ABSTRACT

Logical empiricists and others more recently have interpreted Einstein's remarks about "free creation" as accordingly indicating a strong current of conventionalism in his philosophy of science. Einstein frequently emphasized, against conventionalism, that that the mind's "liberty of choice" in creatively choosing or constructing concepts "is of a special kind". As did Planck, Einstein regarded it necessary to formulate the very aim of science as an aspiration to seek a "picture of reality" Weltbild – that ideal limit of physical knowledge to which the human mind may aspire. Near universal acceptance of the quantum theory after 1930 and its apparent alignment with positivism prompted Einstein to articulate and defend an ostensibly realist conception of the aim and meaning of physical theory. Decisive methodological aspects of Einstein's epistemological credo are reflections or implications of Hertz's Bild conception of physical theory. In the Bild conception, physical theories are regarded as axiomatic systems constructed for the purpose of representation of certain aspects of nature.