About Einstein
German born theoretical physicist. Developed the theory of general relativity. Won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. Settled in the US in 1940. Alerted President Roosevelt that Germany might be making an atomic bomb. Encouraged US to do research. Led to the Manhattan Project. Denounced discovery on nuclear fission as a weapon. Signed the Russell-Einstein Manifesto which highlighted the danger of nuclear weapons.
Article Summary
Einstein begins the article by justifying as to why a scientist like him should be commenting on issues of society.
1. He compares the fields of economics and astronomy and finds that there are methodological differences in the attempt to discover laws of general acceptability in both the fields. Economic laws are harder to formulate because of the number of factors that affect the situation that cannot be isolated. Human history is also not completely economic in nature. He talks about the “predatory phase” of human development (the need to establish superiority and hierarchy so as to become a privileged class) and says that the real purpose of socialism is to overcome and advance beyond this phase.
2. Socialism is directed towards an ethical end whereas science only provides the means.
Hence, science must not be overestimated when human issues are in question.
Human society is passing through a period of instability. People are hostile towards the groups to which they belong – even the belonging towards the fact that they are human and they exist – indicating that people have strived to achieve a balance hand have failed and lost all hope of this achievement.
Einstein attempts to resolve these issues. He says man is bothAbout Einstein
German born theoretical physicist. Developed the theory of general relativity. Won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. Settled in the US in 1940. Alerted President Roosevelt that Germany might be making an atomic bomb. Encouraged US to do research. Led to the Manhattan Project. Denounced discovery on nuclear fission as a weapon. Signed the Russell-Einstein Manifesto which highlighted the danger of nuclear weapons.
Article Summary
Einstein begins the article by justifying as to why a scientist like him should be commenting on issues of society.
1. He compares the fields of economics and astronomy and finds that there are methodological differences in the attempt to discover laws of general acceptability in both the fields. Economic laws are harder to formulate because of the number of factors that affect the situation that cannot be isolated. Human history is also not completely economic in nature. He talks about the “predatory phase” of human development (the need to establish superiority and hierarchy so as to become a privileged class) and says that the real purpose of socialism is to overcome and advance beyond this phase.
2. Socialism is directed towards an ethical end whereas science only provides the means.
Hence, science must not be overestimated when human issues are in question.
Human society is passing through a period of instability. People are hostile towards the groups to which they belong – even the belonging towards the fact that they are human and they exist – indicating that people have strived to achieve a balance hand have failed and lost all hope of this achievement.
Einstein attempts to resolve these issues. He says man is both a social and a solitary being. By virtue of being solitary, he tries to protect himself and those closest to him, while satisfying his personal desires. By virtue of being social, he tries to gain the recognition and affection of other humans. The strength of these two conflicting drives might be set by inheritance but personality is largely formed by the environment and society in which one finds oneself during developmental years. Man cannot be thought of outside the form of society. Memory and the ability to orally communicate cause human social relationships to change over time.
At birth, people inherit a biological constitution that is largely unchangeable. During life, people acquire a cultural constitution that is adopted from society and is subject to change. It is this culture that prompts us to annihilate each other or be at the mercy of a cruel, self-inflicted fate, though certain factors cannot be changed like biology, technological aspects, demography, and extreme division of labour. The crisis is the relationship of the individual to the society. While he is more conscious of his dependence on others, it is viewed in a negative light, as a threat to natural and economic existence. So, egotistical drives are enhanced while social ones are subjugated, leading to feelings of loneliness and insecurity.
Capitalistic means of production are the private property of individuals because they are produced by the deprivation of resources to others. A worker produces the goods, but they are owned by the owner and what the worker receives in exchange for his services is not determined by the real value of the gods he produces but by his personal minimum needs and the capitalist’s requirement of labour.
Private capital is concentrated in few hands because of competition and technological development, creating an enormous power centre, which is economic and political in nature. So, the representatives of society that are elected into office do not protect the needs of the underprivileged. They also control the main sources of information, i.e., the media, and hence it becomes impossible for the ordinary citizen to form objective conclusions.
Production is carried on for profit and not for use. There is always an “army of the unemployed” that is only exacerbated by technological progress. This, along with unlimited competition is responsible for instability in the accumulation and usage of capital, leading to a crippling of the social consciousness which has permeated into all aspects of social life including education.
A socialist economy accompanied by an education system that is oriented towards social goals eliminates these evils. It results in an equitable distribution of work and resources, along with promoting innate talents and a sense of personal responsibility for fellow men. This is still an idealistic situation as of the current scenario. By virtue of being solitary, he tries to protect himself and those closest to him, while satisfying his personal desires. By virtue of being social, he tries to gain the recognition and affection of other humans. The strength of these two conflicting drives might be set by inheritance but personality is largely formed by the environment and society in which one finds oneself during developmental years. Man cannot be thought of outside the form of society. Memory and the ability to orally communicate cause human social relationships to change over time.
At birth, people inherit a biological constitution that is largely unchangeable. During life, people acquire a cultural constitution that is adopted from society and is subject to change. It is this culture that prompts us to annihilate each other or be at the mercy of a cruel, self-inflicted fate, though certain factors cannot be changed like biology, technological aspects, demography, and extreme division of labour. The crisis is the relationship of the individual to the society. While he is more conscious of his dependence on others, it is viewed in a negative light, as a threat to natural and economic existence. So, egotistical drives are enhanced while social ones are subjugated, leading to feelings of loneliness and insecurity.
Capitalistic means of production are the private property of individuals because they are produced by the deprivation of resources to others. A worker produces the goods, but they are owned by the owner and what the worker receives in exchange for his services is not determined by the real value of the gods he produces but by his personal minimum needs and the capitalist’s requirement of labour.
Private capital is concentrated in few hands because of competition and technological development, creating an enormous power centre, which is economic and political in nature. So, the representatives of society that are elected into office do not protect the needs of the underprivileged. They also control the main sources of information, i.e., the media, and hence it becomes impossible for the ordinary citizen to form objective conclusions.
Production is carried on for profit and not for use. There is always an “army of the unemployed” that is only exacerbated by technological progress. This, along with unlimited competition is responsible for instability in the accumulation and usage of capital, leading to a crippling of the social consciousness which has permeated into all aspects of social life including education.
A socialist economy accompanied by an education system that is oriented towards social goals eliminates these evils. It results in an equitable distribution of work and resources, along with promoting innate talents and a sense of personal responsibility for fellow men. This is still an idealistic situation as of the current scenario.