Dr Faustus of Modern Physics - Department of Speech, Music and ...

30.2. CONFESSION 137
to philosophers who, like Leibniz, are mathematicians, or to mathematicians
who, like Einstein, are philosophers. (Reichenbach)
• I think a strong claim can be made that the process of scientific discovery
may be regarded as a form of art. This is best seen in the theoretical
aspects of Physical Science. The mathematical theorist builds up on
certain assumptions and according to well understood logical rules, step
by step, a stately edifice, while his imaginative power brings out clearly
the hidden relations between its parts. A well constructed theory is in
some respects undoubtedly an artistic production. A fine example is
the famous Kinetic Theory of Maxwell. ... The theory of relativity by
Einstein, quite apart from any question of its validity, cannot but be
regarded as a magnificent work of art. (Rutherford)
• Einstein arrived at the special theory of relativity after thinking for 10
years about the properties of light. He arrived at the general theory of
relativity after thinking for eight years about gravitation [13].
30.2 Confession
• I do not consider the main significance of the general theory of relativity
to be the prediction of some tiney observable effects, but rather the
simplicity of its foundations and its consistency.
• The idea of general relativity is a purely formal point of view and not
a definite hypothesis about nature. (Relativity is thus not a physical
theory)
• In my opinion general relativity possesses little inner probability.
• Physicists will be brought back to the Maxwell’s programmee: the description
of Physical Reality by fields which satisfy without singularity
a set of partial differential equations.
• I have become an obstinate heretic in the eyes of my colleagues. I am
generally regarded as some kind of petrified object rendered blind and
deaf by the years. I find this role not too distasteful, as it corresponds
very well with my temperament.