The website of Allen Esterson

Articles on MILEVA MARIĆ and SIGMUND FREUD

MILEVA MARIĆ: EINSTEIN’S FIRST WIFE

The articles below examine the claims that Einstein’s first wife, Mileva Marić, contributed substantively to, or even co-authored, Einstein’s early papers. The first article is a critique of the Australian documentary “Einstein’s Wife”, broadcast by US Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 2003. The second article is a critique of the material on the PBS “Einstein’s Wife” website, which includes lesson plans for high school students. The third article is a comprehensive examination of the material adduced by the main proponents of the claims made for Mileva Marić in relation to Einstein’s work. Also below are my critical examinations of the writings of the main proponents of the thesis that Marić collaborated with Einstein on his early scientific papers.

Einstein’s Wife: Mileva Marić 1 - The documentary “Einstein’s Wife” gives a thoroughly misleading account of the role of Mileva Marić in Einstein’s early scientific achievements.

Einstein’s Wife: Mileva Marić 2 - The PBS “Einstein’s Wife” website is an exercise in misinformation concerning the claims that Mileva Marić made substantive contributions to Einstein’s early scientific work.

Mileva Marić: Einstein’s Wife - The claims about Mileva Marić’s alleged contributions to Einstein’s early scientific achievements are devoid of credible supporting evidence.

PBS Theory and Practice: The Case of Einstein’s Wife - Contrary to PBS’s editorial policies, blatant errors are abundant on their “Einstein’s Wife” website.

“Einstein’s Wife” Film: List of Errors - List of errors, misrepresentations, and contentions without substantive evidence, in the “Einstein’s Wife” documentary.

“Einstein’s Wife” PBS Website: List of Errors - List of errors, misrepresentations, and contentions without substantive evidence, on the PBS “Einstein’s Wife” website.

Defending “Einstein’s Wife” Film - My responses to writer/producer Geraldine Hilton’s initial comments on my critique of her film.

Defending “Einstein’s Wife” 2 - My responses to writer/producer Geraldine Hilton’s reply to my enumeration of errors in her film.

Defending the PBS “Einstein’s Wife” Website - My responses to writer/producer Geraldine Hilton’s reply to my enumeration of errors on the PBS "Einstein's Wife" website.

Einstein’s Wife: A Challenge to PBS - PBS is tardy in responding to a complaint about its “Einstein’s Wife” website.

Einstein’s Wife: An Open Letter to PBS - PBS has failed to correct blatant errors on the “Einstein's Wife” website.

Einstein’s Wife: PBS Fails the Test of Integrity - PBS has commissioned an author lacking the requisite credentials to rewrite its “Einstein’s Wife” website while continuing to promote and sell the meretricious documentary.

Einstein’s Wife: PBS Continues to Fail the Test of Integrity - The revised “Einstein's Wife” web pages (September/October 2007) continue to propagate a grossly misleading story about Mileva Marić.

Einstein’s Wife: Mileva Marić 3 - The revised “Einstein’s Wife” website (October 2007) is replete with errors, misconceptions, and misrepresentations of the historical evidence.

Einstein specialists comment on the “Einstein’s Wife” documentary.

Senta Troemel-Ploetz

Senta Troemel-Ploetz is the author of a 1990 article “Mileva Einstein-Marić: The Woman Who Did Einstein’s Mathematics”.

Who Did Einstein’s Mathematics?: A Response to Troemel-Ploetz - A detailed critique of Senta Troemel-Ploetz’s much-cited 1990 article.

Defending Mrs Einstein - Senta Troemel-Ploetz responds to criticisms of her arguments.

Evan Harris Walker

Evan Harris Walker is one of the most prominent proponents of the contention that Mileva Marić co-authored Einstein's celebrated 1905 papers.

Walker’s Letter in Physics Today, February 1991, is here subjected to a critical analysis.

