Was Einstein a fraud, poor scientist, delusional, or a real scientist open to all possibilities?

Question

"The results of the telepathic experiments carefully and plainly set forth in this book standly surely far beyond those which a nature investigator holds to be thinkable. On the other hand, it is out of the question in the case of so conscientious an observer and writer as Upton Sinclair that he is carrying on a conscious deception of the reading world; his good faith and dependability are not to be doubted. So if somehow the facts here set forth rest not upon telepathy, but upon some unconscious hypnotic influence from person to person, this also would be of high psychological interest." (Preface by Albert Einstein to Mental Radio by Upton Sinclair)

This sounds to me like Einstein is endorsing the study of parapsychology and finds Sinclairs work worthwhile.

It seems that some people failed to understand the question.
First, interestingly people (I believe skeptics) introduced the term paranormal which was not used in my question or in the quote. I used the word parapsychology (to refer to telepathy in particular).
Second, I did not state or ask if Einstein believed in the paranormal I asked if the quote could be taken as his endorsement of the study of parapsychology (telepathy in general and/or Sinclair's work in particular).
Most parapsychologist today will tell you they don't believe in the paranormal they believe in human abilities that have yet to be fully explained by science. Einstein also once said "One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike and yet it is the most precious thing we have" which seems to me to reflect the same thinking.

Science Geek: I agree. The question was meant to have sarcasm as many people on here label parapsychology (and anything else they don't believe in) as bad science and a waste of time. Seems to me Einstein thought telepathy worth looking into even if it turned out to be hypnosis or some other effect.

Please read the other answers and see what I mean.

How one would for instance attribute effects of telepathy to unconscious hypnosis without studying it is unknown to me.

Answer 1

Einstein was not a fraud, a poor scientist or especially delusional (we all are limited to some degree). He was able to conceptualize in ways few can, but he was not open to all possibilities. Einstein had a difficult time with Quantum ( so do many) and wasn't open to it's concepts. This does not lessen his greatness in any way. He was apparently open to the study of parapsychology without preconceptions. That's an admirable position to take.

Answer 2

"Was Einstein a fraud, poor scientist, delusional, or a real scientist open to all possibilities?"

He was none of those things. You're trying too hard.

Einstein wrote a preface for his friend, who obviously he thought was honest and did good work. Did Einstein believe there could possibly be something to telepathy? Perhaps, from the looks of it. But he stopped short of saying he was convinced by Sinclair's research and he was sure to add the "out" of hypnotic influence. In short, it does not look like Einstein actually accepted the existence of telepathy but he did believe in the quality of his friend's work. So it is an endorsement of the paranormal or parapsychology? No. Is it an endorsement of paranormal research? Perhaps it is a tacit acceptance of it.

And did Einstein ever publish any scientific claims about telepathy? Never. That's the thing. The measure of a scientist is the research he publishes, not what he does in his free time. As I've said before, even intelligent people can entertain religious ideas. According to a recent Gallup poll, 40% of all scientists in the US believe in a god. Like belief in god, belief in the paranormal is largely a faith thing as well. Does this sort of belief make one unintelligent or a bad scientist? No. It's not an indication of lack of intelligence. People can compartmentalize to quite a degree. That's not to say that there aren't a lot of really dumb and/or fraudulent paranormal claims being made, though.

And no, Einstein was not "open to all possibilities". Now THAT would be a sign of lack of intelligence, in my opinion.

Answer 3

It seems to me, based on what you posted, that Einstein is not endorsing the findings of Sinclair so much as the man himself. He says the results, as they are presented in the book, appear to be striking. He doesn't say he himself reviewed the methodology of the collection of data or that he agrees with how the results of the investigation are presented. He had to take the data at face value since he himself did not conduct the experiments. He trusted Sinclair and believed Sinclair was not purposefully making fraudulent claims. I think his need to include a disclaimer (the last sentence) indicates he was not completely convinced, but merely curious.

Also, you must remember that Einstein is speaking out of his area of expertise, so this is a bit of an argument from authority. He was a physicist, not a psychologist. Furthermore, this was written how long ago? I believe it was published in 1930. There has been a wealth of data regarding telepathy collected since that time.

I have never come across that quote. Thanks for posting it.

Answer 4

Einstein wasn't endorsing it at all. Albert Einstein and Sinclair were friends. Einstein respected Sinclair's passion for the unfair treatment of the average worker.

Albert respected the previous works and when Upton had a new book coming, he promised to write a preface.

Einstein said on many occasions he did not believe in the paranormal.

Answer 5

Really? It sounds to you like he's endorsing the study of parapsychology? We must be reading that selection in a very different way. It sounded to me like Einstein is positing that the results of the experiments that Sinclair published were likely the result of 'some unconscious hypnotic influence from person to person'. Are you perhaps reading it differently?

Answer 6

Any real scientist will investigate even seemingly preposterous claims before labeling them as such. Einstien was one of the greatest scientists of all time. For you to even imply that because he said that we should study hypnosis or telepathy that Einstien may not have been a great scientist is a blatant demonstration of your own ignorance. Scientists should and do study anything that can be scientifically studied. Not doing so would make one a poor scientist.

Answer 7

He was a genius, his work influenced science and technology and continues to do so. The profound and literally space shattering work is yet to be fully comprehended and put to more use.
There are areas where the many disciplines tend to have common base and Einstein was open to such possibilities as such is the vast area of the unknown and he had an open mind to such possibilities. I think there is a lot unknown, that are connected and unifying than we know or would start to know. His genius mind could relate and connect 3 distinct phases, energy, [capacity to do work] mass [amount of material in static phase] and the fastest physical phase [velocity of light].
There is one faster than light, velocity of the thinking mind, Imagine you are 100,000 lights years away and in a minds moment you will be there, I wonder what is out there that will unify the mind's speed and power. An open mind leads to understanding and reverence of the unknown and the awesome.

Answer 8

Honestly, I cant think of any statements Einstein has made that have been proven wrong by science yet.
I would say a genius, no doubt about that at all.

Answer 9

in my opinion he was both smart and dumb.i say this because he was able to split the atom but couldnt put them back together again.

Answer 10

One of my favorite writers,Arthur Conan Doyle,believed in "Fairies".The kind in the movie"Pan's Labyrinth".That silliness doesn't discredit his work,or make Fairies more believable.