Albert Einstein is considered one of the pre-eminent thinkers of our time. His accomplishments were foundational for modern understanding of the sciences and are the basis for many technological innovations, as well as the basis for present day investigations into the nature of reality. His originality and sheer output was astounding. His methods and pioneering efforts in the explorations of theoretical physics was so innovative and novel, that he was not awarded the Nobel prize for his greatest work, --the theory of relativity--, rather, for his explanation of the law of the photoelectric effect in 1921, a full 17 years after his "discovery". The conservative Nobel committee felt that the prize was to be awarded for a "new" discovery or the finding of a new "law" and Einstein's theory of relativity, although innovative, genius and groundbreaking in a way previously unknown, it did not fit into the pre-defined understanding of what constituted a prize winning accomplishment.
The question remains, how did Einstein do what he did?
Certainly, he was a unique individual, but also, his individual style, in practice, certainly constituted a method.
Just as we can learn from our mistakes, we can also learn from our successes.
The following are the major reasons why Einstein was able to do what he did.
1. His Circumstances: Einstein’s father and uncle were engineers who owned several businesses, the largest of which employed over 200 employees. They were early innovators in producing electricity, electric lights, dynamo’s, generators, etc. So Einstein’s upbringing was within an environment that not only naturally gravitated towards the sciences, but where his environment was one which encouraged his intellectual development in the sciences. Other aspects, such as His race, his culture/religion (Judaism), his geographic location, the age in which he lived, the problems that remained to be solved, his religion, socio-economic class, constitute a basis from which no one could replicate. Almost all of the great figures of our time were unique in the respect that the challenges of there times were suited to their abilities.
2. His Impudence: Einstein was quite naturally impudent, insubordinate, opinionated, questioned authority and hated being told what to do. He championed impudence and felt that it was one of his great qualities. He challenged authority, changed assignments to investigate what he found to be important and disdained rote learning.
3.His Academic Training: Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi: In high school, he was encouraged to drop out due to his difficulty in conforming to the curriculum. He followed this advice seeing as his father’s business had failed and it provided him the opportunity to move closer to them and pursue his desire to attend University. He flunked the entrance exam. (He passed the math and science portion, but flunked the liberal arts portion). He then attended a school run under the philosophy of the Swiss Educational reformer, Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, where rote learning, standardized assignments and memorization was banned in favor of visualization, self-specified investigation, and visualization, imagination and creativity was stressed. Einstein flourished in this environment, but still was impudent.
4. His Faith & Science: His ultimate rejection of the Jewish religion formed the basis for his scientific investigations, in that he believed that the order of the universe was logical, understandable and not governed by change. As he famously said, “God does not roll dice with the universe.” And also, "What really interests me is whether God had any choice in the creation of the world." Einstein’s desire to unify the various scientific/physical laws and theories was his version of finding an orderliness of the universe that served as a substitute for religion. When asked if he believed in God, Einstein replied, "I believe in Spinoza's God, Who reveals Himself in the lawful harmony of the world, not in a God Who concerns Himself with the fate and the doings of mankind."
5. His Brain: Einstein, like many cerebral individuals, found greater pleasure in thinking, contemplation and finding solutions to problems than virtually anything else. His indulgence in this task was rewarding to a degree that he related his greatest joys in life, to times when he found solutions to problems. In Einstein's paper, "Fundamental Ideas and Methods of Relativity." Einstein revealed "the happiest thought of my life." It occurred to Einstein – thinking in visual terms – that if a man were falling from the roof of his house and tried to let anything drop, it would only move alongside him, thus indicating the equivalence of acceleration and gravity. "The acceleration of free fall with respect to the material is therefore a mighty argument that the postulate of relativity is to be extended to coordinate systems that move nonuniformly relative to one another . . . ."
6. His Focus and Dedication: This has several aspects. 1. Einstein refused to take work not related to his field. 2. The lack of an academic career (his impudence made him too difficult to be hired as a Jr. Professor) allowed him to focus on his own problems and areas of investigation, whereas if he had been an academic, he would have been directed on what to do, and the pressure to be published, would have lead to what he called “scientific superficiality”. 3. His job as a patent clerk was not as “lowly” on the surface as it may have appeared in folklore. The patents he reviewed were all of a scientific nature, and based on real world devices. His job required him to be discriminating, objective, and to use his powers of imagination to see if the plans he reviewed were actual working objects. 4. Because of his intelligence, he was able to complete a full days work in 2-3 hours, giving him the remaining time to work on his own theories and papers.
