Paize Ten PERSPECTIVES AL A SCIENTIST AND HIS WORK ...H.E.Moses IT sometimes happens that a scientific discovery or theory has no immed- iate practical use achieves great notor- iety in a large segment of the literate, non-scientific populace. Examples of such theories are Copernicus' heliocen- tric theory, Darwin's theory of evolu- tion, and Einstein's theory of relativity. That the 'first two above-mentioned theories should excite people who are not specialists in the fields in which the theories apply is not surprising. These theories put into concrete form the dissatisfaction of many with the philo- sophical, moral, and religious usages which prevailed at the time these theo- ries were proposed. Furthermore, the theories were phrased in such simple language that even the non-specialist could understand them. These theories pointed up the new attitudes that man and his world were no longer to be considered the final objectives of crea- tion. On the contrary, they were small, perhaps accidental, details of an im- mense scheme of things. The bitter controversies concerning the acceptabil- ity of these theories were actually con- troversies concerning the acceptabil- ity of the new attitudes which had produced these theories. The theory of relativity, like the the- ory of evolution and the heliocentric theory, indicated that great changes in the philosophy of science were occur- ing. But unlike them it did not touch o one's personal philosophy or moral attitudes. Furthermore, the theory was stated in such abstract terms and used such specialized language that only those skilled in mathematical physics could expect to get the full meaning. The extent of popular interest is, there- fore, astonishing and has never been completely explained. But as a result of the unprecedented excitement which the theory brought about Albert Ein- stein was against his will thrust out into the notice of the world as a sym- bol of genius, bol of genius. Phillipp Frank in his book "Einstein: His Life and Times" studies Einstein his theories and the forces which have made Einstein, a really remarkable man, the legendary figure he has become in his own lifetime. Einstein was born and raised in southern Germany. Because of family fisancial difficulties and his dislike of German schools he went to school in Switzerland where he eventually became a citizen. His early scientific discoveries including special relativity resulted in his obtaining a position on the staff of the University at Zurich and his leaving his job at the Swiss patent office. As his fame increased, he be- came a professor at the German Uni- versity at Prague and later transferred to the staff of the Kaiser Wilhelm In- stitute in Berlin. After the end of the World War his theory of general relativity, which had been published a few years before, came to the attention of the scientists of the Allied countries and upon being verified experimentally aroused the sensationalism surrounding the theory and its inventor which per- sists to this day. He came to the Insti- tute for Advanced Studies at Princeton just as Hitler was coming to power in Germany. Professor Frank is unusually well suited to write Einstein's biography. First of all, Frank is himself an eminent theoretical physicist and is therefore a competent interpreter of Einstein's in- fluence on modern physics. Secondly- and more important-Frank is a close personal friend of Einstein's and is thoroughly acquainted with Einstein's life and environment, particularly since Frank spent much of his career in the same European academic atmosphere as Einstein. Frank presents a clean, precise image of Einstein's personality, many charac- teristics of which have stemmed from Einstein's strong desire for personal in- dependence. This attitude in Einstein is so pronounced that he has always disliked being identified with any group. Thus in his youth he renounced his membership to the Jewish community in Germany (where in the Kaiser's re- gime it had official status with the other religious groups) and was com- pelled much against his personal incli- nations by Jews, non-Jews, and particu- larly anti-Semites to become a Jewish leader. In a similar way his immense prestige forced him to express openly his favor of pacifism, although later governed by his pragmatic outlook, he stated his conviction that the Nazis should be stopped by force. Frank shows further how Einstein's desire for personal independence has led to his rejection of close personal at- tachments with individuals, even though he has an interest in the welfare of mankind considered as a collective con- cept. Likewise Einstein has never com- pletely accepted the middle-class aca- demic environment in which he lives but remains an outsider who looks in with little interest and some good- natured disdain. Dr. Frank's discussion of the impor- tance- of Einstein's theories to modern physics will not be as easy to take by lay readers as is his description of Ein- stein as a man. Dr. Frank's discussion is very competent and clear. But people who are unacquainted with even the more fundamental notions of physics The Solipsist --in the sands of solipsism The lonely man sucks his immediate thumb Examines the dull headache from within - -heart shaped cavity; To find a brisk incontinence - resurgent childhood His footsteps matched by smaller ones His shaded eyes calmed by this company Satisfied he admits the lure of other eyes And succumbs, coldly to their reflection. Quiet. Dreaming-the passing clouds lost All in the eclipse of