Einstein vs Newton - Who is your favorite and why?

[BadgerBadger92]

I love both Einstein and Newton, and I’m sure I’ll get slammed for starting this question, but that’s okay I guess.

Who do you like more and why? I know this is an opinion, but I’m just curious on peoples opinions!

Please be nice to me! I’m not a professional physicist.

 

[fresh_42]

Amelie Emmy Noether.

 

[BadgerBadger92]

Amelie Emmy Noether.

Never heard of her! Checking her out now

 

[fresh_42]

Never heard of her! Checking her out now

Here is an article that mentions all three of them and answers the why question, plus Planck and Maxwell.

 

[BadgerBadger92]

Here is an article that mentions all three of them, plus Planck and Maxwell.

I didn’t get the article. Could you repost it?

 

[fresh_42]

Oops.

https://www.physicsforums.com/insig...side-the-box-versus-knowing-whats-in-the-box/

 

[fresh_42]

We also have two nice videos that explain my choice and that are worth watching.

The Biggest Misconception in Physics​

Noether's Theorem​

 

[Baluncore]

The journey of Physics involves many steps, each essential.

The inspiration of Newton, with calculus, to order the earlier chaos.
Followed by the crowd at the Royal Society.
Faraday, the experimenter, with Maxwell the formaliser.
Hertz the experimenter, and Heaviside the rationaliser.
Then the inspiration of Einstein, to extract Special Relativity.

In the sequential journey of Physics, will there ever be a destination ?

 

[Gavran]

I love both Einstein and Newton, and I’m sure I’ll get slammed for starting this question, but that’s okay I guess.

Who do you like more and why? I know this is an opinion, but I’m just curious on peoples opinions!

Newton
His work was the groundwork for later discoveries.

 

[Klystron]

Einstein and Newton were educated men of their times. Issac Newton, for example, lived in time of plague that often interfered with research and meeting with colleagues. Albert Einstein faced severe antisemitism in Europe depriving him of scholarships and research positions in academia. Revisionist history pretends Einstein struggled to land a job as a patent clerk due to incompetence or inability to work in advanced academia while the truth revolved around ethnic hatred.

Of the two men I like Einstein more than Newton. Einstein was funny and interesting, playing jokes and puns with friends, family and colleagues. By most reports Newton was reserved and dignified but not a humorous person. His religious fervor particularly late in life contradicts his brilliant work. While difficult to judge value from a modern remove, Relativity remains a staggering revelation.

Both were great persons of their time and continue to influence many people.

 

[Baluncore]

Newton
His work was the groundwork for later discoveries.

A truism.
The last one in is a rotten egg.

 

[fresh_42]

The choices were rather limited.

Newton - astrologist, and Leibniz was 10 years earlier (Paris, 1676)
Pythagoras - silly numerologist
Einstein - from Swabia, not my favorite Germanic tribe

I stick with Noether, about whom Einstein wrote:

 

[Hornbein]

I'd say that Archimedes, Newton, and Einstein are the big three beyond compare. Galileo was no slouch either.

These men more than any others are responsible for the modern technological world and were surely among the most influential in all of history. For better or worse.

 

[martinbn]

I stick with Noether, about whom Einstein wrote:

The image doesn't show for me. Which Noether? Max or Emmy? (I know yiou said in post #2, just pointing out that the father is famous too)

 

[Baluncore]

The image doesn't show for me.

The New York Times
Saturday, May 4, 1935
THE LATE EMMY NOETHER.

Professor Einstein Writes in Appreciation of a Fellow-Mathematician.

To the Editor of The New York Times:
The efforts of most human beings are consumed in the struggle for their daily bread, but most of those who are, either through fortune or some special gift, relieved of this struggle are largely absorbed in further improving their worldly lot. Beneath the effort directed toward the accumulation of worldly goods lies all too frequently the illusion that this is the most substantial and desirable end to be achieved; but there is, fortunately, a minority composed of those who recognize early in their lives that the most beautiful and satisfying experiences open to humankind are not derived from the outside, but are bound up with the development of the individual's own feeling, thinking and acting. The genuine artists, investigators and thinkers have always been persons of this kind. However inconspicuously the life of these individuals runs its course, none the less the fruits of their endeavors are the most valuable contributions which one generation can make to its successors.

Within the past few days a distinguished mathematician, Professor Emmy Noether, formerly connected with the University of Goettingen and for the past two years at Bryn Mawr College, died in her fifty-third year. In the judgment of the most competent living mathematicians, Fraeulein Noether was the most significant creative mathematical genius thus far produced since the higher education of women began. In the realm of algebra, in which the most gifted mathematicians have been busy for centuries, she discovered methods which have proved of enormous importance in the development of the present-day younger generation of mathematicians. Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas. One seeks the most general ideas of operation which will bring together in simple, logical and unified form the largest possible circle of formal relationships. In this effort toward logical beauty spiritual formulae are discovered necessary for the deeper penetration into the laws of nature.

Born in a Jewish family distinguished for the love of learning, Emmy Noether, who, in spite of the efforts of the great Goettingen mathematician, Hilbert, never reached the academic standing due her in her own country, none the less surrounded herself with a group of students and investigators at Goettingen, who have already become distinguished as teachers and investigators. Her unselfish, significant work over a period of many years was rewarded by the new rulers of Germany with a dismissal, which cost her the means of maintaining her simple life and the opportunity to carry on her mathematical studies. Farsighted friends of science in this country were fortunately able to make such arrangements at Bryn Mawr College and at Princeton that she found in America up to the day of her death not only colleagues who esteemed her friendship but grateful pupils whose enthusiasm made her last: years the happiest and perhaps the most fruitful of her entire career.