7. His Love of Music: Einstein played the violin and knew French, German and Italian, studied the great philosophers (Leibniz, Hume, Berkeley, Kant, Spinoza), which all fed his creativity, his sense of unity, balance and art, as well as furthering his understanding of differing concepts the ability to scrutinize and to draw from differing fields which expanded his creativity and genius to arrive at novel solutions.
8. His Use of Visualization: Einstein had a renowned ability to not only understand formula’s and equations but also to visualize them to the extent that he could build a model in his mind for scrutiny. Many of his theories were worked through by the process of “thought experiments”. Einstein knew math very well, but did not pursue it, for he felt that his true strength lay in physics, so he felt he did not need to know math as well. Einstein also was very focused and knew where to look to get the information he needed. Whether it was poring through experiments on light, waves, absorption, fluid dynamics, etc. he was able to find the information he needed to further his own ideas. Einstein also had a great ability to block out distractions, compartmentalize and to conduct several thoughts simultaneously. For example, during the presentation of one paper, he realized that he had erred in making some mathematical transformations. He asked if any of the mathematicians or physicist in attendance could see the solution. None did. He continued with his lecture. Ten minutes later, in the midst of his lecture he exclaimed, "I've got it!” he was able to work out the math, while simultaneously giving his lecture. Another example of his power of mind is that his Father and Uncle had been working for two weeks on a particularly troublesome aspect of math in the construction of a new device. Although Einstein was only 15 at the time, he solved the problem in 15 minutes. Einstein’s mind was different than most. As a child he was a late talker and this gave his parents reason to worry. When he did speak, he would practice, out loud, several times, the most routine of statements, working the words out for himself before stating them out loud. Once he found something he liked, he was able to use this caution and focus to serve as strength.
9. His Passion, Dedication and sense of Providence: Human beings, are magical, in the first and final analysis. Specifically, it seems to be, that anything humans focus their energies upon, eventually will succom to their will. First, the human will figure out how to attain that which they desire, Then, (and less significantly), they will set about to follow their plan. Finally (and least important), they will attain that which they desire. What they desire may be a thing, an understanding, a person, a goal... it does not matter. If Einstein had everything above (1-8), he would not have accomplished anything, had he not had the passion and single-mindedness to attain his goal.
10. He Viewed All Things Afresh: Einstein's natural ability and skepticism which caused him to look at problems anew. Many had thought of different aspects of his ideas, but their inner need to adhere to that which had already been established, blinded them to the possibility of pursuing that which had been indicated. The Definition of "Freshness" 1 a: having its original qualities unimpaired: as (1): full of or renewed in vigor : refreshed (2): not stale, sour, or decayed (3): not faded (4): not worn or rumpled b: not altered by processing; 3 a (1): experienced, made, or received newly or anew (2): additional, another b: original, vivid c: lacking experience : raw d: newly or just come or arrived 4 : disposed to take liberties : impudent
The most important lesson from the example of Einstein is that every human being is unique and FULL of potential from the day they are born, until the day they die. Every ability, special. Every deviation from the norm, potentially world saving. Every dream, a possible reality. The more we are all allowed, helped, facilitated in moving along our own paths, the better the chance that we will find our own unique destinations. It is also important to feed the mind with the basic chemistry of development. Historical Examples, Concepts, Development, Systems, Use of Creativity, Imagination, The potential of the senses. Originality. Also, to provide a well-rounded education. One that includes Music, Sports, Nutrition, Human Rights, Political Systems, An appreciation for different cultures. The needs of other animals, unique environments, great personalities, etc.
To label individuals as anything other than where their potential lies, is to rob that individual, of their essential humanity. To diagnose and to define individuals limits, to bar access, to divert from their path, to subjugate, to incarcerate, to deny, are all activities that rob not only that individual, but society, and the individual who is doing the robbing.
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