Ed wrote:
ok i don't know about much the topic as you guys , but do you not think socialists would obviously want to think of him as a socialist to help justify their own cause...
The simple answer is that he had a reputation as being a socialist. He hung out with Marxists, Socialists and Communists, wrote an article called "Why Socialism", called himself a socialist, etc.
Ed wrote:
Although Einstein was not a socialist by today's definiton, his politics were left of center, much like today's liberal wing of the Democratic Party in the United States.
That doesn't make sense, the democratic party is mostly socialist so the liberal wing of the Democratic party should be even more socialist.
Ed wrote:
your first quote in particular seems to pretty conclusive. However, it is still open to interpretation. I will explain...
You have to define what he means by socialist economy. Is it the same interpretation as yours? The passage I have quoted from the biography seems to state that despite socialism being attached to him, it was not the same kind of socialism that you are probably referring to.
The socialism of the 20's, 30's and 40's was just as virulent as the socialism of today. What people called socialism in those days was definitely socialism. You don't appear objective to me, you are using any opening you can to say he was not a socialist. Einstein knew exactly what a socialist was, and he called himself one and when someone like that says he is a socialist, the burden of proof is on you to prove he wasn't a socialist, not the other way around.
Ed wrote:
"in any case, i would need to see your quotes in context. just readin quotes from someone is not fair unless you understand the full context within which he was making the statements. not just that but the historical context, things were obviously a lot different back them."
Check out the link, there is no context, he said it in passing.
http://books.google.com/books?id=QXCyjj ... &resnum=24Here is the passage which includes the previous paragraph.
The word "dictatorship" brought to mind recent events and the man outside Einsteins's home. I said to Einstein, "We both are members of the League for Human Rights. Did you see the League's memorandum in which Hitler, on his arrival in Berlin, announced that "from the trenches comes the pure man of iron-will to lead the Fatherland back to honor and glory?"
Einstein shrugged his shoulders and mumbled, "It does not interest me. I am a socialist, as you know, and my only interest is to teach youth to consider the welfare of all people and to attain the intellectual freedom of the individual which is required to build a socialist state."
As you can see he said it totally in passing and there is no context. And notice how he said "I am a socialist, AS YOU KNOW" He said this to his friend who knew him well and evidently thought him to be a socialist.
Your link is some evidence for your side, but the sentence before the one you quoted is "He commited himself to democratic-socialist goals that became popular among intellectuals in Europe at the time." Thats a little contradictory I would say.
