Meaning of "passivist" in the following context?

[bspkumar]

I have seen a BBC document which described Albert Einstein as "Passivist".

The narrator says, Einstein never accepted the modern theories of "quantum mechanics", he beliefs only in his "theory of evrerything".
Then narrator finally says, "Einstein is a passivist".

Does passivist mean who does not change the opinions according to the changing situations?

I have googled the above word but, did not find any appropriate meaning.

Thank you for your consideration.

[konungursvia]

He probably said "pacifist" because he was against war.

[bspkumar]

I know the meaning of the word pacifist: one who belives war is wrong.

But, they have not discussed about the war throug out the documentary.

I am clear that the they have used the word "passivist" when describing him as who opposes or does not accept the modern string theory ( quantum mechanics ).

[PROESL]

I know the meaning of the word pacifist: one who belives war is wrong.

But, they have not discussed about the war throug out the documentary.

I am clear that the they have used the word "passivist" when describing him as who opposes or does not accept the modern string theory ( quantum mechanics ).

I would say that "passivist", as you heard it, is someone who is passive, meaning they don't openly object to things they find wrong or disagreeable in any way. Some people are more passive than others, but this attitude or behavior can change depending on one's situation.

Check the dictionaries to get a better idea of this.


Dictionaries

• American Heritage Dictionary
• Cambridge ESL Dictionary
• Longman ESL Dictionary
• Longman ESL Dictionary Pictures
• Heinle's ESL Dictionary\
• Macmillan ESL Dictionary
• HyperDictionary

[BobK]

I would say that "passivist", as you heard it, is someone who is passive, meaning they don't openly object to things they find wrong or disagreeable in any way. Some people are more passive than others, but this attitude or behavior can change depending on one's situation.
...

I have my doubts about this interpretation. There are people who believe in an active intelligence overseeing the universe. Despite his widely-quoted Gott würfelt nicht, it's not thought that Einstein believed in an omniscient/omnipresent/all-seeing intelligent being; he took a passive view of the universe, not actively controlled by anyone/thing, but just continuing to operate according to a Grand Unification Theory yet to be discovered.

Alternatively, someone with a greater understanding of string theory than I have might think that matter made up of these little vibrating pieces of spaghetti is in some sense 'active'. But what do I know?

But I'm not entirely committed to this interpretation either. As the OP refers to a narrator saying something, it seems to me that the first reply may have been 'on the money'. I'm not impressed by anyone (even a native speaker) saying 'I know what I heard'.

b

[bhaisahab]

I have my doubts about this interpretation. There are people who believe in an active intelligence overseeing the universe. Despite his widely-quoted Gott würfelt nicht, it's not thought that Einstein believed in an omniscient/omnipresent/all-seeing intelligent being; he took a passive view of the universe, not actively controlled by anyone/thing, but just continuing to operate according to a Grand Unification Theory yet to be discovered.

Thankyou Bob, you have put into words that which I struggled to do. Maith fear hein. (Good man yourself)

[PROESL]

I have my doubts about this interpretation. There are people who believe in an active intelligence overseeing the universe. Despite his widely-quoted Gott würfelt nicht, it's not thought that Einstein believed in an omniscient/omnipresent/all-seeing intelligent being; he took a passive view of the universe, not actively controlled by anyone/thing, but just continuing to operate according to a Grand Unification Theory yet to be discovered.

Alternatively, someone with a greater understanding of string theory than I have might think that matter made up of these little vibrating pieces of spaghetti is in some sense 'active'. But what do I know?

But I'm not entirely committed to this interpretation either. As the OP refers to a narrator saying something, it seems to me that the first reply may have been 'on the money'. I'm not impressed by anyone (even a native speaker) saying 'I know what I heard'.

b

I hear what you're saying. On the other hand, it could be very easy to mistake one of these words for the other in listening and speaking. So that was the hunch I was going on, though, generally, I'm not very sanguine about hunches.