Quotes A. Einstein to M. Schlick, 28th April 1922.
Description:

Translation from the German by Luchins and Luchins:

'Dear Mr. Schlick:

Mr. W. Koehler, who has now been called from Goettingen [sic trans.] to Berlin, as a philosopher and a psychologist, requests that I speak on behalf of Mr. Max Wertheimer, in view of the fact that the latter might possibly be called to Goettingen or Kiel. I follow this request with even more satisfaction since I well know Mr. Wertheimer personally and esteem him highly as a human being. The center of Wertheimer's interests lies in the psychological field, where principally he was creatively active. From the point of the theory of knowledge, he is less suitable than Reichenbach, in as much as he knows the exact natural sciences much less than the latter. But at any rate, he is not an adherent of ossified word-philosophy (Kant-Society), but a lively human being, who thinks and experiences for himself, and in this sense is also able to have a liberating effect on young people. I have somewhat of an impression that in Germany the psychology is at present being a bit neglected compared with the theory of knowledge.

These lines are not intended to represent an attempt to influence you in some way, but only to point out to you a possibility which, because of your own field of work, perhaps has not come to your mind.

The letter naturally needs no reply. With cordial greetings.

Your [A. Einstein].' (181)

Quotes A. Einstein to M. Wertheimer, 30th Sept. 1922.
Description:

Translation from the German by Luchins and Luchins:

'Dear Wertheimer,

Your recommendation of Brinkmann is in itself acceptable, but I should definitely prefer to have you there since I know you much better. You would be there exclusively as my personal representative, the matter has nothing to do officially with the department of the government, this is completely up to you to decide whether, and to what extent, you wish to inform the department. What is happening in Geneva now is not a meeting of our Commission but a session of the League of Nations' Council. It is possible that that a meeting may take place for about a week in late fall; if not, then probably in the first quarter of next year. The fact that you are Czech and Jewish is quite unessential; I am even doing the government a favor by providing a substitute for myself. As far as Brinkmann is concerned, one cannot possibly ignore the fact that he was for several years (or still is) employed by the State Department. He creates the impression more of a diplomat than of a scholar. The language difficulty is alleviated by the fact that both Mrs. Curie and the Secretary of the Commission know German well. There would not be any need for you to actively participate in the meetings, but you can, instead, communicate with the various individuals.

Dear Wertheimer, let me know without any ambiguity: either yes or no, I hope it will be yes; and please write me immediately upon receipt of this letter, on the very same day. Otherwise I could not take any action since I shall leave here on the 29th of this month.'  (179)

Quotes A. Einstein to M. Wertheimer, c.16th-30th May 1920.
Description:

Translation from the German by Luchins and Luchins:

'Dear Wertheimer! You are completely right in warning me and I find it very kind of you that you want to prevent me from falling into the trap. I am enjoying beautiful days here. I shall return to Berlin on the 31st. I very much hope that, soon afterwards, we shall be able to meet. Cordial regards from your

A. Einstein.' (177)

Quotes M. Wertheimer to A. Einstein, 15th May 1920.
Description:

Translation from the German by Luchins and Luchins:

'Dear Mr. Einstein,

Many cordial greetings! (- How much I owuld rather prefer to say hello to you once again in person -!) I wish you very happy days in Holland!

Today I have to write to you a few words concerning the - strange - Halle matter. My very dear Mr. Einstein - well, what are these people up to?! And into what awkward position have you, in your endless kindness, allowed these people to put you?!

In April, in Prague, I heard of the "coming significant conference on Einstein, where Prof. Kraus (!) will be allotted the leading role, who will now (finally) uncover, in full publicity, the elementary absurdities of Einstein's theories from the philosophical judgement-seat, so that now it will become clear, how..."

And here I find an invitation of the Kant Society: Mr. Einstein will be in Halle too! Then a publication, a supplementary to the Kant Studies, by somebody, which now in its tendency, on the other hand seems characteristic for the Kant-circles. They would, it seems, like to take about the following position unctously: interesting ideas, which, however, cannot collide in any way with the really philosophical problems. (There is a tendency of a somewhat anxious detachment: "everything in Kant is right" and - wherever possible - exploitation for themselves -)

Now, among other things, the Vossische Newspaper [Zeitung] states: "Following the general meeting of the Kant Society... a number of eminent German scholars, among them Einstein, Abderhalden, Kraus! - Prag, Vaihinger, invite to a scientific forum about the positive idealism in the direction of the philosophy of the As-If" in Halle - Prof. Einstein will participate in the proceedings. And I get a printed invitation: "Some members of the Kant Society, who are interested in the position idealism in the direction of the philosophy of As-If -. The undersigned, some of them members, some not members, of the Kant Society invite herewith to this forum... Also the members of the Kant Society have the right to participate in this As-If Conference. Signed: Abderhalden, Becker, Bergmann, Einstein!, Feldkeller, Fliess, Gocht, Knopf, Koffka, Kowalewski, Kraus-Prag, Müller-Freienfels, R. Schmidt, I. Schultzem Vaihinger, Wichmann, H.Wolf." -!!

