BIBLIOGRAPHY
Galileo Galilei, Dialogue on the Great World Systems, ed.
G. de Santillana (Chicago, 1953), is a classic; this edition
contains illuminating editorial notes. Newton's Principia,
trans. A. Motte, 2 vols. (Berkeley, 1962), also has editorial
notes but unfortunately no index. Of other pre-relativity
works, the following are particularly relevant to this article:
J. C. Maxwell, Matter and Motion (London, 1877; reprint,
New York, n.d.), see in particular pp. 80-88; also E. Mach,
The Science of Mechanics, trans. T. J. McCormack, 6th ed.
(La Salle, Ill., 1960).
The collection of essays in Albert Einstein: Philosopher-
Scientist, ed. P. A. Schilpp (Evanston, 1949), is indispensable;
the book contains Einstein's scientific autobiography and
a bibliography of his writings. Key technical papers in the
development of Einstein's theory are reprinted in The Prin-
ciple of Relativity (1923); reprint, New York, n.d.). One of
the most important historical surveys is E. T. Whittaker's
A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity (1910;
New York, 1951; and later reprint), see especially Vol. II.
This highly technical work is unfortunately biased in its
account of the special theory of relativity, though not of
the general theory. For an antidote, see the article by G.
Holton “On the Origins of the Special Theory of Relativity,”
American Journal of Physics, 28 (1960), 627-36; but in this
connection see the article by C. Scribner, Jr. “Henri
Poincaré and the Principle of Relativity,” ibid., 32 (1964),
672-78.
W. Pauli's highly mathematical Theory of Relativity,
trans. G. Field (London, 1959), was famous in 1921 as an
encyclopedia article and remains outstanding in its updated
form. It contains an abundance of references.
Of the books of medium mathematical difficulty, M.
Born's Einstein's Theory of Relativity (New York, 1962;
various reprints), is of particular interest here because of
its historical approach. Note that it scants the work of
Poincaré, as do other books listed below. Complementing
Born's book, and admirable in its own right, is W. Rindler's
Essential Relativity (New York, 1969). Einstein's book, The
Meaning of Relativity, 5th ed. (Princeton, 1956), is particu-
larly recommended to those who are able to follow the
mathematics.
As to nontechnical books, nobody has bettered Einstein's
own popular exposition, Relativity (New York, 1920; later
reprints). P. W. Bridgman, A Sophisticate's Primer of Rela-
tivity (Middletown, Conn., 1962; reprint New York), gives
important insights into the special theory but unfortunately
assumes without analysis the existence of rigid rods. M.
Jammer, Concepts of Space (Cambridge, Mass., 1954; 2nd ed.
1969), contains numerous references. A. D'Abro, The Evolu-
tion of Scientific Thought (New York, 1927; reprint 1950),
gives a detailed nonmathematical account of the whole
development of the theory. Also recommended are A.
Einstein and L. Infeld, The Evolution of Physics (New York,
1938; also reprint), and P. Bergmann, The Riddle of Gravi-
tation (New York, 1968). P. Frank, Einstein: His Life and
Times (New York, 1947; 1953), contains both biographical
and philosophical material of particular interest. For J. A.
Wheeler's engrossing, if speculative, ideas about foamlike
space and the concept of superspace, see his book (in
German) Einsteins Vision (Berlin, 1968). Mention may also
be made of Banesh Hoffmann, with Helen Dukas, Albert
Einstein, Creator and Rebel (New York, 1972).
BANESH HOFFMANN
[See also Causation; Cosmic Images;
Cosmology since 1850;
Mathematical Rigor; Matter;
Space; Time and Measure-
ment; Unity of Science.]
