How the Einsteinian revolution can be understood as the result of a long-term evolution of science The revolution that emerged from Albert Einstein’s work in the early twentieth century transformed our understanding of space, time, motion, gravity, matter, and radiation. Beginning with Einstein’s miracle year of 1905 and continuing through his development of the theory of general relativity, Einstein spurred a revolution that continues to reverberate in modern-day physics. In The Einsteinian Revolution, Hanoch Gutfreund and Jürgen Renn trace the century-long transformation of classical physics and argue that the revolution begun by Einstein was in fact the result of a long-term evolution. Describing the origins and context of Einstein’s innovative research, Gutfreund and Renn work to dispel the popular myth of Einstein as a lone genius who brought about a revolution in physics through the power of his own pure thought. We can only understand the birth of modern physics, they say, if we understand the long history of the evolution of knowledge. Gutfreund and Renn outline the essential structures of the knowledge system of classical physics on which Einstein drew. Examining Einstein’s discoveries from 1905 onward, they describe the process by which new concepts arose and the basis of modern physics emerged. These transformations continued, eventually resulting in the establishment of quantum physics and general relativity as the two major conceptual frameworks of modern physics—and its two unreconciled theoretical approaches. Gutfreund and Renn note that Einstein was dissatisfied with this conceptual dichotomy and began a search for a unified understanding of physics—a quest that continued for the rest of his life.

An annotated facsimile edition of Einstein's handwritten manuscript on the foundations of general relativity This richly annotated facsimile edition of "The Foundation of General Relativity" introduces a new generation of readers to Albert Einstein's theory of gravitation. Written in 1915, this remarkable document is a watershed in the history of physics and an enduring testament to the elegance and precision of Einstein's thought. Presented here is a beautiful facsimile of Einstein's original handwritten manuscript, along with its English translation and an insightful page-by-page commentary that places the work in historical and scientific context. Hanoch Gutfreund and Jürgen Renn's concise introduction traces Einstein's intellectual odyssey from special to general relativity, and their essay "The Charm of a Manuscript" provides a delightful meditation on the varied afterlife of Einstein's text. Featuring a foreword by John Stachel, this handsome edition also includes a biographical glossary of the figures discussed in the book, a comprehensive bibliography, suggestions for further reading, and numerous photos and illustrations throughout.

New perspectives on the iconic physicist's scientific and philosophical formation At the end of World War II, Albert Einstein was invited to write his intellectual autobiography for the Library of Living Philosophers. The resulting book was his uniquely personal Autobiographical Notes, a classic work in the history of science that explains the development of his ideas with unmatched warmth and clarity. Hanoch Gutfreund and Jürgen Renn introduce Einstein's scientific reflections to today's readers, tracing his intellectual formation from childhood to old age and offering a compelling portrait of the making of a philosopher-scientist. Einstein on Einstein features the full English text of Autobiographical Notes along with incisive essays that place Einstein's reflections in the context of the different stages of his scientific life. Gutfreund and Renn draw on Einstein's writings, personal correspondence, and critical writings by Einstein's contemporaries to provide new perspectives on his greatest discoveries. Also included are Einstein's responses to his critics, which shed additional light on his scientific and philosophical worldview. Gutfreund and Renn quote extensively from Einstein's initial, unpublished attempts to formulate his response, and also look at another brief autobiographical text by Einstein, written a few weeks before his death, which is published here for the first time in English. Complete with evocative drawings by artist Laurent Taudin, Einstein on Einstein illuminates the iconic physicist's journey to general relativity while situating his revolutionary ideas alongside other astonishing scientific breakthroughs of the twentieth century.

