American Odyssey by Wilhelm Reich

Author:Wilhelm Reich [Reich, Wilhelm]
Language: fra
Format: epub
Tags: Science / Alternative
Published: 2010-08-08T06:25:53+00:00

The Riddle

Einstein's behavior has remained a riddle to this day. Why did he not reply? Why did he break a promise which he had given? There were many opinions about this in our circle. Some believed that he might have regarded the whole orgone affair as humbug. This ran counter to the understanding which he demonstrated in our conver-sation. Others thought he might be influenced by certain industrial interests which did not welcome the idea of the discovery of the orgone being confirmed by Einstein. This ran counter to the fact that Einstein had no need to defer to such interests.

To my mind two other versions seemed more likely. As Einstein himself hinted in his letter, he did not understand the orgone. It contradicted firmly rooted fundamental views of physics. He also did not want to put himself into an exposed position but preferred to wait and see. The second interpretation seemed more brutal but closer to the truth. According to this version, Einstein fully understood that the ether had finally been discovered as something actually tangible. Einstein, however, had based his whole relativity theory on the as-sumption that the ether did not exist at all and was not even necessary for the solution of cosmic problems. It was believed that these prob-lems could be solved by purely mathematical means, and this belief was supported through the confirmation of his theories by observa-tion. It was understandable on a human and a scientific level that Einstein did not want to contribute to the collapse of his life's work, although this would have been demanded by strict scientific objec-tivity. The existence of a real ether need not by itself have disturbed Einstein's vision of nature. Einstein's theory would only be shattered, because it would have become redundant, if a new cosmogony could be deduced from the properties of the newly discovered ether. I would therefore have to take back my contention in the letter to Neill— namely, that my discovery supports Einstein's field theory. I do not know if all these thoughts are correct or incorrect. Einstein had caused the confusion himself by pulling out in such an unpleas-ant way. However, the "issue" was compelling and clear. It is possible that Einstein underestimated the scope of my discovery and its con-sequences. In short, I can only surmise but cannot assert anything with certainty. As the years went by, I increasingly tended toward the opinion that the meeting on 13 January 1941 was an encounter be-tween two completely hostile worlds: mechanistic and functional astrophysics—the former a giant with infinite means of waging battle and wielding power, the latter a mere baby that had only just been born. The newborn baby held in one fist the fact "cosmic energy" and in the other fist the fact "sentient matter." This is enough to scare even the most courageous man.

TO JOHN P. CHANDLER

♦ 7 March 1944

Dear Mr. Chandler:

Enclosed please find the answer to the Commissioner of Patents signed by me. The promise to bring the equipment to Richmond for additional proof, however, seems to be difficult to carry through.

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