Albert Einstein: Historical and Cultural Perspectives

Although best known for his revolutionary scientific ideas, Albert Einstein was also an impassioned social critic, who challenged social and philosophical orthodoxies and championed individual liberty and dignity in the face of persecution and war. The extraordinary range and diversity of Einstein's thought — encompassing fields that include psychology, linguistics, and ethics — is reflected in the breadth of this volume. It comprises 23 papers delivered at the Jerusalem Einstein Centennial Symposium held in March 1979 as part of a worldwide celebration of the centennial of Einstein's birth. This valuable collection offers historical perspectives on Einstein's scientific contributions, the reception of his ideas, his impact on scholarship and twentieth-century culture, and personal reminiscences by friends and associates. The distinguished contributors include P. A. M. Dirac, Fritz Stern, Banesh Hoffmann, Erik H. Erikson, and Max Jammer. The result is a splendid tribute to the greatest physicist of the century.