memories, forgotten. The moist hand's pressure-recreated Recalls the father to the son. What shall I be to be like you. What shall I do to do like you? How shall I close ny eyes to look at you? How each convention; piled one- Upon the other, foreshortens germination. To end experience-locked in silence. - -the lonely man His premature birth, but once denied Outlives the timeless trance- And the single liberated thought Passes into the childhood's-recollected pain. -June Friedenberg such as mass, force, and energy will cer- tainly find the material difficult. In his discussion of Einstein's contri- bution to modern physics, Frank points out the deviation of modern physics from the paths taken by the classical nineteenth century physics. Modern physics is considerably more pragmatic than classical physics, which contained a large element of mystical idealism. Modern physics is almost completely stripped of mysticism and its scope is more clearly delineated. Its scope is to describe in as simple and logical man- ner as possible experimentally obser'- able phenomena. Einstein's theories, Frank shows, are expressed in the new terms. In fact an achieveme.t even more important than the theories them- selves is that Einstein's theories have helped put into concrete form the ob- jectives of modern physics and the inadequacies of classical physics. Frank's book does not belie its title, for it describes in some detail the "times" of Einstein as well as his life. Frank shows himself to be a shrewd ob- server of the political and sociological developments in Europe in the first part of this century and to the reviewer Frank's description of these matters constitutes some of the most interesting parts of the book. His analys of the intensification of German natinalism after the World War, thoug, a ot viery elaborate, is acute and has areshness which arises from Frank's having actu- ally lived thiou'iout this peiod 'n Europe. His pr sonsl familsitsy with many of the retails of this tr-d tvs the authentici 4 .hich man; of t e writers. who write ithout such ontira.t knowledge, lack,. ikewise h succ.t descriptions of the cultures of 'he Yar ous parts of Eurote in which E.insten lised form a elainted ackdrop against which " describes 'stein's development. Not the least o the charis of the book is the style of writing. The writing is smooth but has a backbone (f a de- ceptiiely gentle humor. FurJerinore. the book is. a ithe whole, well org'nized. Thers is some rediancy in the dis- cusosion of the ply" ..scp y of scienscc-,but inasmuch as F : s view are cer- tainly worthhl as flaw nis rhaps not too serious. MR. WESTLY AND THE STRANGER 0 * Continued from Page he been one who chewed, he would have, without question, spit. "Wahl," said Mr. Westly. "Live and larn." He spit, thoughtfully, and stared at the church steeple. The stranger rolled another cigarette. "Plumb out of makin's" he muttered and threw the empty tobacco sack into the road. After a contemplative silence which continued for several minutes, Mr. Westly spoke. "Stranger?" "Uh." "I'm obliged to ye." "'Taint nothin', to speak of." The stranger attempted to blow a smoke ring. "Uh, you got terbacky makin's fer sale?" "W'y sure!" replied Mr. Westly ener- getically. "Come in the store." The stranger and I followed him inside. "What brand d'ye favor?" The stranger surveyed the well stocked shelf of chewing tobocco, smok- ing tobacco and snuff. "I'd like that big sack of Bull Durham," he pointed, "and three packs of papers and a box of matches." Mr. Westly placed these-on the coun- ter. "It'll come to ten cents fer the makin's and six cents fer the papers and a penny fer the matches." He wrote down the figures and added them up. "That's seventeen cents." "Uh," the stranger hesitated. "I'd be obliged to ask fer credit. Ain't got a cent on me." Mr. Westly moved uneasily. "Wahl, I couldn't credit a stranger who won't never come back." he said, almost apol- ogetically. The stranger cleared his throat. "Folks up the river always ask about folks down the river," he suggested thoughtfully and paused for a moment and for effect. "I'd not say a word about the stunt I learnt you, and I'd not say how you'd been all wrong in usin' new moons fer perdictions," he reached ten- tatively for the makings, "because you been so neighborly." Mr. Westly tongued his wad. "Wahl . . The stranger picked up his tobacco, papers and matches, grabbed his cloth satchel from the front porch and de - parted, whistling contentedly as he dis- appeared up the river. He left in such' haste that Mr. Westly did not have time to inquire as to his name, social standing, health, business and philo- sophical doctrine. I stood beside the candy barrel, half full of New Yoirk Chocolates. "Mr. Westly?" He regarded me suspiciously. "Ain't got a cent on me." Under the circumstances, I felt justified in say- ing "ain't." Mr. Westly gave me a pemy's worth of New York Chocolates. "And I reckon I won't have a cent tomorrow." Mr. Westly considered this. His rep- utation in the community as weather prophet was at stake. After a seem- ingly long moment, during which he contemplated me rather thoughtfully, he acceded to my suggestion. However, the next afternoon, con- trary to the stranger's forecast, a thunderstorm passed over Little Ben, It rained quite hard for ten minutes. When I arrived at the General Storey I found Mr. Westly in his usual positions on the keg"of ten-penny nails. Hew" spitting contemptuously. And I knew I would have to pay for my New Y rk Chocolates. They cost three for a pen ny.