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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. |
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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. |
| Einstein's
Contributions and Legacy
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.” |
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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. |
| Einstein
Quotes on Peace & War
“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.” |
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