Description
Is relativity Jewish? The Nazis denigrated Albert Einstein's revolutionary theory by calling it "Jewish science," a charge typical of the ideological excesses of Hitler and his followers. Philosopher of science Steven Gimbel explores the many meanings of this provocative phrase and considers whether there is any sense in which Einstein's theory of relativity is Jewish. Arguing that we must take seriously the possibility that the Nazis were in some measure correct, Gimbel examines Einstein and his work to explore how beliefs, background, and environment may-or may not-have influenced the work of the scientist. You cannot understand Einstein's science, Gimbel declares, without knowing the history, religion, and philosophy that influenced it. No one, especially Einstein himself, denies Einstein's Jewish heritage, but many are uncomfortable saying that he was being a Jew while he was at his desk working. To understand what "Jewish" means for Einstein's work, Gimbel first explores the many definitions of "Jewish" and asks whether there are elements of Talmudic thinking apparent in Einstein's theory of relativity. He applies this line of inquiry to other scientists, including Isaac Newton, Rene Descartes, Sigmund Freud, and Emile Durkheim, to consider whether their specific religious beliefs or backgrounds manifested in their scientific endeavors. Einstein's Jewish Science intertwines science, history, philosophy, theology, and politics in fresh and fascinating ways to solve the multifaceted riddle of what religion means-and what it means to science. There are some senses, Gimbel claims, in which Jews can find a special connection to E = mc2, and this claim leads to the engaging, spirited debate at the heart of this book.
A fascinating engagement with the nature of Judaism and of science. By exploring and, in a sense, redeeming the Nazi accusation that Einstein's relativity theory is 'Jewish science,' Gimbel not only challenges the racist meanings of that charge but shows how scientific theories must in fact reflect the issues and concerns of the historical periods which give rise to them. This book is certain to generate much interest and will stimulate an important and understudied debate. -- Rabbi Michael Lerner From its unnerving premise-maybe the Nazis were right, and Einstein's physics is 'Jewish science' after all-to its contrarian conclusions, Einstein's Jewish Science is a bruiser of a book. It asks questions and floats hypotheses that strain academic etiquette. With unflagging 'out-of-the-box-itude,' Gimbel reinterprets modern science and modern Judaism in a way that is sometimes exasperating, often challenging, frequently inspired and always riveting. You may not be persuaded, but after grappling with this book, you are sure to see in a new light both science and Jews of the twentieth century. -- Noah Efron, Graduate Program in Science, Technology and Society, Bar Ilan University
About the Author
Steven Gimbel is the Edwin T. and Cynthia Shearer Johnson Professor for Distinguished Teaching in the Humanities and chair of the Department of Philosophy at Gettysburg College, where he won the Luther and Bernice Johnson Award for Distinguished Teaching. He is author of Exploring the Scientific Method: Cases and Questions; Rene Descartes: The Search for Certainty; and Defending Einstein: Hans Reichenbach's Writings on Space, Time, and Motion.
Reviews
In this wide-ranging exploration, Gimbel... seeks to discover whether and to what extent Einstein's work could legitimately be called 'Jewish' and what difference it makes. Publishers Weekly Gimbel spins out what could have been a mere provocation into a wide-ranging and entertaining collision of science, history, philosophy, and religion. Zocalo Public Square Gimbel is an engaging writer... he takes readers on enlightening excursions through the nature of Judaism, Hegelian philosophy, wherever his curiosity leads. -- George Johnson New York Times [A] lively, intentionally provocative and wholly compelling inquiry into the Jewishness of Einstein himself and the world-changing scientific revolution that he set in motion. -- Jonathan Kirsch Jewish Journal Reaching back into the first half of the twentieth century, Gimbel returns with absorbing stories about Albert Einstein and his life as a politician, brilliant scientist, and Jew. -- Fred Reiss San Diego Jewish World For anyone interested in the history and philosophy of science, this book is well worth reading to its delightful conclusion. -- Rivqa Rafael Cosmos The author explores the question of whether a scientist's religious and cultural/ethnic heritage colors the way he/she does science. Choice The author and his book do a wonderful job in framing the time, and the science, and the politics, and the religion. -- Howard Blumenthal Digital Insider The ugly, public assault on Einstein in early 1920s Germany is the starting point... The attack on Einstein is thoroughly and clearly described and placed in its historical and political context. There is no better English-language source on the topic. But Gimbel quickly turns the whole question upside down, asking with more than a little, deliberate irony whether there might not, in fact, be some truth to the characterization of Einstein's physics as, in some sense, 'Jewish.' What follows is a fascinating and enlightening discussion of many aspects of the scientific, philosophical, religious, cultural, and political history of the 20th century that examines the many different ways in which one might understand the suggestion that Einstein's physics expresses or reflects something distinctively Jewish. -- Don Howard Physics Today To understand Gimbel's argument about the Jewish quality of Einstein's approach-and to perceive the boldness of Gimbel's decision to re-examine twentieth-century, anti-Semitic ideas about 'Jewish science'-it's necessary first to understand the historical moment out of which the theory of relativity emerged. -- Donald Goldsmith Tikkun
Awards
Short-listed for Gerrard and Ella Berman Memorial Award 2013 (United States).
