Einstein's Dreams

“In this world, there are two times. There is mechanical time and there is body time. The first is as rigid and metallic as a massive pendulum or iron that swings back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. The second squirms and wriggles like a bluefish in a bay.”

The concept of mechanical versus body time, which links to the theme of Discovery at the Intersection of Art and Science, arises in several of the dreamworlds. The first mention is in the 24 April 1905 dream, where people can choose which version of time to believe in. Thus, an element of free will is in play in how people perceive time in this world. The concept of perceptions dividing along the scientific (mechanical time) and the artistic (body time) carries throughout many of the dreams, though a paradox or curse always accompanies a fixation on either extreme.

“Each time is true, but the truths are not the same.”

This line from the 24 April 1905 dream expresses an idea that flows throughout the novel’s dreamworlds. Each version of time is true but not equally so. Human perception, and thus human bias, taints each world’s understanding of time. Einstein as the passive observer brings humanity’s emotions into his dreams, further diminishing truth.

“A world in which time is absolute is a world of consolation. For while the movements of people are unpredictable, the movement of time is predictable. While people can be doubted, time cannot be doubted.”

In this 28 April 1905 dreamworld, Einstein imagines that time is absolute and is perceived as such. In some of the dreamworlds, perception changes reality, but in this world, human perception and reality align. Thus, the absolute nature of time brings people comfort rather than dismay.