Evan Harris Walker was president of the Walker Cancer Research Institute. Some information about the Institute is provided in this short article.

Dord Krstić

Dord Krstić is another proponent of the claim that Mileva Marić collaborated on Einstein's early work in physics.

Critique of Krstić’s 1991 "Appendix" - My examination of the claims made by Krstić in his "Appendix" to E. R. Einstein's 1991 memoir of her husband Hans Albert Einstein.

Critique of Krstić’s Mileva & Albert Einstein: Their Love and Scientific Collaboration - My examination of the claims made by Kristić in his 2004 book.

Andrea Gabor

Critique of Gabor (1995) – An examination of the chapter on Mileva Marić in Andrea Gabor’s book Einstein’s Wife: Work and Marriage in the Lives of Five Great Twentieth Century Women.

Christopher Jon Bjerknes

Critique of Bjerknes – An examination of Bjerknes’ contention that Mileva Marić was the author (or co-author) of Einstein’s celebrated 1905 papers.

Historical Evidence in Science

Handling evidence in history: the case of Einstein's Wife - Alberto A. Martinez discusses how historical evidence in science should be assessed, with illustrative examples from the "Einstein's Wife" documentary and related material.

John Stachel's "Appendix" to Einstein's Miraculous Year (1905) - Stachel's detailed refutation of the contention that Abraham Joffe claimed to have seen Einstein's original 1905 manuscripts.

John Stachel's analysis of Einstein's use of personal pronouns in the letters to Mileva Marić.

Albrecht Fölsing's Die Zeit article: Keine 'Mutter der Relativitätstheorie' - English translation.

Walter Isaacson, Einstein, and Mileva Marić - A critical examination of Isaacson's discussion of the role of Marić in Einstein's scientific achievements in his book Einstein: His Life and Universe.

Australian School Students Study Guide

“Einstein’s Wife” Study Guide - An article examining the school students Study Guide produced by Australian Teachers of Media.

ARTICLES ON SIGMUND FREUD

Jeffrey Masson and Freud’s seduction theory: A new fable based on old myths An abridged version of an article published in History of the Human Sciences, Vol. 11, No. 1, 1998, pp. 1-21.

Psychoanalytic Mythology - A short article examining the myths surrounding Freud’s seduction theory.

A seductive story - A short article discussing the claims of Jeffrey Masson in a broadcast on New Zealand National Radio in May 2006.

Freud Returns? Critical comments on a 2004 Scientific American article by Mark Solms.

Freud's theories of repression and memory - A critique of Phil Mollon’s book Freud and False Memory Syndrome. Published in The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice, Fall-Winter, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2003, pp. 147-162.

Pre-publication versions of journal articles:

Jeffrey Masson and Freud’s seduction theory: A new fable based on old myths. Published in History of the Human Sciences, Vol. 11, No. 1, 1998, pp. 1-21. © 1998 SAGE Publications Ltd. (Note: This is a pre-publication version of the article.)

Mythologizing of psychoanalytic history: Deception and self-deception in Freud’s accounts of the seduction theory episode. Published in History of Psychiatry, xii, 2001, pp. 329-352. © 2001 Educational Publishing Foundation. (Note: This is a pre-publication version of the article.)

Myth of Freud's ostracism by the medical community in 1896-1905: Jeffrey Masson’s assault on truth. Published in History of Psychology, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2002, pp. 115-134. (Copyright: American Psychological Association. Note: This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record.)

Critique of Gleaves & Hernandez (1999) A Comment on Gleaves and Hernandez's "Recent reformulations of Freud's development and abandonment of this seduction theory: Historical/scientific clarification or a continued assault on truth" (1999). Published in History of Psychology, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2002, pp. 85-91. (Copyright: American Psychological Association. Note: This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record.)

BOOK

Seductive Mirage: An Exploration of the Work of Sigmund Freud

Acknowledgement of Error in Seductive Mirage

Contact: allenesterson@compuserve.com