Book Information
ISBN 9781421411828
Author Steven Gimbel
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 16mm
A fascinating engagement with the nature of Judaism and of science. By exploring and, in a sense, redeeming the Nazi accusation that Einstein's relativity theory is 'Jewish science,' Gimbel not only challenges the racist meanings of that charge but shows how scientific theories must in fact reflect the issues and concerns of the historical periods which give rise to them. This book is certain to generate much interest and will stimulate an important and understudied debate. -- Rabbi Michael Lerner From its unnerving premise-maybe the Nazis were right, and Einstein's physics is 'Jewish science' after all-to its contrarian conclusions, Einstein's Jewish Science is a bruiser of a book. It asks questions and floats hypotheses that strain academic etiquette. With unflagging 'out-of-the-box-itude,' Gimbel reinterprets modern science and modern Judaism in a way that is sometimes exasperating, often challenging, frequently inspired and always riveting. You may not be persuaded, but after grappling with this book, you are sure to see in a new light both science and Jews of the twentieth century. -- Noah Efron, Graduate Program in Science, Technology and Society, Bar Ilan University
About the Author
Steven Gimbel is the Edwin T. and Cynthia Shearer Johnson Professor for Distinguished Teaching in the Humanities and chair of the Department of Philosophy at Gettysburg College, where he won the Luther and Bernice Johnson Award for Distinguished Teaching. He is author of Exploring the Scientific Method: Cases and Questions; Rene Descartes: The Search for Certainty; and Defending Einstein: Hans Reichenbach's Writings on Space, Time, and Motion.
Reviews
In this wide-ranging exploration, Gimbel... seeks to discover whether and to what extent Einstein's work could legitimately be called 'Jewish' and what difference it makes. Publishers Weekly Gimbel spins out what could have been a mere provocation into a wide-ranging and entertaining collision of science, history, philosophy, and religion. Zocalo Public Square Gimbel is an engaging writer... he takes readers on enlightening excursions through the nature of Judaism, Hegelian philosophy, wherever his curiosity leads. -- George Johnson New York Times [A] lively, intentionally provocative and wholly compelling inquiry into the Jewishness of Einstein himself and the world-changing scientific revolution that he set in motion. -- Jonathan Kirsch Jewish Journal Reaching back into the first half of the twentieth century, Gimbel returns with absorbing stories about Albert Einstein and his life as a politician, brilliant scientist, and Jew. -- Fred Reiss San Diego Jewish World For anyone interested in the history and philosophy of science, this book is well worth reading to its delightful conclusion. -- Rivqa Rafael Cosmos The author explores the question of whether a scientist's religious and cultural/ethnic heritage colors the way he/she does science. Choice The author and his book do a wonderful job in framing the time, and the science, and the politics, and the religion. -- Howard Blumenthal Digital Insider The ugly, public assault on Einstein in early 1920s Germany is the starting point... The attack on Einstein is thoroughly and clearly described and placed in its historical and political context. There is no better English-language source on the topic. But Gimbel quickly turns the whole question upside down, asking with more than a little, deliberate irony whether there might not, in fact, be some truth to the characterization of Einstein's physics as, in some sense, 'Jewish.' What follows is a fascinating and enlightening discussion of many aspects of the scientific, philosophical, religious, cultural, and political history of the 20th century that examines the many different ways in which one might understand the suggestion that Einstein's physics expresses or reflects something distinctively Jewish. -- Don Howard Physics Today To understand Gimbel's argument about the Jewish quality of Einstein's approach-and to perceive the boldness of Gimbel's decision to re-examine twentieth-century, anti-Semitic ideas about 'Jewish science'-it's necessary first to understand the historical moment out of which the theory of relativity emerged. -- Donald Goldsmith Tikkun
Awards
Short-listed for Gerrard and Ella Berman Memorial Award 2013 (United States).
Book Information
ISBN 9781421411828
Author Steven Gimbel
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 16mm
