Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
Albert Einstein’s thoughts on society
Albert Einstein is famous for being a physicist but it seems that he has plenty to say outside of physics. He has many interesting thoughts on society and here are some quotes taken from his book, “The World As I See It” (1949), which I think is worth pondering.
Two quotes on political systems:
“My political ideal is democracy. Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized. It is an irony of fate that I myself have been the recipient of excessive admiration and reverence from my fellow-beings, through no fault, and no merit, of my own. The cause of this may well be the desire, unattainable for many, to understand the few ideas to which I have with my feeble powers attained through ceaseless struggle. I am quite aware that for any organization to reach its goals, one man must do the thinking and directing and generally bear the responsibility. But the led must not be coerced, they must be able to choose their leader.”
An autocratic system of coercion, in my opinion, soon degenerates. For force always attracts men of low morality, and I believe it to be an invariable rule that tyrants of genius are succeeded by scoundrels. For this reason I have always been passionately opposed to systems such as we see in Italy and Russia to-day.
On the need for a military:
He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilisation should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.
I have plenty of food for thought for the rest of the week.
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about 3 years ago
Well, if you’re interested, Einstein also said stuff about religion.
Check out “Einstein and Religion: Physics and Theology” by Max Jammer.
The book is available from both NUS Central Library and local public libraries…
about 3 years ago
Few people in Singapore has the courage of conviction of Einstein. And the system may ensure we never produce an Einstein, for such a person will surely hate and be rejected by the system
about 3 years ago
Good Afternoon
Words of wisdom are indeed timeless. Agreed. That is why I find it so sad to see the brotherhood are still posturing and saber rattling. My hope was to reach out to the moderate elements in the brotherhood. As I believe it was not possible to do so when Darkness was around. He had such a disproportionate influence with the others, it was impossible to sensibly break through the lines. But we had every indication to believe under Harpoon, things could be slightly different. He has shown himself to be a very reasonable and easy going fellow. Alas, nothing I see has really change. We still see the very same vein of recalcitrant and belligerent mindlessness. Even when every possible attempt has been made to accomodate them, it is still a resolute no. As a result they will not only be sidelined but its fair to say, they have forfeited their locus to effect change in our blogosphere.
What I find incomprehensible is this. For people who claim to adore the internet with the spirit of endless love. When a real opportunity for them to bring their skill and experience to bear. They do absolutely nothing, except hide in Darkness.
Indeed what Einstein should have mentioned in passing was this. Smart people can be so terribly stupid.
about 3 years ago
Let’s think about what will become of Einstein if he was born in Singapore … say in 1985.
about 3 years ago
Hi 5 foot way & gang,
The difference between people like you 5 foot way et al (we have all your IP’s, it does not surprise me in the least they all originate from one building. Surprise, surprise) and those who make up the brotherhood and the bulk of our readers is simply this; we do not believe anyone has a right to interfere with the internet, not governments, not even bloggers or for that matter anyone else. Don’t care whether they are called the blogger 13 or the Dalai Lama Internet cognoscenti’s. No one. It should be left alone like Antarctica. What’s telling about Aaron’s post is although Einstein comes across as a pacifist here; what we must NEVER forget is he was also often referred too as the father of the Atomic bomb. It appears wisdom ONLY came to Einstein much later in his life, since he was the main proponent who pushed for atomic research during the nascent of Hitlerism. Yes, you are so right, Smart people can be so terribly stupid. BTW guess how did Einstein describe his illustrious role in developing the A-bomb? “This was the one great mistake in my life…”
That I had originally hoped should have been sufficient to remind many of their roles when it comes to how they should account to taxpayers, users and stakeholders. Unfortunately, as you yourself mentioned quite correctly the logic appears to be on the other side; Smart people can be so terribly stupid; how true; how very true indeed.
No Sir, we can offer you nothing. We wish you every success in your enterprise.
Cheers
Harphoon
about 3 years ago
On record. I want to be clear on one thing. We don’t want anything to do with ANY proposal to tweek the net. If AIMS< the Blogger 13 or anyone else wants to go ahead That’s their prerogative. As far as we are concerned. We do NOT recognize them and we want nothing to do with it.
I only live once. If one day I have children. I want them to grow up in the same net that I had to privilege to grow up in. I believe they have a right to that. I believe that is worth protecting against a few academics who just cant seem to make it in the real world and have to come to our world.
I want to make sure as far as the historical record is concerned. There was a group of people here who once not only boycotted all attempts to interfere with the internet but also made it plain, it is wrong to interfere with the new. It should be left alone.
You see I realize today, I am not like any of you people who have nine lives, where you can fail and fail and fail and still manage to come up trumps. Here in the brotherhood, we only have one life, so we must be very careful how we decide to use it. We must be wise. Above all we cannot be allied to stupid people like you.
You and Cherian and Bernard go ahead and do what you want. On record, I want it to be clearly stated, we boycott all proceedings, communications and attempts to engage us.
Let history be our witness.
Harphoon
about 3 years ago
Internet belongs to no one!
about 3 years ago
Best to take a leaf out of A Einstein’s life. What Harphoon may be trying to say is. He messed around with sometime that he should have left alone. At the end when he saw how he had created a monster in the form of the nuclear arms race. He lamented. By then was too late.
My dad is just a taxi driver. But he once said to me. A wise man knows how to pick up something and put it down. nah tak heih fong tak lok. He said it doesnt matter what it is power, women or influence. But if a man cannot do this. He is a useless fellow. No better than an opium addict.
Darkness was indeed wise beyond his years even as a young man. He knew his limits and what must be respected and left alone. He knew some things must never be picked up. Like the ring in LOR. Only power hungry power dont know their limit. They just togo all the way. Then fall flat on the deck.
about 3 years ago
Einstein knew clearly the risks of the A-Bomb, he chose the lesser of the two evils. He told FDR about it, accepted it however as a last resort. But it is telling of what or where progress will drive us one day.
Einstein said too that it’s easier to break an atom compared to prejudices. Think about that.
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