Update VI: Einstein & Marx
In this update we would like to introduce two of the great persons that the players will encounter during the game. We plan on using a portion of the funds generated in the Kickstarter campaign to have unique portraits of these historical figures created. In our opinion, the envisioned artwork fits well with the general concept of the game and its expressionistic basis.
Albert Einstein - one of the most influential theoretical physicists of all time. His general theory of relativity served as the foundation for further research, culminating in the birth of the space age. His concept of time and space can be labeled a renewed Copernican revolution, for he views the gravitational power as geometrical property of the bending four-dimensional space-time.
Often this is visualized with a taut fabric on which a heavy ball is placed. The ball, with its weight, bends the fabric downward creating a circular structure on which a second ball can orbit; moving closer and closer to the center. With this theory, Einstein laid an important foundation to explain the state of the universe.
Research on black holes still today refers to Einstein's general theory of relativity to visualize their genesis with a ball on fabric that is too heavy and causes the fabric to tear.
Karl Marx - generally known as one of the most important ideologists of communism. By far more significant than Marx ideological publications alone is his progressive development of Hegel´s dialectic idealism to a dialectic materialism.
Hegel assumed that reality is comprised of (dialectic) contradictions, which inevitably create and determine their own modification and the future. According to this theory the human mind contradicts itself and by doing so generates the becoming of objective reality.
"Consciousness determines existence".
Marx then reversed Hegel's dialectic and postulated that the world, the objective reality, can be explained by its material existence and developments thereof - and not, as presumed in idealism, as a materialization of a divine absolute idea or of human thought.
"Existence determines consciousness".
From these theories Marx drew numerous conclusions. For example, historic materialism: describing the progress of history as evolution of human society in a set pattern, determined by economic processes. Socio-economic contradictions, characterizing formations of society on differentiable steps of development, are the driving forces behind the advancement of society. The resolution of the inherent antagonistic contradictions - surrounding each social system - inevitably leads to the emergence of a new social formation.
By remodeling his surroundings through his achievements, a human constructs himself as material and social beeing. To reproduce his life he establishes a historically determined relationship with other humans; these social circumstances affect him and ultimately constitute his historic existence or his distinct nature.
We hope our short presentation of these remarkable characters was thought provoking and arouse your interest. In the game, these great persons will be detached from their historic setting - but will appear according to their influence on mankind.
