Einstein On Intuition

[Loisenman]

by Lois Isenman
Intuition In Depth: Bridging Science and Spirituality

After reading Isaacson's book on Einstein, which I heartily recommend, I picked up a book I had taken out of the library a while ago and kept renewing. It is called Einstein and the Poet: In Search of the Cosmic Man, by William Hermanns. Until Einstein came alive for me, thanks to Isaacson, I had no mental place for it.

It consists of four interviews with Einstein by Dr. Hermanns, initially his fellow Berliner and then his fellow exile. Hermanns is a sociologist and poet, who has strong mystical leanings and little understanding of physics. The first interview takes place in Berlin as the Nazis are gaining strength and becomes entwined with marching Brownshirts. It is both a wonderfully and terrifyingly bizarre piece, and it would make a striking movie or perhaps play.

The next three interviews take place in the United States during and after the war. Although lacking the drama of the first interview, they are equally informative. Hermanns continually goads Einstein to talk about things that he is not comfortable talking about, such as mysticism, and then pokes fun at his own obtuseness for continuing to press him. Nonetheless Einstein reveals a great deal to him. The interviews contain a treasure trove of information about Einstein's understanding of intuition. I thought I had the intuition bug, Einstein had it even worse!

Snip

After I finished the book, I copied down some quotes I found particularly moving or informative. By putting them one after the other and pondering them a bit I came to see that it formed a coherent, profound, and provocative worldview. Read More...

[Ilsa]

1. Thank you for this post and link.

I've visited your site before -- I remember from the pic on the blog. Very interesting material and study. I enjoyed your commentary on HRC as well.