The Olympia Academy was a group of friends in Bern, Switzerland that Albert Einstein officially named with Maurice Solovine and Conrad Habicht in 1902. The trio met regularly to discuss shared interests after Einstein placed an advertisement for private lessons.
When did the Olympia Academy meetings take place and where were they held?
The group gathered in Bern, Switzerland starting in 1902 and continued until members left between 1904 and 1905. Meetings usually occurred at Albert Einstein's apartment while he worked there as a young man supporting himself through private tutoring.
Which books did the Olympia Academy study together during their discussions?
Members read texts including Karl Pearson's The Grammar of Science, Ernst Mach's Analyse der Empfindungen, Henri Poincaré's La Science et l'Hypothèse, John Stuart Mill's A System of Logic, David Hume's Treatise of Human Nature, and Baruch Spinoza's Ethics. Literary works like Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote also appeared on their reading list alongside physics and logic sources.
Who were the core members and occasional guests of the Olympia Academy besides Einstein?
The core trio consisted of Albert Einstein, Maurice Solovine from Romania, and mathematician Conrad Habicht who lived next door at Schaffhausen street. Occasional guests included Paul Habicht, Michele Besso, Marcel Grossmann, Lucien Chavan, and Mileva Marić who observed without participating since the 6th of January 1903.
How long did the Olympia Academy last and when did it end?
The group existed briefly between 1902 and 1905 before members left Bern to pursue other paths. Maurice Solovine departed first followed by Conrad Habicht shortly after in 1904 or 1905 while the formal meetings ceased during that period.