A SIMPLE CONCEPT: "A simple concept," Isaacson says!

MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021

After that, conceptual chaos:  Has anyone ever been able to make Einstein's universe understandable for the general reader—for the non-specialist? Has anyone ever been able to make Einstein easy?

In the first two weeks of our rumination on this topic, we've mentioned five books by four different writers who tried to accomplish that task. Our list includes Einstein's own early attempt to explain his universe to the general reader. 

We've mentioned the following writers and the following books:

Albert Einstein: Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (1916)

Stephen Hawking: A Brief History of Time (1988)

Brian Greene: The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory (1999)

Brian Greene: The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality (2004)

Walter Isaacson: Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007)

These are hardly the only books which have tried to make Einstein easy. For now, though, they'll have to do. We offer a quick overview:

Einstein's 1916 book stands out for the obvious reason. The book was Einstein's own attempt to make his theories of relativity understandable for the general reader.

As of 1988, Hawking was considered to be one of the last century's most accomplished theoretical physicists. Surprisingly, his book became a massive best-seller. It was widely praised for the way it made modern physics understandable.

Greene is also a major theoretical physicist. Each of the books by Greene was turned into a multi-part series on PBS. 

This leaves Walter Isaacson as the outlier on this list. Isaacson isn't a physicist, and his book, alone on this list, is structured as a full biography of Einstein, not just as an account of the science.

Isaacson isn't a physicist, but he is a highly experienced major journalist and a widely acclaimed biographer. Beyond that, he had access to a wide range of major physicists as he assembled the parts of his book which detailed Einstein's universe rather than Einstein's life.

No one could think that Isaacson shirked as he tried to get the science right—or in his effort to make the science understandable. In his Acknowledgments, he thanks a long list of major physicists who helped with those tasks.

His list starts—repeat, starts—like this:

Brian Greene, the Columbia University physicist and author of The Fabric of the Cosmos, was an indispensable friend and editor. He talked me through numerous revisions, honed the wording of the science passages, and read the final manuscript. He is a master of both science and language...

Lawrence Krauss, professor of physics at Case Western Reserve and author of Hiding in the Mirror, also read my manuscript, vetted the sections on special relativity, general relativity, and cosmology, and offered many good suggestions and corrections. He, too, has an infectious enthusiasm for physics.

Krauss helped me enlist a protégé of his at Case, Craig J. Copi, who teaches relativity there. I hired him to do a thorough checking of the science and math, and I am grateful for his diligent edits.

Douglas Stone, professor of physics at Yale, also vetted the science in the book. A condensed matter theorist, he is writing what will be an important book on Einstein’s contributions to quantum mechanics. In addition to checking my science sections, he helped me write the chapters on the 1905 light quanta paper, quantum theory, Bose-Einstein statistics, and kinetic theory.

The acknowledgements start with Greene himself. From there, they proceed through an extensive list of highly qualified physicists who served as editors and, in some cases, as virtual co-writers. 

In addition to the scholars named above, Isaacson describes the contributions of a dozen more highly qualified academics. No one could think that Isaacson shirked in his attempt to get the science right, and to make it understandable.

Isaacson was diligent—and Isaacson is smart. From the jump, he understood that it wouldn't be easy to make Einstein's universe accessible to the general reader. Near the end of his lengthy list of acknowledgements, he offers these well-chosen words:

Ashton Carter, professor of science and international affairs at Harvard, kindly read and checked an early draft. Columbia University’s Fritz Stern, author of Einstein’s German World, provided encouragement and advice at the outset. Robert Schulmann, one of the original editors at the Einstein Papers Project, did likewise. And Jeremy Bernstein, who has written many fine books on Einstein, warned me how difficult the science would be. He was right, and I am grateful for that as well.

In addition, I asked two teachers of high school physics to give the book a careful reading to make sure the science was correct, and also comprehensible to those whose last physics course was in high school. Nancy Stravinsky Isaacson taught physics in New Orleans until, alas, Hurricane Katrina gave her more free time. David Derbes teaches physics at the University of Chicago Lab School. Their comments were very incisive and also aimed at the lay reader.

Isaacson was warned that the science would be hard. Presumably, he knew that coming in. 

