dispute between them.”

What Would Einstein Say To Scientists Today?

“Today, the physicists who participate in watching the most formidable and dangerous weapon of all time...cannot desist from warning and warning again: we cannot and should not slacken in our efforts to make the nations of the world and especially their governments aware of the unspeakable disaster they are certain to provoke unless they change their attitude towards each other and towards the task of shaping the future.”

Despite Einstein’s call for the complete abolition of all nuclear weapons, scientists today are researching and developing a new generation of these indiscriminate weapons of mass murder. As world citizens, we must follow Einstein’s example and assume our paramount responsibility of calling upon all scientists, elected officials and world leaders to publicly renounce nuclear weapons, immediately negotiate a treaty for their complete elimination and instead find a peaceful means for settling all matters of conflict.

Celebrating Einstein

Below are ideas for celebrating Einstein’s legacy on his birthday.

1. One of Einstein’s most important observations was that we need to think in a different mode than the one which produced our problems. Read and discuss the Russell-Einstein Manifesto or quotes from Einstein (see below) and then brainstorm one page of ideas, considering: In what new ways can we think about resolving conflict? Who or what organization is thinking differently about how to accomplish peace? Follow up the brainstorming activity with one action inspired by your thinking. Consider doing this with family and friends.

2. Learn more about leading scientists and scientific organizations who are speaking out for world peace:
International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility
International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation
Pugwash

3. Consider where you might be able to raise peace consciousness in your life.

“Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.”

“ Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

“ I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

“ Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them!”

“ The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking...the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker.”

“ He who joyfully marches to music rank and file, has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.”

“ We must inoculate our children against militarism, by educating them in the spirit of pacifism... Our schoolbooks glorify war and conceal its horrors. They indoctrinate children with hatred. I would teach peace rather than war, love rather than hate.”

“ Concern for man himself and his fate must always be the chief interest of all technical endeavors... In order that the creations of our mind shall be a blessing and not a curse to mankind. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.”