ALBERT EINSTEIN.

Princeton University, May 1, 1935.

 

[Gavran]

A truism.
The last one in is a rotten egg.

And what is your answer? Einstein or Newton? Please choose one, not both of them.

 

[Lyro]

That's a tough choice! Newton set the stage, Einstein rewrote the script, but I think Noether gave us the ultimate backstage pass. Without her elegant symmetries, bridging the classical and modern eras would be far harder. A true master.

 

[martinbn]

"Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night: / God said, Let Newton be! and all was light." - Alexander Pope

"It did not last: the Devil howling “Ho! Let Einstein be!” restored the status quo."

 

[Hornbein]

Newton was a lot more influential but that was just luck because he was first. As someone said, "the order of the Universe can only be found once."

Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold,
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;
Round many western islands have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne;
Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He stared at the Pacific—and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise—
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

-- John Keats

 

[Baluncore]

And what is your answer? Einstein or Newton? Please choose one, not both of them.

Which step is most important when you climb the stairs, the first or the last?

 

[weirdoguy]

Which step is most important when you climb the stairs, the first or the last?

Oh that's tricky, because I usually trip over the last one, because I loose focus too early, so I guess it's more important for me. Long live astigmatism

 

[Hornbein]

It is possible that in some distant age that Mr. Einstein's work will have had an equally transformative effect. But that day is not at hand.

The reason the two men are so outstanding is that each did major work in several fields. For Newton it was mechanics, optics, and mathematics, while Einstein was important in atomic theory, quantum mechanics, and relativity. I'd say that Galileo and Archimedes were in that sort of class. I can't think of any others.

As far as overall influence on our world those in other fields would be Mohammed(PBUH), Jesus, and maybe John Dee and Karl Marx. While Buddha has a great many people imitating his mannerisms his teachings are largely ignored. For example, he forbade all images of himself. You see how that turned out.

 

[Ken Fabian]

Since the question asks 'favorite' rather than greatest contribution or significance to science I have to say Herr Einstein.

A nice guy, apparently approachable and helpful to students, colleagues and the ordinary person. A bit irresponsible when it came to women and marital relationships perhaps but that is less alarming and far more normal than the weird fanaticism of Newton's lifelong avowed virginity. (Assuming no secret sex life).

 

[Hornbein]

Since the question asks 'favorite' rather than greatest contribution or significance to science I have to say Herr Einstein.

A nice guy, apparently approachable and helpful to students, colleagues and the ordinary person. A bit irresponsible when it came to women and marital relationships perhaps but that is less alarming and far more normal than the weird fanaticism of Newton's lifelong avowed virginity. (Assuming no secret sex life).

Each was a lot more interested in thinking than in women. I'm the same way. There is a letter Albert sent to his wife that basically says don't bother me, you can cook and clean but that's it. They divorced shortly afterward. Afterward they got along pretty well.

As for Newton, lifelong avowed virginity was in those days considered a most admirable stance. I don't believe in judging people of the past by the standards of today. John Maynard Keynes, who purchased Newton's papers, said Newton was gay, as was Keynes. In 1700 actually going through with the act was totally taboo so no wonder he didn't do it. Nowadays people think that NOT doing it is wrong, thanks to Sigmund Freud.

Isaac was a prickly and lonely guy when he was working but once he gave up science and math he relaxed and became quite sociable. Being adored by the world as the greatest mind to ever have lived improved his mood.

In his youth Albert was sociable, going to lots of dinners which was what people did in the days before television. He was really good at playing the violin, enough to turn pro if he had the mind to. In his working life he often collaborated with others, which Newton never did. Later Einstein retreated into the world of math. His violin skills deteriorated for lack of practice and he gave it up. He and Kurt Goedel were best buddies. Albert never learned to drive, they walked to work together.

Einstein was a sailor and liked to play chicken with other boats.

Albert was solicited to become the head of state of Israel! He said the treatment of the Palestinians would lead to endless conflict and refused. Was he right?

So who is more likeable? It depends.

 

[Ken Fabian]

Did sound like Einstein found time for 'womanising' and was not monagamous.

I don't relate well to/with religious fanatics. I can imagine having cordial conversation with Einstein. Not with Newton.

 

[javisot]

In terms of general knowledge, Newton's work is more varied; Newton wins.

In physics, Newton did exceptional work despite not having the appropriate technology and not being able to experimentally explore physical reality in sufficient detail. His laws are valid for describing everyday physics; his physics is so simple that we can teach it to a 10-year-old student. Einstein is more complex, more general, and therefore more complicated. His work is more general than Newton's; in my opinion, Einstein wins in physics.

In social terms, I'm drawn to enigmatic figures, like Newton.

Einstein 1 - Newton 2

Newton wins (in my opinion).

 

[symbolipoint]

I love both Einstein and Newton, and I’m sure I’ll get slammed for starting this question, but that’s okay I guess.

Who do you like more and why? I know this is an opinion, but I’m just curious on peoples opinions!

Please be nice to me! I’m not a professional physicist.

Neither of the two. Further, nobody is required to choose a favorite; at least nobody should be required.

edit: Even so with that, I registered a few reactions onto some of the posts for this topic.

 

[Gavran]

Isaac Newton was a great physicist, and he was also a great mathematician, which made him more independent than Albert Einstein. My final answer is Isaac Newton.

 

[Gavran]

Which step is most important when you climb the stairs, the first or the last?

I do not know what you are trying to say here.

If you want to take any step in your life, first you have to be born.