DOCS.
330,
331
APRIL
1917 321
In
fact,
the
following
results
are
obtained when
calculating
to
first-order
ap-
proximation
in
the
new
theory.
A
hollow
sphere
at rest
gen-
erates
no
motive
gravitational
field
within its
interior.
But
if
it
is
accelerated
(in
the
direc-
tion
of
the
arrow),
it then
gen-
erates
within
its interior
a
grav-
itational
field
in
the
same
orien-
tation,
which
would
be
capable
of
setting
masses
into
motion.
However,
this
escapes
observation
owing
to its minuteness. On
the other
hand,
the
resting
hollow
sphere
K
produces
an
increase in
inertia
of
a
test
object
encased
within it, which is
again
also undetectably small.[5]
...
Now,
in order
to
derive
the
gravitational field
perceived by
an
accelerated
observer,
one
would have to
set,
instead of
the
hollow
sphere,
the
entirety
of all
the
masses
contained
in
the
universe,
which effort founders
against
our
ignorance
of
the
large-scale
structure of
the
world
...
Einstein
cannot take
a
position
on
the
recipient’s paper,
as
he
is
unclear
about what
is
to
be understood
by
a
realistic
conception
of
the
world[6]
...
From
reading philosophical
books I had to
learn
that
I
stand there
like
a
blind
man
before
a painting.
I
grasp
only
the
inductive method
at
work
...
but the
works
of
speculative philosophy
are
inaccessible
to
me
...
331.
To Michele
Besso
[Berlin,]
Sunday.
[29
April
1917][1]
Dear
Michele,
I let
you
both
wait
so
long
for
a
message
because
I
myself
was
undecided
about
whether
a
petition
ought
to be made
regarding
A.
or
not because
I
doubted
its
usefulness and
because,
as
I
have
repeatedly heard, sympathy
for A.
is
supposedly
very
great
in his
hometown.[2]
However,
it
cannot harm
the
cause,
and
that
is
why
it
should
happen.
If
you
prefer
to
have
the letter
directed elsewhere
to
where
I
had
initially
thought,
I
remain in
agreement
and shall be
happy
to
confess to
being
the
instigator
before
the
Society and,
if
need
be,
also in
the
petition.
If
you prefer
not to mention
this
explicitly,
I
am
also satisfied. Come to
that,
I
give
you
both the
authority
to
do
as you see
fit in
my name.
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