John Stachel (; March 29, 1928 – May 9, 2025) was an American physicist and
philosopher of science
Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
.
Life and career
Stachel earned his
PhD
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...
at
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a Private university, private research university in Hoboken, New Jersey. Founded in 1870, it is one of the oldest technological universities in the United States and was the first college in America solely de ...
in
Physics
Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...
about a topic in
General relativity
General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity, and as Einstein's theory of gravity, is the differential geometry, geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of grav ...
in 1958. After holding different teaching positions at
Lehigh University
Lehigh University (LU), in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, is a private university, private research university. The university was established in 1865 by businessman Asa Packer. Lehigh University's undergraduate programs have been mixed ...
and the
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colle ...
, he went in 1964 to
Boston University
Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...
where he was professor of physics until his
emeritation.
In 1977, Stachel became the first editor of the
Einstein Papers Project, then at
Boston University
Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...
. The first two volumes (out of a projected twenty-five) of ''The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein'' were published during his tenure.
He was head of the Boston University
Center for Einstein Studies and, together with
Don Howard, published the book series ''Einstein Studies''.
Stachel also authored a text, entitled ''Einstein: From 'B' to 'Z'.''
In 2005, he delivered the
British Academy
The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical, Philosophical and Philological Studies is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences.
It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the sa ...
's Master-Mind Lecture.
Stachel died on May 9, 2025, at the age of 97.
Bibliography (selection)
* A. Einstein; J. Stachel,
D.C. Cassidy, et al., eds., ''The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, Vol. 1: The Early Years, 1879–1902'', Princeton University Press 1987,
* A. Einstein; J. Stachel, D.C. Cassidy, et al., eds., ''The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, Vol. 2: The Swiss Years: Writings, 1900-1909'', Princeton University Press 1989,
*
A. Ashtekar, J. Stachel, eds., ''Conceptual Problems of Quantum Gravity'', Springer 1991,
* D. Howard, J. Stachel
''Einstein, The Formative Years 1879–1909'' Birkhäuser 2000,
* J. Stachel
''Einstein from 'B' to 'Z' '' Birkhauser 2002,
* A. Ashtekar et al., eds.
''Revisiting the Foundations of Relativistic Physics: Festschrift in Honor of John Stachel'' Kluwer 2003,
See also
*
Point-coincidence argument
References
External links
HomepagePapers & PresentationsBrief CV
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stachel, John
1928 births
2025 deaths
American relativity theorists
Quantum gravity physicists
Stevens Institute of Technology alumni
Lehigh University faculty
University of Pittsburgh faculty
Boston University faculty
Historians of physics