Question

Question: Linked below  (Links to an external site.) is Albert Einstein's (very short) preface to his Special and General Theory of Relativity.

If you would like to read just a bit more, start with Section 1: "Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions".

After reading the Preface (and potentially Section 1), please identify one aspect of Einstein's consideration of audience that you find interesting and discuss (1-2 paragraphs).

Preface: http://www.bartleby.com/173/100.html

Section 1: http://www.bartleby.com/173/1.html

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) Einstein and Euclid tried to explain their findings to the general audience through the theory of the idea and not always through the mathematical expression of it all. After reading the preface and section 1, it is clear that the author not only explains this trait of Einstein and Euclid but also indulges in it himself.

For the sake of illustration, let us assume a couple who is in love. The male happens to be a writer. He has written a detailed novel about their passionate love affair. This novel turns out to be a best-seller in fiction for a while. Jane Doe buys a copy of this book and she even likes the content. She likes the author’s work and finds the content itself entertaining. However, Jane believes that such instances only happen in books and films and such love stories are not real.

Similarly, we see points, planes and angles all around us. Theoretical physics itself it viable through nature and the environment around it. There is no doubt that Einstein and Euclid have been inspired by such events and observations just like Newton was inspired after the apple fell on his head.

However, when the audience or a school child studying general relativity or Euclidian geometry would learn these theories that have been inspired by reality but not be able to equate it back to reality. This is one of Einstein’s interesting consideration of the audience.