No, Einstein was not a hoax, nor did he commit any. The hoax occured in the use
which was made of his work. The position was taken that STR proved (falsely)
that the need for the classical Aether had been eliminated because it did not
appear in the mathematics of STR. Proof of undetectibility by mathematical
methods does not constitute a proof of non-existence. The are other measdn of
observation and thinking that show that it must exist.

The real hoax exists in the assertion that observation and mathematics must be
the only source of knowledge about our physical Universe. Understanding of the
mechanisms must not be rquired as a legitimate basis for knowledge. This in
itself is underastandale since those who are strongly slkilled in mathematics
tend to be woefully deficient in physical understtanding. Einstein did not
possess that deficiency. His possession of both mathematical skill and
understanding of mechainsm is what made him unique. His fundamental error in
the derivation of GR does not diminish his status.

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