Sunday, August 9, 2009

Einstein in Princeton



If we could find a person well trained in physics, but ignorant of the prodigious development of that science since 1904 and show them the scientific works of Albert Einstein, he or she will definitively ask how many scientists have contributed to the incredible body of work in their hands, and would not believe that it is the product of a single mind! In our history Einstein is a man so unique that the future generations may have trouble believing that such a human being, such a mind, could exist.
All residences of the father of the Theory of Relativity -- from Bern, to Zurich, to Berlin -- are well kept and open to the public. Even though places like the Caputh cottage in Germany have been stormed by the Nazis and significantly damaged, they have been lovingly and painstakingly restored. All the more surprising is the situation in Princeton, New Jersey, where the great scientist passed the second half of his life.
Walking up to the 112 Mercer Street, Einstein residence from the mid-thirties until 1955, you will notice that not only has the house number been removed, but there is a little sign on the gate saying: “Private residence”. On the same street (#160), just a few blocks south from Einstein’s house, there is a plaque commemorating Karl Langlotz a Church organist who composed the music for the “Old Nassau” and died in 1915. The plaque reads, in capital letters: “May it be sacred to the sons of Princeton forever”! No similar plaque indicates the contribution of Albert Einstein to Princeton.
It is true that Einstein himself requested that his house should not be turned into a museum, but Kafka, for one, asked Max Brod to burn his books -- fortunately for us all he had had enough responsibility not to do that. It is somehow puzzling that neither the Institute for Advanced Study, the University, nor the city, or even some other cultural or government institution have had enough sensibility to understand that such a place belongs to mankind. It is also disturbing to find out that among the residents of the Einstein house have been renowned members of the intellectual community and Nobel Prize winners. How can they not see the importance, for the future generations, of the place where Einstein lived his last years? A noble and honest gesture would be to donate the house into the public custody – in which, indeed, it belongs. However in order to do so we may need to overcome our greed and understand that collective memory is more important than money and petty personal interests. This is, unfortunately, just another case where the interests of the few come before the interest of the many -- too bad that the people involved are scientists, both awarded and recognized for their contributions toward the collective. Too bad for us all.

(© Sergio Caldarella, 2008)

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Competence and ability

The major crisis that companies and corporations, are facing today is not only the increase of oil prices, recession and other related economical issues, as much as the lack of competence and ability to forethought the future by those who are entitled to decide. When we ask the simple questions: “Where do those managers come from? Why do they behave like that?” we see a more complex problem of the ruling class and the executives, and of a society where the intellectual basics are undermined more and more by a primitive materialistic mentality, and a future vision plays little or no role at all.
This issue is clearly related to the not well-perceived crisis of the modern academic system that is able to provide degrees and certificates, without inspiring students in the values and higher truths of knowledge.
It is always possible to save money by reducing quality, and that is what is happening in the industrial societies all over the planet. A plethora of managers with very impressive resumes from prestigious universities, prefer to cut jobs and pay people less: reduce the quality to make more money, instead of taking the “road less traveled”. Customers do not have to wonder if they are treated poorly by one flight attendant who receives 20.000 dollars a year plus per diem, while the manager who decides to cut the jobs receives a few million!
Another thing that universities are supposed to imbue is the sense of decency and humanity. But just how decent is someone who gains millions and instead of optimizing processes, using his professionalism to save money and keep people at work, just decides to exclude them because it’s easier? Not very decent, I guess, but that is how the new world is.

© Sergio Caldarella, 2009.