Skip to main content

Thought Experiments

Einstein at Griffith Observatory
While reading Einstein His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson I’m captivated by the childlike wonder that Einstein approached what most overlook as an everyday occurrence, time.

In Einstein’s Theory of Relativity logic and observation dictates that time is a constant, yet his theory postulates otherwise. Scientific thinkers use self-evident truths that seem reasonable but are not.


Einstein possessed the uncanny ability to focus on problems with a singleness of purpose. His thought experiments allowed him to imagine beyond the principles of his time to see an expansive universe that defied Newton’s laws.


Let’s examine his thinking style and how we can use that methodology to also go beyond the confines of our daily existence.


Einstein epitomized the logical thinker. Someone who is able to apply that mode of thinking—about any subject, content, or problem—in which the thinker improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it.


Logical thinking is many thinking styles within one. It is the observation and analysis of the facts, then applying the following technique to those facts. Logical thinkers must first identify the problem. Symptoms of the main problem are issues that lead to problems. While analyzing a problem, logical thinkers must investigate every aspect possible. 


Analyzing all information requires many resources such as inductive and deductive reasoning, brainstorming, and questioning techniques. Gathering information though reading provides vast working knowledge of: humanities, art, science, mathematics, and intuition.

One of the benefits of logical thinking is strengthening many people’s effectiveness and creating a positive attitude towards problem solving. Scientific thinking is factual based. When testing arguments, opinions do not hold true to the scientific method, therefore neglected. 

This is the preferred style of many researchers. This method relies on careful observation of human experiences: The formulation of a hypothesis, experimentation, and mathematical proof when trying to verify stated hypothesis.

We may never make the extraordinary contributions of Einstein but striving to achieve a worthwhile goal in our own lives drives creativity and provides intellectual fulfillment.

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

History Isn’t a Museum

✨ In this episode, History Isn't a Museum—It's a River . . .   History isn't a museum—it's a river, and like it or not, we're already swimming in it. Its waters carry timeless lessons forward, flowing through each generation, waiting to be rediscovered . This profound realization struck me while reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations . Imagine: a Roman emperor and philosopher two thousand years ago, writing notes that sound like advice from a modern mindfulness coach. When he says, "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength," it feels like he's speaking directly to us. The water may change, but the river is the same. Examining this writing with a fresh, childlike perspective and a wealth of experience, I realize how consistent human nature remains over time. Every generation faces familiar challenges, marked by frustration, peace, courage, faith, baseball, and the search for meaning across the ages...

Lessons from 1872

In this episode, Lessons from 1872: Travel in the Age of No-WiFi . . .   Imagine having 80 days to explore the world, with no smartphones, no jet planes, and no money concerns. A thrilling thought, right? That’s the fantasy Jules Verne implies in his classic adventure, Around the World in 80 Days , and it's a question I've been pondering from my easy chair in Vista, California. This week’s On the Fly , we're traveling back in time with one of the most thrilling literary adventures ever written. Early on, it’s clear this is Phileas Fogg’s story—a man of clocks and calculations, whose every move is measured. His journey isn’t about discovery, but a bet—a mathematical challenge involving money, schedules, and perfect timing. But when you think he’s the engine of the story, someone else quietly steals the show. Meet Passepartout: The Heart of the Journey. Jean Passepartout, Fogg’s new valet, is Fogg’s complete opposite. A former circus acrobat seeking a quiet life, he joins Fo...

The Silent Grid–Part Two

In this episode, The Silent Grid – Part Two Sirens split the night as Greenwood went dark. Marvin knew instantly—the blackout wasn’t an accident. It was a warning. In this quiet town, where life once unfolded at a predictable pace, a sleek, intuitive smartphone—a so-called gift from the future —has arrived. But it’s no tool for connection. It’s a silent force, erasing individuality and turning neighbors into something less than human. Marvin Gellborn, a man who values independence, sees the truth. His device isn’t helping; it’s testing him, watching him, and quietly embedding itself into the life of Greenwood. Welcome back to On the Fly . In this week’s episode of The Silent Grid , GridBot tightens its grip. After a hopeful community gathering, Marvin and his robot companion, Norman, notice a troubling absence—the very generation they hoped to reach has vanished into the neon glow of The Signal Box , a youth tech hub pulsing with digital obsession. When Greenwood’s lights vanish, Marvi...

Shadows in the Grid

In this episode, Chapter Nine – Shadows in the Grid (Previous episode) – The Disconnected Generation . The first flicker came just after midnight. Marvin sat at his kitchen table, scribbling notes about the park gathering, when the overhead light shivered, dimmed, and went out. The hum of the refrigerator ceased, leaving a silence so complete it seemed to press against his skin. Norman, standing near the door like a watchman, tilted his head. A faint glow pulsed from his chest cavity, the hydrogen core humming steady, almost reassuring. “Localized outage,” Norman said, calm to the point of detachment. “GridBot will stabilize in sixty seconds.” But sixty seconds passed. Then another. The street outside remained cloaked in darkness. No backup generators started. No emergency lights blinked alive. Greenwood lay as still as a painting. Marvin pushed back his chair, his heartbeat quickening. “This isn’t just an outage, Norman. Something’s wrong.” Norman’s optic sensors brightened, their pal...