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.