| AAPPS Bulletin
Vol. 15 No. 2, April 2005 |
Highlight of the Issue
Impacts of Einstein's
Visit on Physics in Japan
(PDF,
626KB)
Hiroshi Ezawa
Science Council of Japan
abstract
The impact of Einstein’s visit in 1922 on physics in Japan is
reviewed in historical perspective. The
importance of his theory of relativity was perceived by some
right after his paper appeared in 1905.
Looking at the physics in Japan just before he came,
we find that the interaction between physics and
philosophy started in the academia and
the curiosity in relativity heightened among public, causing a
situation like an eve of relativity-fest.
When Prof. and Mrs. Einstein came, masses of people welcomed
them enthusiastically, and his lectures, both academic and
popular, were so well attended. But the
impact or the after-effect among the scholars showed up only
in small number of cases. Implicitly, however, the
epistemological and historical
reflections in accepting the relativity theory have prepared
people to receive another revolution of
physics, the quantum theory. Stronger impact, though indirect,
was felt by younger generations, who were
moved to be interested in physics. We should not forget that, in
the background, the Japanese government was trying hard to
promote sciences if more in applied rather than basic. |
|
|
|
|
