Recently Stephen Hawking has decided to boycott a prestigious conference in Israel. So prestigious a conference that it is hosted by Israeli President Shimon Peres. This decision of a world renowned physicist and a lucasian professor of Mathematics has brought about ripples not only in politics but in the world of science, as well. Many are wondering why a physicist like Hawking would involve himself with such an issue like politics when he has secrets of universe to reveal. Some are furious that in contrast to scientific beliefs (that incubate and perpetuate freedom of all sorts) he unjustly targeted Israelis. The conference chairman has reported to have said.
“The academic boycott against Israel is in our view outrageous and improper, certainly for someone for whom the spirit of liberty lies at the basis of his human and academic mission,”
In this post I would like to point out how in history two of the most famous mathematicians tried to dive in to the affairs of Israeli politics. They were Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell.
Albert Einstein’s political activity started when he was first approached by a group of scientist and was urged to write a letter to then president of US, Roosevelt, asking him to build a nuclear bomb before Hitler could do it. After the World War II and the havoc those bombs caused, Einstein regretted this decision and later in 1952 when he was approached by Israel’s political lobby and was given the opportunity to become a president of Israel(he is the only citizen of US who has ever been offered to become a president of a foreign country). Einstein declined the offer with, what has now become, a very famous saying of his : “I am too naive for politics.”
Bertrand Russell, a mathematician and a philosopher would be most importantly remembered for his Principia Mathematica (a treatise on mathematical analysis). Russell was very active in 1950s and 60s for the cause of Nuclear disarmament. He even co-authored Russell-Einstein Manifesto that was signed by 11 of the most prominent mathematicians and physicists of that time.. likes of Max Bonr and Linus Pauling.
Manifesto can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/11V0hDv
Bertrand Russell was probably the first Mathematician who in 1970 just days before his death, condemmned Israel’s aggression in the Middle East. He even Called for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders.This was Russell’s final political statement and It was read out at the International Conference in Cairo after the day he died.
But whether it is appropriate for a Mathematician to delve into Politics without full knowledge of the political process and current affairs. The debate continues…..
source Guardian Science blog : http://bit.ly/10t63uL
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