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Einstein as a Missionary of Science

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Abstract

The paper reviews Einstein’s engagement as a mediator and popularizer of science. It discusses the formative role of popular scientific literature for the young Einstein, showing that not only his broad scientific outlook but also his internationalist political views were shaped by these readings. Then, on the basis of recent detailed studies, Einstein’s travels and their impact on the dissemination of relativity theory are examined. These activities as well as Einstein’s own popular writings are interpreted in the context of his understanding of science as part of human culture.

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Notes

  1. Letter to Max Born 4 December 1926 in Einstein and Born (1969, p. 27).

  2. Einstein to Marcel Grossmann, (CPAE, vol. 1, pp. 290–291).

  3. See (Einstein 1987–2009), Fölsing (1997), Franck (1953), Isaacson (2007), Neffe (2005), Renn (2005a, b, c, 2006), Seelig (1956).

  4. This section is based on (Renn 2005a , 84–89).

  5. The following is based on Silva da Silva (2005 ), Tolmasquim ( 2005, 2012 ).

  6. Einstein’s travel journal to Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. EA 29–133.

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  1. Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, Germany

    Jürgen Renn

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  1. Jürgen Renn
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Correspondence to Jürgen Renn.

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Renn, J. Einstein as a Missionary of Science. Sci & Educ 22, 2569–2591 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-013-9621-6

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