
Originally Posted by
JohnQPublic
Actually, Einstein did say:
"…in 1905 I was of the opinion that it was no
longer allowed to speak about the ether in
physics. This opinion, however, was too
radical, as we will see later when we discuss
the general theory of relativity. It does
remain allowed, as always, to introduce a
medium filling all space and to assume that
the electromagnetic fields (and matter as
well) are its states…once again “empty”
space appears as endowed with physical
properties, i.e., no longer as physically
empty, as seemed to be the case according to
special relativity. One can thus say that the
ether is resurrected in the general theory of
relativity….Since in the new theory, metric
facts can no longer be separated from “true”
physical facts, the concepts of “space” and
“ether” merge together."
Albert Einstein, “Grundgedanken und Methoden der
Relativitätstheorie in ihrer Entwicklung dargestellt,”
Morgan Manuscript, EA 2070, as cited in Ludwik Kostro,
Einstein and the Ether, Aperion, 2000, p. 2.
(this is from Galileo Was Wrong)
Also Einstein is quoted as saying,
"According to the general theory of relativity
space is endowed with physical qualities; in
this sense, therefore, there exists an ether.
According to the general theory of relativity
space without ether is unthinkable; for in
such space there would not only be no
propagation of light, but also no possibility
of existence for standards of space and time
(measuring rods and clocks), nor therefore
any space-time intervals in the physical
sense. But this ether may not be thought of
as endowed with the quality characteristic of
ponderable media, as consisting of parts
which may be tracked through time. The
idea of motion may not be applied to it."
Albert Einstein, “Geometry and Experience,” in
Sidelights on Relativity, 1983 (originally published 1921), p. 30, cited in De Labore
Solis, p. 65.