Defending Mrs. Einstein

Athena's mom, Seattle WA — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 05:26:02 GMT

What a timely piece. My 4-year-old daughter was talking about her "rocket shuttle" toy (model space shuttle) and asking if girls could be astronauts. I told her yes, that there were women astronauts who were scientists and then thought to myself, "why don't I know about more women scientists?" My conclusion was that few were allowed a place in society or in history to make a mark for their work. I'm glad to learn more about Ms. Einstein.

Defending Mrs. Einstein

Wade Whitlock, Aberdeen, MD — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:28:32 GMT

I must be a strange person (yeah, I know I am!), because I fail to see the importance of whether the genitals are innies or outies. I have had the pleasure of working with frighteningly intelligent and talented people of both sexes. What difference did it make, none. We always got the job done and done well, while having a good time. The only time there was ever trouble was when people started using hormones as a substitute for IQ! Treat people as you want to be treated and give credit where it is due. Thus is the be all and end all of interpersonal relations. I do have to point out that the converse is applicable to those who mistreat others! So, did Mrs. contribute sounds as though she did. So,let's give her the credit she is due. It would not diminish A.E., cad though he was!

Defending Mrs. Einstein

TheFallibleFiend, LORTON, VA — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:27:31 GMT

Not one thing that Senta said here is evidence of the claim that Maric did Einstein's math. It's not even circumstantial evidence. It's no evidence at all. Your previous article identified Esterson as a "physicist and historical author." Maybe he's just a physicist with pretentions of doing history? Okay, so maybe he's a real historian and maybe he's not. Either way, he's already lost this debate, if logic and evidence are irrelevant to the subject of history.

Defending Mrs. Einstein

Patrick, Chicago, IL — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:18:33 GMT

Whenever a respondent in a public debate begins with an ad hominem attack on their rival one can almost always be certain the substance of their argument is lacking. Troemel-Ploetz’s best point is “It is plausible that she was his collaborator, his intellectual and emotional support.” Wow, I’m convinced.

Defending Mrs. Einstein

lizp, Chapel Hill, NC — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:04:31 GMT

The above article doesn't provide specific evidence to back up Senta's assertions. However, it's interesting to note that Einstein's most productive years were 1905 to 1917. What a coincidence that his marriage to his second wife, Maric, lasted from 1903 to 1919. After 1917, major papers Einstein produced were in coauthored with one or more male collegues. How very odd.

Defending Mrs. Einstein

alison, city of industry, CA — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:26:49 GMT

Actually a Physical Chemistry professor of mine at the University of California Irvine told our class Einstein was a theorist, not a math mathematician, and that most chemists and physicists go to mathematicians for the math work on their theories. So to me, its seems very plausible that his wife could have come up with the mathematics for it...it doesn't diminish Einstein's intelligence by giving her credit, so why not?

Defending Mrs. Einstein

David Weathers, Pasadena, Texas — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:32:44 GMT

When Mileva and Einstein devorced, Mileva made sure to put it in the devorce papers that if Einstein were to get the Nobel Prize, then Mileva would get the money from the Nobel Prize. To me, this is strong indication that Mileva helped Einstein to develop his theories and felt that she deserved to get the Nobel Prize.

Defending Mrs. Einstein

John Deere, Ames Iowa — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:38:59 GMT

Having studied a fair amount of Einstein's work (or whomever it belonged to), I've realized there are two types: those that study and apply the work, and those that speculate as to how he felt and what he "really meant." Is it possible that his wife helped him? Yes. Could she have come up with some of the theory? Who's to say? The results are the same. Troemel-Ploetz questions whether Esterson is actually a historian or "just another physicist turned Einstein expert." While I do not know him either, I will trust a physicist to be much more of an Einstein buff than ANY linguist.

Defending Mrs. Einstein

John, Lubbock, Texas — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:33:33 GMT

Whatever she was during their marriage, Maric was a thoroughly unpleasant ex-wife who worked to undermine and control the relationship between Einstein and his children. Others should try to be properly productive while suffering such punishment. The Nobel prize money was much more of an attempt to keep her happy than it was to give her credit.

Defending Mrs. Einstein

Jim, Houston, Texas — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:40:00 GMT

I don't find it unusual at all that one would be most productive while married to a now ex-spouse. I'm well acquainted with two people who achieved acclaim in their respective fields while married. They both buried themselves in work to avoid an unpleasant home life and, consequently, turned out great quantities of high quality work. Since their respective divorces, neither has matched the work done earlier, but they both now have lives outside of work.

Defending Mrs. Einstein

G. Tingey, London, England — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 08:15:13 GMT

Senta Troemel-Ploetz says: "It is plausible that she was his collaborator, his intellectual and emotional support. For all we know, ..." Sorry, but this is a serious debate, dealing in facts. "Plausible" and "For all we know" are suppositions, without evidence. Where is your evidence, please?

Defending Mrs. Einstein

diganth,bangalore,karnataka — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:46:57 GMT

1.i think Mileva Maric didnt contribute anything because if she had she would have claimed in public...i say this because she doesnt look like a person who would sacrifice for her husband .....if she was she wouldnt have divorce in first place

Defending Mrs. Einstein

Veronika — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:43:43 GMT

Diganth (and others... boy, how many others?!) - YOU actually take your own thoughts about a person of whom you know NOTHING about (how could you?) seriously enough to post them publicly?
She didn't "look" like a person who would "sacrifice" for her husband...? What the heck does that even mean?

I do not know how much she contributed, directly or indirectly, to what we know as his work, nor is it really relevant (not after these comments). But if you had any respect for Einstein himself, then HIS opinion of her and her accomplishments should've been a clear indication of the pivotal role she played in his life!