Albert Einstein and the Theory of Relativity of Truth in Modern Times

The problem is that when the world entered the digital age, the age of social networks, this "bad habit" became truly serious and alarming on a global level.

When "Person of the Century" is also defamed and distorted

A decade ago, Ivanka Trump quoted Albert Einstein, saying, “If the facts do not match the theory, change the facts.” However, the greatest scientist of the 20th century never said that. Few paid attention to the tweet until Einstein himself, seemingly “back from the dead,” corrected her.

Albert Einstein has been the target of misinformation in the past. Photo: GI

Obviously, Einstein could not have come back to life to post that tweet nearly a decade ago, but the “blue tick” account named Albert Einstein with up to 20 million followers managed by a group of scholars who admired him rejected the above statement of the daughter of former US President Donald Trump.

In fact, Einstein was often the target of misinformation in his time, much like what is now circulating on social media. In 1920, scientists considered Einstein a freak. Their criticisms were often anti-Semitic. In that era, information traveled relatively slowly, with exposure often limited by geography or language.

Einstein was annoyed by all this. But out of curiosity, he went to an anti-relativity event in Berlin, where he saw anti-Einstein leaflets being distributed. No one knew he was there. It amused him that the protesters could not recognize him.

So, from ancient times to the present, there have always been people who want to distort everything, want to slander or even accuse someone or an event to satisfy their selfish ego, even though they know nothing about the things they are slandering, like the above case of Einstein. They don't even know his face! And now in the digital age, the age of social networks, everyone knows how terrible that problem is.

“He thought these people weren’t really that dangerous because they were so stupid and so ignorant of relativity,” says Matthew Stanley, a historian of science and philosopher of science at New York University and author of a book about Einstein’s past misinformation and slander. “He thought it was all a bit ridiculous.” Perhaps we should also consider those who slander, distort, and fabricate stories about ourselves or others on social media to be just as “ridiculous” or “stupid.”

Back to the Einstein story. By 1933, when the Nazis came to power, two forms of disinformation about Einstein were circulating much more openly and widely: One was the assertion that his theory of relativity was completely wrong, a “huge threat to the foundations of human knowledge.” The other was that Einstein had stolen ideas from other German and Austrian scientists. Like other prominent Jews, Einstein was considered an enemy of the Nazis and was rumored to be wanted everywhere.

But the truth is that Einstein received a warm welcome wherever he went. Carolyn Abraham, author of “Possessing Genius,” writes that reporters would rush to board his ship whenever it docked, so much so that some fell overboard. In the last two decades of his life, he was one of the most respected public figures in the world. Time magazine named him “Person of the Century” in 1999.

“Seeking truth is a noble human virtue”

After all, it was much easier to dismiss misinformation and fake news back then than it is now. In particular, the consensus around central figures, the recognition of intellectual genius like Einstein, is no longer seen in the modern world. We no longer gather around the TV in the evening to watch the news. Now, we are drawn to digital platforms where news is shared by individuals and TikTok influencers give us advice, psychologically manipulate us on everything.

It is now common knowledge that even the most “great” person in the world, such as Einstein, has been subjected to baseless and derogatory comments on social media. As a result, people’s trust is dwindling. We have a serious lack of trust in everyone, from politicians , celebrities to social media influencers.

Einstein taught that time is relative depending on your frame of reference. Has truth itself become relative? Not only is Einstein a symbol of human genius, but in today's polarized world, it sometimes seems like he may be the last expert we can all agree on, even though he died more than two-thirds of a century ago (1955).

The internet has brought us streaming movies and the ability to stay in touch with far-flung friends, but it has also spawned message boards filled with misinformation, conspiracy theories, and bogus scientific evidence.

A tweet (now X) from the Albert Einstein account to refute Ivanka Trump's false claim. Photo: X/Twitter

Voter deniers and anti-vaxxers can now easily find like-minded people in the world of social media and amplify those views. They run for office, push their extreme views, and sometimes win.

What would Einstein, driven all his life by a lifelong curiosity to discover the truth about our universe, think about the misinformation crisis that social media has contributed to? He would certainly not be comfortable with the flood of false news and inflammatory commentary, nor with the many people claiming to be experts in every field.

If Einstein were still alive, the famously jovial Einstein might have posted a pithy tweet in response to the science deniers who still blindly embrace flat-Earthism. That tweet might have read: “The search for truth and knowledge is one of the noblest of human virtues. Though it is often spoken loudest by those who strive least.”

Yes, Einstein really said that!

Hoang Viet

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/albert-einstein-va-thuyet-tuong-doi-ve-su-that-trong-thoi-hien-dai-post278847.html