First published in 1922 and based on lectures delivered in May 1921, Albert Einstein’s The Meaning of Relativity offered an overview and explanation of the then new and controversial theory of relativity. The work would go on to become a monumental classic, printed in numerous editions and translations worldwide. Now, The Formative Years of Relativity introduces Einstein’s masterpiece to new audiences. This beautiful volume contains Einstein’s insightful text, accompanied by important historical materials and commentary looking at the origins and development of general relativity. Hanoch Gutfreund and Jürgen Renn provide fresh, original perspectives, placing Einstein’s achievements into a broader context for all readers. In this book, Gutfreund and Renn tell the rich story behind the early reception, spread, and consequences of Einstein’s ideas during the formative years of general relativity in the late 1910s and 1920s. They show that relativity’s meaning changed radically throughout the nascent years of its development, and they describe in detail the transformation of Einstein’s work from the esoteric pursuit of one individual communicating with a handful of colleagues into the preoccupation of a growing community of physicists, astronomers, mathematicians, and philosophers. This handsome edition quotes extensively from Einstein’s correspondence and reproduces historical documents such as newspaper articles and letters. Inserts are featured in the main text giving concise explanations of basic concepts, and short biographical notes and photographs of some of Einstein’s contemporaries are included. The first-ever English translations of two of Einstein’s popular Princeton lectures are featured at the book’s end.

Alla fine della Seconda guerra mondiale Albert Einstein fu invitato a scrivere la sua autobiografia intellettuale per The Library of Living Philosophers. Il risultato sono le sue personalissime Note autobiografiche, opera classica nella storia della scienza che illustra lo sviluppo delle sue idee in maniera quanto mai chiara e lucida. Einstein secondo Einstein contestualizza le riflessioni di Einstein nelle varie fasi della sua vita e, oltre a presentare il testo completo delle Note autobiografiche, segue il suo itinerario intellettuale dall’infanzia agli ultimi anni, tracciando un quadro avvincente di come si forma uno scienziato-filosofo. Gutfreund e Renn offrono un nuovo punto di vista sulle maggiori scoperte di Einstein ricollegandosi ai suoi scritti, alla sua corrispondenza personale e a saggi critici dei suoi contemporanei. Oltre alla replica di Einstein a questi ultimi, effettivamente pubblicata, sono citati vari estratti dalla prima bozza inedita del testo, in cui il grande scienziato cercò di ribattere alle osservazioni dei suoi detrattori. Infine, Gutfreund e Renn esaminano un secondo breve testo autobiografico di Einstein, scritto poche settimane prima di morire e finora inedito.

Am Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs wurde Albert Einstein eingeladen, seine intellektuelle Autobiografie für die Library of Living Philosophers zu schreiben. Das Ergebnis war sein einzigartiger Text, Autobiographisches, ein Klassiker der Wissenschaftsgeschichte, der die Entwicklung seiner Ideen mit unvergleichlicher Prägnanz erklärt. Hanoch Gutfreund und Jürgen Renn stellen Einsteins wissenschaftliche Überlegungen dem heutigen Leser vor, zeichnen seine intellektuelle Entwicklung von der Kindheit bis ins hohe Alter nach und bieten ein fesselndes Porträt der Entwicklung eines Wissenschaftlers und Philosophen. Einstein über Einstein enthält, neben den Originaltext, Essays, die Einsteins Überlegungen in den Kontext der verschiedenen Phasen seines wissenschaftlichen Lebens stellen. Gutfreund und Renn stützen sich auf Einsteins Schriften, persönliche Korrespondenz und Kommentare von seinen Zeitgenossen, um neue Perspektiven auf seine größten Entdeckungen zu eröffnen. Ebenfalls enthalten sind Einsteins Antworten auf seine Kritiker, die ein zusätzliches Licht auf seine wissenschaftliche und philosophische Weltanschauung werfen. Gutfreund und Renn zitieren ausführlich aus Einsteins ersten, unveröffentlichten Skizzen seiner Antworten. Der Band umfasst außerdem einen kurzen autobiografischen Text, den Einstein wenige Wochen vor seinem Tod geschrieben hat. Einstein über Einstein ist mit eindrucksvollen Zeichnungen des Künstlers Laurent Taudin sowie mit zeitgenössischen Fotografien illustriert.

After completing the final version of his general theory of relativity in November 1915, Albert Einstein wrote a book about relativity for a popular audience. This new edition of Einstein's book features an authoritative English translation of the text along with an introduction and a reading companion that examines the evolution of Einstein's thinking and casts his ideas in a broader present-day context. A special chapter explores the history of and the stories behind the early foreign-language editions in light of the reception of relativity in different countries. This edition also includes a survey of the introductions from these editions, covers from selected early editions, a letter from Walther Rathenau to Einstein discussing the book, and a revealing sample from Einstein's handwritten manuscript.--