D O C U M E N T 1 4 3 J U N E 1 9 2 1 1 0 3
of the university. We found America’s Jewish doctors (c. 6,000), who raised the
funds for a medical school, particularly
generous.[3]
America is interesting; for all its industry and business it is more easily aroused
to enthusiasm than other countries I have unsettled with my presence. I had to let
myself be shown around like a prize ox, speak countless times in large and small
assemblies, deliver countless scientific lectures. It’s a miracle that I endured it. But
now it’s finished and what remains is the fine feeling of having done something
truly good and of having worked for the Jewish cause despite all the protests by
Jews and non-Jews—most of our clansmen are smarter than they are courageous, I
could definitely see that.
The redshift of spectral lines is now beginning to be confirmed on all sides:
Grebe and
Bachem,[4] Perot,[5]
Fabri, and
Buisson.[6]
I didn’t have a moment’s
doubt that it should be so; but others who believe they understand relativity theory
certainly did.
On Monday my ship leaves for Europe. I’ll be staying in England for a few days,
then I get my long-deserved
peace.[7]
In July my boys are coming to see me again,
to my great joy. I want to go sailing with them on a northern German
lake.[8]
Warm regards to you together with
Anna[9]
from your
Albert.
142. To Edwin B. Frost[1]
[New York,] 30 May 1921
[Not selected for translation.]
143. From Heinrich Scholz
Kiel, 61 Feld St. I, 2 June 1921
Highly esteemed Professor,
A difficult bereavement distracted me so much this past fortnight that only today
can I reply to your friendly inquiry of March
15.[1]
You asked me about Kant’s concept of space as regards its intuitive or concep-
tual quality. I reply: (1) The intuitive character of Kantian space cannot, according
to my view, be doubted in principle. Kant’s characteristic criticism of Leibnizian
intellectualism, which declared a spatial conception of things as skewed thinking
(because sensorially affected), is only comprehensible from this standpoint. For
Kant, space and time as intuitive forms differ from conceptual forms, fixed by
category, not just by degree but certainly also by type. (2) Kant does speak in the