Speeches

Following are links (and quotes) from speeches of Einstein and Schrödinger – in particular those that may not be so familiar, and in the context of the alternative interpretation of space and matter (as real waves):

1. Ether and the Theory of Relativity (Albert Einstein)

“More careful reflection teaches us however, that the special theory of relativity does not compel us to deny ether. We may assume the existence of an ether; only we must give up ascribing a definite state of motion to it”

“Recapitulating, we may say that according to the general theory of relativity space is endowed with physical qualities; in this sense, therefore, there exists an ether. According to the general theory of relativity space without ether is unthinkable; for in such space there not only would be no propagation of light, but also no possibility of existence for standards of space and time (measuring-rods and clocks), nor therefore any space-time intervals in the physical sense”

2. Äther und RelativtĂ€ts-Theorie (Albert Einstein, German)

“…die Ätherhypothese an sich widerstreitet der speziellen RelativitĂ€tetheorie nicht”

Nach der allgemeinen RelativitĂ€tstheorie ist der Raum mit physikalischen QualitĂ€ten ausgestattet; es existiert also in diesem Sinne ein Äther. GemĂ€ĂŸ der allgemeinen RelativitĂ€tstheorie ist ein Raum ohne Äther undenkbar; denn in einem solchen gĂ€be es nicht nur keine Lichtfortpflanzung, sondern auch keine Existenzmöglichkeit von MaßstĂ€ben und Uhren, also auch keine rĂ€umlich-zeitlichen Entfernungen im Sinne der Physik.”

3. Concerning the Aether (Albert Einstein)

“But even if these possibilities do mature into an actual theory, we will not be able to do without the aether in theoretical physics, that is, a continuum endowed with physical properties; for general relativity, to whose fundamental viewpoints physicists will always hold fast, rules out direct action at a distance. But every theory of local action assumes continuous fields, and thus also the existence of an ‘aether’.”

3. Über den Aether (Albert Einstein, German)

Aber selbst wenn diese Möglichkeiten zu wirklichen Theorien heranreifen, werden wir des Äthers, d. h. des mit physikalischen Eigenschaften ausgestatteten Kontinuums, in der theoretischen Physik nicht entbehren können; denn die allgemeine RelativitĂ€tstheorie, an deren grundsĂ€tzlichen Gesichtspunkten die Physiker wohl stets festhalten werden, schliesst eine unvermittelte Fernwirkung aus; jede Nahewirkungs-Theorie aber setzt kontinuierliche Felder voraus, also auch die Existenz eines „Äthers“.

4. The Meaning of Wave Mechanics (Schrödinger)

“Let me say at the outset, that in this discourse, I am opposing not a few special statements of quantum physics held today (1950s), I am opposing as it were the whole of it, I am opposing its basic views that have been shaped 25 years ago, when Max Born put forward his probability interpretation, which was accepted by almost everybody.”

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