THINKER'S ALMANAC - October 28

How is it that religion is always right and science is always wrong?

Subject: Science - Shaw Toasts Einstein

Event: George Bernard Shaw salute to his contemporary, 1930

Few people think more than two or three times a year; I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week. -George Bernard Shaw

On this day in 1930, British playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) spoke at a dinner honoring Albert Einstein (1879-1955).  Shaw presented a short speech saluting the scientist for his work, calling Einstein “the greatest of our contemporaries.”

                                                    Albert Einstein - Image by Jackie Ramirez from Pixabay 

Shaw began his speech by identifying eight great men of history whom he called “makers of universes.” These men were Pythagoras, Ptolemy, Kepler, Copernicus, Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, and Einstein — all great men of science, who unlike the “makers of empires” did not have hands “stained with the blood of their fellow men.”  Shaw continued by comparing Isaac Newton (1643-1727) and Einstein, explaining how Einstein challenged Newton’s rectilinear view of the universe, replacing this view with his curvilinear universe.  The Englishman Newton presented a model for the universe that stood for 300 years.  In 1916, at the age of 26, Einstein gave the world a new model, his theory of general relativity.

Shaw continued by celebrating science and contrasting it with religion.  In doing this, he presents a paradox:

Religion is always right.  Religion protects us against that great problem which we all must face.  Science is always wrong; it is the very artifice of men.  Science can never solve one problem without raising ten more problems (1).

Recall, Retrieve, Recite, Ruminate, Reflect, Reason:  For George Bernard Shaw, what was so special about his list of eight men of history?

Challenge - A Tribute and a Tip of the Hat:  When we speak of “contemporaries” we are talking about people who lived at the same time.  For example, George Bernard Shaw and Einstein were contemporaries; Einstein and Newton were not.  What person living today would you argue is the most influential?  Who would you label as the greatest of our contemporaries?  Brainstorm some names of great people who are still living.  Identify the one you would honor, and like Shaw, write your short tribute, making your case for the person as the most influential person alive.  For some help in your research, read one of Time magazine’s “The 100 Most Influential People” editions.  This annual issue features the most influential living people with tributes written by their contemporaries.

Sources:

1-Safire, William.  Lend Me Your Ears:  Great Speeches in History.  New York:  W. W. Norton & Company, 1997: 206-8.