The Reaction to Relativity Theory I

The Anti-Einstein Campaign in Germany in 1920

Bibliographic Data

ID4516134
AuthorsHubert Goenner (Instituto de Física Teórica, corresponding author)
Year1993
Volume6
Issue1
Pages107-133
Publication date1993-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScience in Context (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0269-8897 • E-ISSN: 1474-0664
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0269889700001332
OpenAlexW2109986123
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited22

The ArgumentDevelopments in theoretical physics, even when they are revolutionary for physics, usually donotenter public awareness. The reaction to the special relativity theory is one of the few exceptions. The conceptual changes brought by special relativity to our notions of space and time, induced a lively debate not only within intellectual circles but in many strata of the educated middle class. In this article, I focus on a particular moment of public reaction to special and general relativity theory and to its creator Albert Einstein. I try to paint a picture of the anti-Einstein campaign in Germany of 1920, with finer brush strokes than those applied previously by others. My aim is to embed the campaign into the cultural and political climate of the Weimar republic. Without leaving the realm of physics only a superficial understanding of what happened seems possible. My thesis is that the anti-Einstein-campaign was organized, and the physicists involved in it (ab)used, mainly in order to rally support for one of the German right-wing parties, the Deutschnationale Volkspartei

Classical mechanics · Einstein · Epistemology · Physics · Political science · Politics · Realm · Theoretical physics · Theory of relativity · Weimar Republic · Chemistry · History and Theory of Mathematics · Law · Philosophy · Philosophy, Science, and History · Relativity and Gravitational Theory

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