Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity reminds me of the importance of simply ‘thinking’

The French philosopher Renee Descartes took some time before convincing himself that he really existed. Or, in his words, “Cogito, ergo sum,” which is Latin for I think, therefore I am.

While most of us would shrug at this revelation, it has powerful connotations for everyday life.

When I was a young professional, I felt distinctly uneasy about thinking. On occasion a co-worker would pass my office and notice me reclined in my chair staring at the wall or ceiling. In shock, they would stop at my doorway and ask what I was doing? Equally shocked, I replied by saying that I was “thinking.” Shock turned to surprise, and a brief conversation ensued concerning the problem over which I was ruminating.

But when I reflect on my colleague’s strange reaction, it makes me think about what is wrong with thinking. Consider how difficult it is to justify inaction, or not doing anything because you are thinking.

Albert Einstein was alone in his Berlin apartment in 1905 when he wrote the first of his famous essays explaining the theory of relativity. He was not really doing anything other than thinking about time and movement. But it was his “thought experiment” that led to a revolution in science.

Seated in his room, Einstein stared at the wall (or ceiling) and visualized someone standing on a railway platform, while another person was moving past them on a train traveling at the speed of light. Two lightning bolts strike at the same time on either side of the person on the platform who observes them as occurring simultaneously. But the person on the moving train who has just passed the stationary person sees the second bolt first because they have moved past the first lightning strike – remember, they are going really fast!

Who is right? Well, Einstein concluded, both are correct because time is relative to the position of the observer. This theory of relativity revolutionized the physical sciences and our understanding of the universe.

For Descartes, thinking explained his existence. For Einstein, thinking explained the universe. While I have no pretensions about being like Einstein (or Descartes), if thinking leads to such wonderful insights, then perhaps more of us should be ‘doing’ less, or at least thinking before doing anything: cogito, ergo facite – I think, therefore I do.

Ron Messer holds six university degrees and teaches at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, located in Vancouver, British Columbia. He does not think of himself as a writer, but rather as an integrator or an interpreter of big ideas and how they relate to our personal lives. He can be reached at ron.messer@kpu.ca

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Einstein’s theory of relativity reminds me of the importance of simply ‘thinking'