How important was Einstein, really?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the significance of Albert Einstein's contributions to physics, particularly whether he was solely responsible for revolutionary ideas or if other scientists were concurrently developing similar concepts. Participants explore the context of scientific progress, the role of collaboration, and the recognition of contributions from other physicists.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Historical
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that while Einstein made significant contributions, the scientific community was close to similar breakthroughs, citing historical figures like Newton, Leibniz, Lorentz, and Poincare.
  • One participant posits that special relativity might have emerged without Einstein's input within a few years, but acknowledges the uniqueness of his equivalence principle.
  • Another participant emphasizes the romanticized narrative of the lone genius, arguing that many scientists contributed to the ideas that Einstein is credited with, including Hilbert and Minkowski.
  • There is mention of the challenges Einstein faced in his time, with communication methods limiting collaboration compared to modern times.
  • Some participants highlight that Einstein's work, particularly in general relativity, was groundbreaking, with one noting that Hilbert's contributions were made after understanding Einstein's ideas.
  • Concerns are raised about the portrayal of Einstein as a solitary figure, with references to his role as a patent examiner and how that may have influenced his insights.
  • One participant quotes Einstein's own words about creativity and the importance of building on the work of others, reflecting on the collaborative nature of scientific progress.
  • There are references to ongoing debates about Einstein's theories, with some detractors pointing out perceived mistakes while others defend his impact on physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no clear consensus on the extent of Einstein's individual contributions versus the collaborative nature of scientific discovery. Some acknowledge his pivotal role while others emphasize the contributions of his contemporaries.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the limitations of historical narratives that may overlook the contributions of other scientists and the complexities of scientific development during Einstein's time.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying the history of science, the philosophy of science, or the development of theoretical physics, as well as individuals curious about the dynamics of scientific innovation and recognition.

  • #31
ghwellsjr said:
Do you understand uncertainty?

Do anyone understand why c is constant without mention, that is the way nature works?
 
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  • #32
I have wondered just how clever E was. Other people have broken down wall after wall after wall. E (only!) did it 4 times. However the wall breaking E required a mind unlike any other!...

... The hole agument...E and Hilbert's their own verions...both were in a furious battle to arrive at the resolve it...not just deriving the field equations.

Eisnsten called the resolution of the hole "beyond my wildest expectations" - E had a deeper impact on 'our' understanding of spacetime than most people know.

B'jesus I was a a top condensed matter place in the u.k. and non of the staff had ever heard of einstein's hole argument.
 
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  • #33
Adel Makram said:
Do anyone understand why c is constant without mention, that is the way nature works?
I don't understand your grammatically incorrect English sentence.
 
  • #34
julian said:
I have wondered just how clever E was. Other people have broken down wall after wall after wall. E did it 4 times. However the wall breaking E required a mind unlike any other! The hole agument...E's version and Hilbert's verions...both were in a furious battle to arrive at the answer...not just deriving the field euations but resolving the hole argument.
Are you talking about a black hole?
 
  • #35
Phrak said:
As an examiner, or clerk he had a BS, did he not?
A little of both! Einstein wrote four papers in 1905: on the Photoelectric Effect (March), Brownian Motion (which some people believe to be most important), May, Special Relativity, June, and "E= mc^2", September, . He received his Ph.D. in June of 1905, after his papers on the Photoelectric effect and Brownian Motion but before his two papers on relativity! He was a patent examiner both before and after he received the Ph.D. His dissertation, by the way, was titled "A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions". His paper on Brownian Motion was derived from his dissertation.
 
  • #36
wall 1. Brownian motion - statistal physics
wall 2. special relativity
wall 3. quantum mechanics (Photo-electric effect)
wall 4 . General relativity.
 
  • #37
I have wondered just how clever E was. Other people have broken down wall after wall after wall. E (only!) did it 4 times. However the wall breaking E did required a mind unlike any other!...

... Now there is something called the hole agument...E and Hilbert both had their own version of it...both were in a furious battle to arrive at the resolution if it...not just deriving the field equations - christ any advanced undergraduate worth his salt can derive the vacuum field equations...the hole argument on the other hand...

einstein called the resolution of the hole argument "beyond my wildest expectations" - E had a deeper impact on 'our' understanding of spacetime than most people know. His smartness equals his reputation - it's just most people don't appreciate why.
 
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  • #38
julian said:
I have wondered just how clever E was. Other people have broken down wall after wall after wall.
Not in physics. The best that the vast majority of professional physicists can claim is making a tiny little chisel mark in a wall. The number of physicists who have broken down even one wall is a very small number. You can arguably use your fingers and toes to count them. The number who have broken down two: You don't need your toes any more. More than two: One hand will suffice.

E (only!) did it 4 times.
A better way to say this: Einstein did it four times!
 
  • #39
How does Einstein have conversations about quantum mechanics but yet he was not a mathematician. Also it is said that he thinks in pictures and not words. How can he write such papers?
 
  • #40
Flustered said:
How does Einstein have conversations about quantum mechanics but yet he was not a mathematician. Also it is said that he thinks in pictures and not words. How can he write such papers?

I wouldn't think you knew the guy.
 
  • #41
This thread has too little science content to remain open.
 

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