xlviii INTRODUCTION 



ence has any wish to supplant religion. But at the 

 same time he declares, "all the finer speculations in 

 the realm of science spring from a deep religious feel- 

 ing; and without such feeling they would not be fruit- 

 ful." He perceives clearly enough other religious ac- 

 tivities besides those of scientific investigation. But 

 he does believe that the true man of research must 

 employ the highest spiritual faculties. At one with 

 religion, he says, are feelings of beauty, ethical ideals, 

 self-denying labors for mankind. "Modern science is 

 tending toward the highest achievements — a sort of 

 transcendental synthesis." He likens modern scien- 

 tific conceptions of the universe to a great painting, or 

 a great piece of music, inspiring high and noble 

 thoughts such as always have been characteristic of 

 religion. Science today, he goes on, seeks to exalt 

 mankind; to satisfy a striving for release, and exalta- 

 tion of spirit he has always sought. Far from wishing 

 to move in a realm distant from that of common men 

 Einstein has always had a passion for human welfare: 

 "The ideals which have always shone before me are 

 goodness, beauty and truth." 



No term unless it is evolution has caused more in- 

 terest and discussion than relativity. Relativity, in the 

 sense of investigation of cosmic phenomena, is not a 

 theory for the average mind to play with. However, 

 as evolution had its implications in the life of everyday 

 men and women, so does relativity, for there is a rela- 

 tivity of conduct as much as there is a relativity of the 

 cosmos; and as soon as it is understood is likely to 

 exert as much influence. Relativity, applied to time, 

 space and measurement has caused as much upheaval 

 and overturning as any theory ever advanced by a man 



