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

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

#31

Post by ekianjo »

DanielBMarkham wrote: post #14

I had heard a while ago that Einstein was a womanizer. Looks like he was a demanding jerk as well. Just goes to show that there is usually a huge difference between what we think of historical figures and how they actually were. It's interesting how much we want our heroes to be pure and spotless -- unlike any other humans we encounter.

Well this was also a different time. You can hardly expect the early 1900s relationships between men and women to be on the same ground as the early 2000s ones. The world has (culturally) changed a lot since then. Do not judge people from the past with today's eyes.

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

#32

Post by ekianjo »

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.

Maybe I am missing something but since when was Einstein considered as a "popular folk hero" ? I have never heard of him portrayed as anything but a renowned scientist (with controversial political views).

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

#33

Post by mladenkovacevic »

As the resident Serb here I should point out a Wikipedia page on Mileva Maric who was a brilliant scientific mind in her own right: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mileva_Maric There are even some theories that she helped him early on in his career although there is no strong evidence to support that theory. As part of the divorce agreement Einstein made with Mileva, his Nobel Prize money was transferred to her and in trust for their two sons.

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

#35

Post by toufka »

mylittlepony wrote: post #19
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering Einstein didn't kill anyone...he did OK. No one is a saint (except for maybe a saint, but then I've heard crazy things about Mother Teresa also).

Yeah, he only helped to build the most destructive weapon ever.

No he didn't. He understood the science - and wrote a highly-public letter to the president arguing it would be better for the US to build one than to have it dropped on them by the Germans - already at work. But he had no hand in building it. Keep in mind, Einstein would have been in his mid-60s during the war, and a German at that.

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

#36

Post by redthrowaway »

DanielBMarkham wrote: post #14

I had heard a while ago that Einstein was a womanizer. Looks like he was a demanding jerk as well. Just goes to show that there is usually a huge difference between what we think of historical figures and how they actually were. It's interesting how much we want our heroes to be pure and spotless -- unlike any other humans we encounter.

Keep in mind that this was in 1919, when the accepted roles of men and women in marriages were very different. It's important, when reading historical documents, not to judge those discussed within by modern standards.

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

#38

Post by illuminate »

saheel1511 wrote: post #28

I see lots of people commenting how Einstein was a jerk, etc. But somehow, I think that list (if it's real) just shows that he wanted order (and control?) in everything he did, which doesn't resonate as bad to me. We have no idea what kind of relationship he had with his wife, so I think it is unfair to judge him like that solely based on that list, more so, because his wife accepted it!

"more so, because his wife accepted it"

That people cope with emotional abuse in different ways does not justify emotional abuse. As plenty of people mentioned in the thread, this was a different time when women had less possibilities and support systems for themselves.

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

#39

Post by victorhn »

ekianjo wrote: post #32
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.

Maybe I am missing something but since when was Einstein considered as a "popular folk hero" ? I have never heard of him portrayed as anything but a renowned scientist (with controversial political views).

You must live in another world, as Einstein is maybe the most popular scientist/genius in any part of the world.

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

#40

Post by cup »

wilfra wrote: post #12

This is one of those rare HN posts that would be better to discuss on Reddit. I doubt the community here would do anything but downvote the most appropriate/interesting comments.

Considering the post has already drawn such comments as

> " He was right about so much, you have to wonder if he might have been right to list-slap that gal."

you might be correct.

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