Einstein's favorite philosopher........Goethe

[Ichingcarpenter]

The only philosopher he mentioned in an important speech on individual liberty was Goethe.....

'Without such freedom there would have been no Shakespeare, no Goethe, no Newton, no Faraday, no Pasteur, and no Lister.'

http://www.cara1933.org/downloads/Science%20and%20Civilisation%20transcript.pdf

Now you might ask yourself why did he mention Goethe?
Well here are a few reasons if you are not familiar with him


















There so much more from him I could add but I will leave you with this one

[gopiscrap]

1. Hey he was born

9 blocks form where I was born

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. Kool...........I guess Goethe's Faustian dilemma

on having to move from there is in question....LOL

RFK's favorite writer was Goethe too.

Goethe wrote a lot of his work in poetry too which is even a stronger and tougher way to express thoughts but more powerful in the end..

[gopiscrap]

3. I remember as a kid, touring his home in Frankfurt

I sure didn't appreciate him the way I do now!

[Herman4747]

4. A single statement does not establish Einstein's favorite philosopher

Truly, Einstein's favorite philosopher was Benedictus Spinoza. A foreword to a Spinoza biography was written by Albert Einstein, who would read The Ethics to his sister, and who also wrote this:
How much do I love that noble man
More than I could tell with words
I fear though he'll remain alone
With a holy halo of his own.

[Herman4747]

6. To be sure, Einstein most definitely admired Goethe...

The original post to this thread is telling; moreover, in the Manifesto to Europeans (which Einstein signed and may have even co-wrote) shortly after the onset of World War One, a war Einstein absolutely hated, we find these words:

"The first step in this direction would be for all those who truly cherish the culture of Europe to join forces—all those whom Goethe once prophetically called “good Europeans.” We must not abandon hope that their voice in speaking in unison may even today rise above the clash of arms"

Still, Einstein's favorite philosopher was Benedictus Spinoza -- he once even declared that his god was the god of Spinoza (just in a figurative sense as Einstein was an agnostic). We see this signature midway down the page at a house in which Spinoza lived

The Nobel Laureate Albert who may have even admired Goethe more was Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

[Octafish]

5. Goethe (and Beethoven) are tops.

Goethe’s social attitudes, like his musical tastes, were shaped in a more formal age. For Beethoven, 21 years his junior, the only true aristocrats were artists. In the mythology, his disillusionment was clinched by Goethe’s behaviour when they encountered royalty in the street, as reported 20 years later by Bettina: "Beethoven said to Goethe: 'keep walking as you have until now, holding my arm, they must make way for us, not the other way around. Goethe thought differently; he drew his hand, took off his hat and stepped aside, while Beethoven, hands in pockets, went right through the dukes and their cortege... They drew aside to make way for him, saluting him in friendly fashion. Waiting for Goethe who had let the dukes pass, Beethoven told him: “I have waited for you because I respect you and I admire your work, but you have shown too much esteem to those people.”’

SOURCE: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/focus/a-meeting-of-genius-beethoven-and-goethe-july-1812?pmtx=most-popular&utm_expid=32540977-5.-DEFmKXoQdmXwfDwHzJRUQ.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F