Is There Hope for the World in the Atomic Age? Princeton, 1949

Is There Hope for the World in the Atomic Age? Princeton, 1949

"... Observing that power is in the hands of unrestrained persons ... whose power is based on convincing the public and deception, stating that this is true of the dictatorial as well as the democratic system, answering negatively..."

"... honesty and courage of the individual to stand up for his convictions on every occasion is the only essential thing."

Lengthy letter to Australian pathologist, Dr. Alton R. Chapple, in which Einstein analyzes the reasons why it is impossible to prevent the world from using and continuing to develop ammunition for mass destruction. Princeton, 18.2.1949.

Specifications: [1] leaf, typewritten on stationery, signed by Prof. Einstein. 28x21 cm. English.

Content: Einstein draws a depressing picture of a world controlled by unrestrained people motivated by their lust for power and control. These people lead the public to doom, due to their need for weapons of mass destruction. Philosophers and thinkers cannot prevent the future development of this type of ammunition for three reasons:

1) The already generally known means of destruction are effective enough to bring about total destruction.

2) People really devoted to the progress of knowledge concerning the physical world like Faraday or Rutherford have never worked for practical goals, let alone military goals. And nobody could know in advance what kind of application might be developed on the basis of their discoveries.

3) People of technical skill are so numerous and so dependent economically that they cannot be expected to refuse employment offered them by the state or private industry, even if they were able to clearly recognize that their work will lead to disaster on a world-wide scale..."

Einstein places his only hope on the intellectual and moral independence of groups and honest people brave enough to stick to their values in all situations and to oppose the destructive influences of these ruling powers. Organizations of these types of people could be a helpful influence to some extent. 

Condition: Very fine condition, fold marks, aging stains.

Note: This letter is mentioned in Einstein on Peace, New York, 1960, by Otto Nathan and Heinz Norden. The letter that Dr. Alton Chapple sent to Einstein on the 1st of February, 1949 is in the archives of the Hebrew University.