Diebert:
This has not that much to do with general metaphysics or existential thought as others might define "philosophy", or Eastern philosophy, or 'non-academic' philosophy. So Einstein's "deep interest" is generally pretty much limited by a scientific 'modernistic' world view. Not a false view per se but one that is
intentionally limited to have science and technology flourish and dominate. It's a
tamed or restricted out-look which as a result cannot look beyond its own limits.
Carmel:
Of course, but he also had a interest in philosophy outside the realm of the philosophy of science, Spinoza was his favorite philosopher and he had an interest in Eastern philosophy as well.
Diebert:
One noteworthy philosophical aspect of Einstein was his stubborn stance on deterministic causality. He had therefore great problems with the Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum Physics.
Einstein wrote:Time and again the passion for understanding has led to the illusion that man is able to comprehend the objective world rationally, by pure thought, without any empirical foundations—in short, by metaphysics. I believe that every true theorist is a kind of tamed metaphysicist, no matter how pure a "positivist" he may fancy himself. The metaphysicist believes that the logically simple is also the real. The tamed metaphysicist believes that not all that is logically simple is embodied in experienced reality, but that the totality of all sensory experience can be "comprehended" on the basis of a conceptual system built on premises of great simplicity. The skeptic will say that this is a "miracle creed." Admittedly so, but it is a miracle creed which has been borne out to an amazing extent by the development of science. [- from 1950 Scientific American article "On the Generalized Theory of Gravitation"]
Carmel:
"tamed metaphysicist" ...Interesting, yes, I knew he was highly critical of logical empiricism(posivism) and considered himself a theorist, first and foremost.
Diebert:
The chance you'll find much correspondence freely available I deem rather small Carmel, the body of work is so extensive and much translation and transcription required that this stuff is often heavily copyrighted, unless you want to read original handwritings. You could try to find some of it at some file-sharing site as E-book if you know your way there.[/quote]
Carmel:
Thanks, yeah, you're probably right, I tried to look this up one day and didn't have much luck. Found an exchange of letters between him and Freud about topics of the day, his views about war, his stance on anti-nationalism and pacivism, mildly interesting, but not quite what I was seeking...