Victorian Relativity: Radical Thought and Scientific Discovery

Abstract

This text challenges assumptions that theory of relativity in physics sprang in its essence from genius of Albert Einstein, and that scientific relativity is unconnected to ethical, cultural or epistemological relativisms. It unearths a forgotten tradition of avant-garde speculation that took as its guiding principle the negation of absolute and set itself under militant banner of relativity. By drawing on works of such thinkers as Charles Darwin, Karl Pearson, James Frazer and Einstein himself, Christopher Herbert shows that idea of relativity produced changes in many fields during 19th century and argues that early relativity movement was closely bound to motives of political and cultural reform and to radical critiques of ideology of authoritarianism.

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