Beyond that, he even checked with two high school teachers to make sure that his accounts of this (very difficult) science would be comprehensible for general readers. We're forced to make a whimsical point:

Based upon her name, one of these teachers may have been related to Isaacson. In a brief but instructive part of his book, Isaacson describes the way Einstein, a giant of world intellectual history, tried to check the lucidity of his own 1916 text.

Einstein asked his awestruck teenaged niece to  review his 1916 text as a way to assess its lucidity. This seems to have been a flawed decision, for reasons Isaacson whimsically describes in his book.

Walter Isaacson isn't a physicist, but he had plenty of help from such experts. Imaginably, he may have received too much help from too many such experts. 

Some of these scholars, Greene included, blurbed the book with words of high praise. In quite a few cases, they praised the book for the way it made the science accessible for the general reader. 

"Isaacson's treatment of Einstein's scientific work is excellent: accurate, complete," Yale's Professor Stone wrote in his editorial review of the book. Also, Isaacson's treatment included "just the right level of detail for the general reader." 

In his acknowledgements, Isaacson thanked Harvard professor Gerald Holton for being willing "to read my book, make comments and offer generous encouragement." Holton joined Stone in his assessment of Isaacson's book. 

"It is excellently readable," Holton wrote in his own review of Isaacson's book. As a general matter, we'd strongly disagree with that assessment. 

We'd strongly disagree. We're general readers ourselves, and it seems to us that Isaacson's attempts to explain the science are almost wholly incoherent almost every step of the way. In fairness, the same has been true of the many writers who tackled this daunting project before him. 

Professors Greene, Stone and Holton are high-ranking academics. They actually do understand the mathematics and the physics of Einstein's astonishing universe. 

They know the mathematics, and they know the physics! But perhaps for those very reasons, they may not always be the best judges of what will be understandable to the general reader, who very much does not. 

Next week, we'll examine one highly significant, puzzling passage from Isaacson's book—a passage which comes straight from Einstein's 1916 text. On its face, the presentation has never seemed to make sense, and no one has ever noticed.

That said, it seems to us that Isaacson's treatment of relativity is basically incoherent, right from the first few paragraphs he offers on the subject. 

To our eye and ear, his presentation has the feel of a text written by committee—of a text which may have been edited and reviewed by too many qualified experts. 

Beyond that, these highly qualified theoretical physicists understand the mathematics which underlie Einstein's deeply challenging universe. But do they understand the warp and woof of clear, cogent explanation—the kind of cogent explanation which would have a chance of making sense to general readers?

We know of no reason to assume that they do. But at any rate, Isaacson's treatment of relativity strikes us as almost wholly incoherent right from his opening passages.

Einstein devised his special theory of relativity in 1905, when he was just 26. Isaacson starts to tackle that topic in Chapter Six: Special Relativity, 1905.

(Einstein's general theory of relativity came along ten years later.)

Chapter Six starts with five fateful words: "Relativity is a simple concept." What follows, though, is extremely unclear.  In our view, there's a great deal to learn from that fact.

For all we know, it may be true that relativity is "a simple concept" in its broadest outlines. It may also be true that Einstein's special theory of relativity can be made understandable for general readers. 

But has anyone ever delivered on any such claims? As far as we know, the answer is no.

In our view, a great deal about our world can be learned from that fact.

Tomorrow: Six puzzling paragraphs


21 comments:

  1. Yeah, Einstein, dear Bob, of course.

    ...meanwhile:
    "President Joe Biden needs a cognitive test immediately, former white House physician Ronny Jackson tweeted Saturday.

    The Texas Republican lawmaker made the comments after observing Biden’s televised town hall this past week, writing that "He’s completely LOST it” and that the president “needs a cognitive exam NOW!"
    "

    You used to care a lot about this sort of thing, dear Bob, remember? Not too long ago. The nuclear codes! Yay yay yay! Remember, dear Bob?

    Why the sudden change of heart? Are being 'tribal', dear Bob? Oh noes, tell us it ain't so!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When you make a fool of yourself, you're not helping Vladimir Vladimirovich.

