Beschreibung:

EINSTEIN, ALBERT]. An archive of typescripts, proofs and correspondence concerning an English translation of Einstein's article "Physics and Reality," translated from the German by Jean-Felix-Piccard (1893-1963), one of the two typescripts extensively corrected and revised by Piccard, one list of editorial questions. Einstein's article was published as "Physik und Realität," in the Journal of the Franklin Institute , 222:3 (March 1936), pp. 313-347). EINSTEIN CONSIDERS THE EVOLUTION OF THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY AND ITS ROLE IN MODERN PHYSICS An archive relating to Piccard's translation of an important Einstein article which explored the connections between perceptions of reality and the development of theoretical physics. Einstein notes that "the aim of science is, on the one hand, a comprehension, as complete as possible, of the connection between the sense experiences in their totality, and, on the other hand, the accomplishment of this aim by the use of a minimum of primary concepts and relations. " He considers the concept of space as we perceive it and how Euclidean geometry described it; then describes the classical theory of celestial mechanics and space-time relations (the law of inertia, the law of motion, laws of force, including Newton's law of gravity), then relates the development of the Field Concept (electric field theory of Faraday, Maxwell, Hertz, Lorentz), which leads to the Theory of Relativity ("evolution of the notion of space and time into that of the continuum with metric structure"). In conclusion, Einstein explains why, in his opinion "the quantum theory does not seem likely to be able to produce a usable foundation for physics," while, at the same time, "the field theory is unable to give an explanation of the molecular structure of matter and of quantum phenomena..." The English translation was republished in the anthology Out of My Later Years (first published 1956, frequently reprinted). CONTENTS: 1. Two typescripts on foolscap paper, rectos only: 4 o, 276 x 213mm. (10.7/8 x 86 in.). Typescript A: 49 pp., many of the German technical terms typed in red; Typescript B: 39 pp., extensively corrected in ink (apparently by Piccard) and with pencil notations (formulae, etc) in some margins and blank rectos, paper browned and brittle, a few marginal tears. 2. Proof sheets (printed on rectos only) of the original article "Physics und Realität" with scattered annotations and corrections in pencil. 3. Correspondence, including retained carbons of Piccard's letters to Einstein (6), his letters to A. Rigling, editor at the Franklin Institute (5) and Rigling's letters to Piccard (5). 4. Original and carbon typescript of "Den Deutchen Text Betreffende Fragen," each 7pp., THE ORIGINAL LIST WITH CORRECTIONS BY EINSTEIN in ink in some 5 places (including a seven-word note on. p. 7).