Albert Einstein, scientists of the century, author of the general theory of relativity, changed the face of science and society. His general theory of relativity, which described how mass and radiation curve the fabric of space and time to create gravity, changed the course of physics forever. Einstein’s influence extended well beyond the academic world. He became an increasingly vocal critic of the Nazi regime, openly opposing its political agendas and undermining its ideological justifications.
By doing so, Einstein was openly opposing the Nazis and thus putting himself in grave danger. In Germany, the majority of physicists considered his revolutionary theory to be “Jewish.” Nazi literature followed suit, deriding relativity as “Jewish Physics.” Instead, they pushed a nationalist, anti-Semitic, anti-quantum mechanic alternative called “German Physics,” embracing the Third Reich’s ideologies. Though he faced huge public outcry, Einstein stuck to his principles.
The physicist Werner Heisenberg, who had taught the theories of Einstein and was deeply ridiculed and persecuted for his position. Labeled a “white Jew” Heisenberg tried to protect himself and his family by appealing directly to Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler in a letter of 21 July 1937. Phew, right? Himmler extended this protection a year later, letting Heisenberg carry on teaching relativity, even as the climate continued to sour.
Even after most German scientists had severed ties with Einstein’s revolutionary research, Einstein remained a vocal critic of the radical Nazi regime. Abraham Flexner, the founding director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, pressured Einstein to temper his political criticisms. Still, Einstein fought with dogged insistence to insist that scientific integrity and morality could not be forsaken.
On June 26, 1933, Einstein penned a letter to his fellow physicist Max von Laue. In it, he responded to von Laue’s request that he take the high road and avoid politics. He wrote:
“I do not regret one word of what I have said and am of the belief that my actions have served mankind.”
This sentiment truly echoed Einstein’s profound belief that the scientific community should not hide behind their hymnal, but should take an active role in the affairs of society.
In a letter to a minister in Brooklyn, New York, in 1950, he emphasized:
“The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it.”
Einstein’s response to the ascendancy of the Nazi regime provides an excellent case study in an important inflection point in history. Now more than ever, moral courage is an imperative. As a result, thousands of the leading European intellectuals — including, of course, Einstein himself, escaping from the clutches of Hitler’s hell — found asylum in America. His experience emphasizes the need for scientists to call out misconduct and demand ethical research practices and integrity in all areas of science.
The historical analogy between the troubles that Einstein left behind and the troubles scientists now face is uncanny. Today, as political administrations try to subdue scientific discussion and policy, Einstein’s example should resonate. Furthermore, his insistence that they prioritize morality above political expediency should be a direct call to action for today’s and tomorrow’s leaders.
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