The World as I See It by Albert Einstein

Author:Albert Einstein
Language: pt
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Literary Collections, Jewish, Peace, Philosophy, Political, General, Philosophy & Social Aspects, Political Science, Science, Essays, Physics, History
ISBN: 9781599869650
Publisher: Filiquarian Publishing, LLC.
Published: 2006-01-02T02:00:00+00:00

only channel of communication between the intellectuals of a

country and the Commission. It has thereby deliberately

abandoned its function of giving moral support to the national

minorities in their struggle against cultural oppression.

Further, the attitude of the Commission in the matter of

combating the chauvinistic and militaristic tendencies of

education in the various countries has been so lukewarm that no

serious efforts in this fundamentally important sphere can be

hoped for from it.

The Commission has invariably failed to give moral support to

those individuals and associations who have thrown themselves

without reserve into the business of working for an international

order and against the military system.

The Commission has never made any attempt to resist the

appointment of members whom it knew to stand for tendencies

the very reverse of those it is bound in duty to foster.

I will not worry you with any further arguments, since you will

understand my resolve yell enough from these few hints. It is not

my business to draw up an indictment, but merely to explain my

position. If I nourished any hope whatever I should act

differently--of that you may be sure.

The Question of Disarmament

The greatest obstacle to the success of the disarmament plan was the fact that

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people in general left out of account the chief difficulties of the problem. Most

objects are gained by gradual steps: for example, the supersession of absolute

monarchy by democracy. Here, however, we are concerned with an

objective which cannot be reached step by step.

As long as the possibility of war remains, nations will insist on being as

perfectly prepared militarily as they can, in order to emerge triumphant from

the next war. It will also be impossible to avoid educating the youth in warlike

traditions and cultivating narrow national vanity joined to the glorification of

the warlike spirit, as long as people have to be prepared for occasions when

such a spirit will be needed in the citizens for the purpose of war. To arm is to

give one's voice and make one's preparations not for peace but for war.

Therefore people will not disarm step by step; they will disarm at one blow or

not at all.

The accomplishment of such a far-reaching change in the life of nations

presupposes a mighty moral effort, a deliberate departure from deeply

ingrained tradition. Anyone who is not prepared to make the fate of his

country in case of a dispute depend entirely on the decisions of an

international court of arbitration, and to enter into a treaty to this effect without

reserve, is not really resolved to avoid war. It is a case of all or nothing.

It is undeniable that previous attempts to ensure peace have failed through

aiming at inadequate compromises.

Disarmament and security are only to be had in combination. The one

guarantee of security is an undertaking by all nations to give effect to the

decisions of the international authority.

We stand, therefore, at the parting of the ways. Whether we find the way of

peace or continue along the old road of brute force, so unworthy of our

civilization, depends on ourselves. On the one side the freedom of the

individual and the security of society beckon to us, on the other slavery for the

individual and the annihilation of our civilization threaten us.

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