For God's sake, in what kind of advertising schemes are you placed there?! Would any physicists of a comparable caliber dare something of this kind? For the largest part fainthearted, lazily ruminating, carping mediocrity and in part like Kraus: impertinent: and in such a publicity-mania - Yes, for heavens sake, if one could at least believe that it would have, after all, any sense whatsoever, that anything at all could be seriously accomplished in such a "Conference", or even only just seriously discussed - but you, you good human being [Guter], do you not know what these people are like and where they want to go?! And even if it were only the indescribable insipidness of these people... With people who aim at serious matters - for example, Cassirer - it would be perfectly possible, but even with such persons better not in such surroundings [Corona]! And what shape could the "Conference" take? The people will deliver their stuff in their characteristic, psychologically habitual way and will performtheir tricky feats of disputation - and you will say a few kind words, and then smile a bit and keep silent - and the people - brrr... That is not a good thing and no good can be expected from it.

That's the way it is with these philosophers - And then there comes for once one like you - and what do these people do with that -! Good God!

(If you really plan to go there, then I would like to come along.) - Well; I had to get that off my chest [soul, Seule], and I cannot yet truthfully imagine at all that you will really go there (a sunny day in the woods or a lecture for workers instead would be something much more beautiful and better) - and now I send you, you good man, you much too good man, my very warm regards and am angry that I had to write to you just such stuff!

All good wishes!

Yours, Wertheimer.' (173-174)

Quotes M. Wertheimer to A. Einstein, 17th Sept. 1922.
Description:

Translation from the German by Luchins and Luchins:

'Dear Mr. Einstein:

Thanks a lot for your letter! and for its beautiful content. I have tried to think about all of it. But, first of all, are you not mistaken? The meeting in the fall, of which you write, doesn't it take place just now, and is it in fact not already over? Before your letter arrived I read in the newspaper of the meeting of the committee (speech of Bergson etc.). Is it not altogether too late?

It is a serious and beautiful mission and, dear Mr. Einstein (as much as I was surprised by your proposition) it is not easy for me to say no to your proposal, but quite a bit speaks for that. Already that I cannot speak enough, in fact very little, French and English; in this, in any case, not uncomplicated situation it may at any moment be essential to conceive whatever is said completely and unmistakably. I am Jewish, and, since I was born in Bohemia, I am now Czechoslovak. - And all the reasons which caused such great difficulties for you and made even you uncertain in your decision concerning your participation at the time of our talk, confront me, and weigh on me much heavier for, if you participate, you are the great Einstein! whom everybody, also there, knows as a human being, and with that are all difficulties much smaller, yes less dangerous, while I would be exposed to many possibilities of making mistakes of a grave nature. Maybe all that would not be quite as bad, if I - also officially - went there, in fact only for the purpose of listening and reporting, for you and for the government, - but there, too, it is of the great disadvantage that I have such limited knowledge of languages, and even continuous constant interpretation would not be an ideal solution.

For reasons of political considerations (towards the Entente and considering the Germans) the following solution may be the best: As your personal deputy also officially only for listening and reporting you could send a well-known, Christian and linguist scientist? This would in many ways seem very useful to me - also, and that is quite important, because of the German conditions. Maybe it would make the choice much easier if the respective person went for listening and reporting only.

Would you consider Brinkmann? I think he would do a good job.

Many regards, dear Mr. Einstein! and again many thanks! And I hope you will not be angry with this, my letter - am I not right?

Your M. Wertheimer.' (178-179)

Quotes M. Wertheimer to A. Einstein, 19th Sept. 1922.
Description:

Translation from the German by Luchins and Luchins:

'Dear Mr. Einstein:

I am supposed to answer by return mail, and so I request, to entrust somebody else (perhaps also Brinkmann).

I still have thought about it a great deal and yet could not come to another decision. - In the case that you do not entrust somebody else, could you perhaps mention me in your letter to Geneva only as a possible choice? It is only at this moment that I cannot make a definite decision. - By the way, as far as taking care of the involved correspondence etc. is concerned, I would very much like to be in charge of that and, of course, to function as your representative.

Many warm regards and all best wishes!

Your Wertheimer

(Please don't laugh at me too much because of my indecisiveness).' (180)