      Delete
    2. The last year of his presidency, Donald Trump was taken for an unscheduled Saturday visit to Walter Reid Hospital at which point he was asked to identify the silhouettes of zoo animals. Perhaps this clown of a physician, Ronny Jackson, would like to explain to the public the circumstances that triggered this excursion and mental status evaluation. The fact that Trump could successfully distinguish between the silhouette of a giraffe and one of a lion on that day should have restored any lost confidence from his inability to spell one and two syllable words correctly on a regular basis. The trip to Walter Reid was labeled a routine visit by none other than the venerable doctor Ronniy Jackson. The same lying scumbag who now demands a work up of President Biden..

      Delete
    3. We have a great abstract painting for you, dear dembot. A real masterpiece, we tell ya. Only $500K. Interested?

      Delete
    4. Ronny Jackson? Not the same Ronny Jackson that withdrew his name from consideration for head of the VA after a scathing DOD report about him drinking on the job, overprescribing medications, berating employees, making sexual comments about subordinates and taking enough prescription sleeping pills that colleagues were concerned they might affect his performance? Not that Ronny Jackson? You don’t say. Don’t need the artwork but sure would like to hear Don Jr pontificate his bullshit for upwards of 50k an hour at gatherings of super spreaders. Which reminds me: now that we have the new COVID variant that’s sweeping the country like the Beatles in the 60’s guess who it’s greatest fans are? Yep. Republicans vaccinated just over 50%, Dems over 85%. Over 97% hospitalized unvaccinated. You do the math. Oh, you can’t? Because it’s part of science? So sad. So: your sorry unvaccinated ass is over 3 times more likely to end up in the hospital and a box if you’re Republican. China virus 2020 has now morphed into Trump virus 2021. Because :Darwin.

      Delete
    5. All dembots kneel before Liberal God COVID and His Son Delta.

      We're aware, dear dembot. Carry on with your worship, we don't mind.

      So, what about that beautiful painting? Interested?

      Delete
    6. In Trump's defense, had he been smart enough to know the virus wasn't in the bag for Republicans, like the media is, he may not have tried to gaslight it.

      Delete
    7. Oh the painting. I saw it. It’s like a Warhol - a giant cup of cofveve.

      Delete
    8. Here, dembot, the latest Matt Taibbi piece describing the attitude of your zombie priests, the attitude you've learned to reproduce so well:
      https://taibbi.substack.com/p/the-vaccine-aristocrats

      Please note, dear dembot, that Matt Taibbi is one of you. Like Bob Somerby, only, of course, much smarter, more professional, and a bit more honest than dear Bob.

      He is one of you. And now imagine what ordinary humyn beings think about you and your liberal cult...

      Delete
    9. LOTTO, lottery,jackpot.
      Hello all my viewers, I am very happy for sharing this great testimonies,The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how I win the lottery euro million mega jackpot. I am a Woman who believe that one day I will win the lottery. finally my dreams came through when I email believelovespelltemple@gmail.com and tell him I need the lottery numbers. I have spend so much money on ticket just to make sure I win. But I never know that winning was so easy until the day I meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, . so I decide to give it a try.I contacted this great Dr Believe and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out I was among winners. I win 30,000 million Dollar. Dr Believe truly you are the best, all thanks to you forever















      LOTTO, lottery,jackpot.
      Hello all my viewers, I am very happy for sharing this great testimonies,The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how I win the lottery euro million mega jackpot. I am a Woman who believe that one day I will win the lottery. finally my dreams came through when I email believelovespelltemple@gmail.com and tell him I need the lottery numbers. I have spend so much money on ticket just to make sure I win. But I never know that winning was so easy until the day I meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, . so I decide to give it a try.I contacted this great Dr Believe and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out I was among winners. I win 30,000 million Dollar. Dr Believe truly you are the best, all thanks to you forever

      Delete
  2. A few years after helping Walter Isaacson with relativity, Ashton Carter became Secretary of Defense.

    Relativity is simple -- true.
    Relativity is easy -- false.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. TDH: Has anyone ever been able to make Einstein's universe understandable for the general reader?

    Yes, his universe included how we should live in a more sane manner today. Read his very understandable “Why Socialism?” where he advocated for a sane economy, educational system, and public discourse that is not dominated by wealthy capitalist’s selfish interests.
    Einstein asserts that a planned economy that adjusts to production would guarantee a livelihood to every member of society:

    In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child. The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own innate abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society.

