FOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH AND ABOUT
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Samuel Bourne, Ph.D.
Department
of Mathematics, University of California
Berkeley, CA 04720, USA
2, September 1953
Professor Einstein, during his 25 year stay at the
Institute, sought a mathematical theory that would unify the electro-magnetic
field and the gravitational field, usually referred to as unified theory. In
his original paper on General Relativity published in 1915, he postulated
their separate existence. He was able to explain the 43" advance of the
path of the planet Mercury in its 100 year travel around the Sun, predict the
bending of light and the red shift of the spectrum of sodium in the Sun due to
its gravitational pull. The bending of light was verified in the now famous
complete solar eclipse in the Argentine in 1919 and also made Einstein world
famous at the age of 40.
During my stay at
the Institution, Dr. Einstein and I had many discussions related to unified
field theory for its conception appealed to my mathematically abstract mind.
During the Summer of 1953, I attended the first Summer Institute sponsored by
the National Science Foundation, on Jordan Algebras at Colby College,
Waterville, Maine. The site of the Institute was favored by Marston Morse, the
Mathematicians' representative of the National Science Foundation for he was
Colby College's most famous graduate. I wrote a letter to Albert Einstein
concerning his mathematical representation of unified field theory. His
notation dated back to the first decade of this century and I suggested that
he try using the notation of permutations. On my return to Princeton, I called
on him at his office in room 115 and he mentioned my letter. I told him that
"his notation was old-fashioned and should be made more abstract."
(The notation he was using was introduced by Ricci and Levi-Cevita, Italian
geometers whose life span covered the late part of the 19th and early part of
the 20th centuries, and whose work, Einstein used in his General Relativity of
1915). He then replied, "But I do not know abstract mathematics. Why do
you not teach me abstract mathematics?" I was taken aback and gathering
my thoughts, I said to myself, "God, who teaches Albert Einstein?"
After regaining my composure, I said, "I shall send you some of my papers
and we shall discuss them." The fact that he was willing to be taught by
me impressed me deeply. Here sat before me a Great Mind who exemplified the
saying that "the true quality of greatness is humility."
__________
Bourne, Samuel, Ph.D., from the papers: "Four Conversations with Albert Einstein."
