Individual and society

In diverse writings, Albert Einstein articulates a view of the individual and his relationship to society that would probably be called holistic today. Einstein stands strongly in favor of individual freedom but tempers that view with the awareness that each of us is a member of a larger group that nurtures, educates and enriches us throughout life. Individual achievements in, say, science or the arts are made possible by the work of those of previous generations who have passed those accomplishments along as gifts that we know as culture.

In a letter to Japanese school children, for example, Einstein tries to impress upon the youngsters the debt owed to those who went before them — a debt that can only be repaid by hard work and new intellectual and spiritual growth. In this manner, Einstein says, human civilization moves forward. Einstein believes the state or government...