Einstein's list of conditions for staying together with his wife

davesmylie wrote: post #4

It's hard to reconcile the popular folk hero that is Einstein with a letter like this. I suspect a lot of this may come from us not being in a position to judge people from almost 100 years by the standards of today.

I suspect that even a century ago that list of demands would have been seen as very cold and mean.

Re: Einstein's list of conditions for staying together with his wife

#7

Post by romnempire » Tue, Nov 27, 2012, 1:16 AM UTC

davesmylie wrote: post #4

It's hard to reconcile the popular folk hero that is Einstein with a letter like this. I suspect a lot of this may come from us not being in a position to judge people from almost 100 years by the standards of today.

i mean, i don't see what's wrong with it, even by today's standards. she probably didn't work, so it's practically just a relaxed maid contract. i mean, hiring a woman you shared kids with solely as your maid would be weird by today's standards, but bigoted? don't see it.

Re: Einstein's list of conditions for staying together with his wife

#8

Post by aidenn0 » Tue, Nov 27, 2012, 1:16 AM UTC

nthitz wrote: post #5

"They eventually divorced in 1919, having lived apart for five years." Surprise surprise...

Presumably they got divorced so that Albert would be able to marry his second wife that he had been in a relationship with for a while at that point.

Re: Einstein's list of conditions for staying together with his wife

#9

Post by callmeed » Tue, Nov 27, 2012, 1:18 AM UTC

davesmylie wrote: post #4

It's hard to reconcile the popular folk hero that is Einstein with a letter like this. I suspect a lot of this may come from us not being in a position to judge people from almost 100 years by the standards of today.

What's to reconcile? You will find character flaws and chronic bad judgement in the most successful/accomplished people–it will just be in some other area than what they're known for.

John Calvin had a man burned at the stake. Henry Ford was an anti-semite. 8 of the first 10 US presidents owned slaves. And, no, I don't think it's a matter of shifting standards. Look at Bill Clinton, Martha Stewart, etc.

Re: Einstein's list of conditions for staying together with his wife

#10

Post by tadfisher » Tue, Nov 27, 2012, 1:21 AM UTC

aidenn0 wrote: post #8

nthitz wrote: post #5

"They eventually divorced in 1919, having lived apart for five years." Surprise surprise...

Presumably they got divorced so that Albert would be able to marry his second wife that he had been in a relationship with for a while at that point.

His second wife also happened to be his first cousin. Interestingly, they shared the "Einstein" surname (their fathers were also first cousins) and would have shared it at the time they married, but Elsa had already married and divorced by that point.