    He also clearly understood that the corporate-owned mass media would do exactly what we see today, namely, destroy a sane public discourse focused on the common good:

    Moreover, under existing conditions, private capitalists inevitably control, directly or indirectly, the main sources of information (press, radio, education). It is thus extremely difficult, and indeed in most cases quite impossible, for the individual citizen to come to objective conclusions and to make intelligent use of his political rights.

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Chapter Six starts with five fateful words: "Relativity is a simple concept." What follows, though, is extremely unclear. In our view, there's a great deal to learn from that fact."

    Somerby is remarkably unclear when he tries to explain what it is that he doesn't understand, or when he tries to explain what is wrong with the explanations of others. He just lobs adjectives at the authors he has chosen to criticize without telling us what they did wrong. That isn't criticism, but name-calling.

    Of course, Somerby's goal is not to understand Einstein's theory at all but to demonstrate that language is nonsensical and cannot communicate, even when Einstein himself chooses the words. Then he can declare anything he wants to be nonsense. And this is how expertise is undermined so that disinformation can be more readily accepted by the unwary.

    If Somerby had even the tiniest interest in special relativity, his discussion here would be very different.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Why is Somerby letting spam through again?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bobby: maybe lay off the story about Einstein’s teenage niece for once, lest we conclude that you are harboring an unhealthy obsession. What is this, like the fourth or fifth time you’ve brought her into the conversation? She’s well over 100 years old now. She was featured in one of those “Look at her now” clickbait ads and I had to scroll down. Without being graphic, I will only advise that you have to let go of this chick. You’ll thank me for this.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This testimony is worth sharing to the world. I am here to tell the world of the good works of Dr BALBOSA. My name is Olivia Bolton am from the UK.. My man left me and my kids for another older woman. It was not so easy for me.. I love my husband so much and I did not lose hope and I kept praying and God finally answered my prayers…i searched online for a spell caster to help me unite me and my lover back forever and i saw so many testimonies of how DR BALBOSA has helped so many people online and i decided to give him a trial … I contacted him and explained to him. He told me not to worry that he will bring back my man within 24 hours. He consulted his powers and assured me not to worry . He did his work and cast the spell and to my greatest surprise, my husband came back the same day begging and crying just as Dr BALBOSA said. He begged me for forgiveness and he promised never to leave me for any reason. We are happy and we live together as one. Contact Dr BALBOSA now and be happy forever. dont lose hope and good luck..

    WHATSAPP AND CALL: +1(206) 485-3691
    WEBSITE: https://balbosasolutionhome.com
    bye and stay blessed

    ReplyDelete
  9. What happened to this blog? It has fallen into an epistemic Groundhog Day.

    ReplyDelete
  10. LOTTO, lottery,jackpot.
    Hello all my viewers, I am very happy for sharing this great testimonies,The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how I win the lottery euro million mega jackpot. I am a Woman who believe that one day I will win the lottery. finally my dreams came through when I email believelovespelltemple@gmail.com and tell him I need the lottery numbers. I have spend so much money on ticket just to make sure I win. But I never know that winning was so easy until the day I meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, . so I decide to give it a try.I contacted this great Dr Believe and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out I was among winners. I win 30,000 million Dollar. Dr Believe truly you are the best, all thanks to you forever






































    LOTTO, lottery,jackpot.
    Hello all my viewers, I am very happy for sharing this great testimonies,The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how I win the lottery euro million mega jackpot. I am a Woman who believe that one day I will win the lottery. finally my dreams came through when I email believelovespelltemple@gmail.com and tell him I need the lottery numbers. I have spend so much money on ticket just to make sure I win. But I never know that winning was so easy until the day I meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, . so I decide to give it a try.I contacted this great Dr Believe and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out I was among winners. I win 30,000 million Dollar. Dr Believe truly you are the best, all thanks to you forever







    ReplyDelete
  11. Overall, Pokemon infinite fusion is a well-crafted fan-made game that offers a unique take on the Pokemon franchise. It provides endless possibilities for players to create their own unique creatures and explore a vast world filled with challenges and adventures.

    ReplyDelete