Newton vs Einstein: Who Revolutionized Physics?

[DiracPool]

You are trying to argue something that doesn't have an answer. These are all OPINIONS!

That's absurd, Woop. That's like pointing out two girls in a nightclub and asking which do you think is hotter? Maybe there isn't an objective answer, I like blondes and you like brunettes. But, we can operationalize the accomplishments of scientists better than we can girls in a bar, and it definitely is not a waste of time to do so.

 

[jedishrfu]

That's absurd, Woop. That's like pointing out two girls in a nightclub and asking which do you think is hotter? Maybe there isn't an objective answer, I like blondes and you like brunettes. But, we can operationalize the accomplishments of scientists better than we can girls in a bar, and it definitely is not a waste of time to do so.

By the way, the Beautiful Mind movie got it wrong during that scene because while all the guys agree not to fight for the blonde and instead go for her brunette friends one of the guys could still switch to the blonde at the last minute.

I think the discussion has about run its course.

 

[DiracPool]

Well, maybe THIS discussion has run it's course, but I think we are still at 50-50 as to who is the more significant physicist. Did we get your vote Jedi?

 

[Kholdstare]

Newton wins hands down for the most significant physicist for all time closely followed by Maxwell. Einstein is not even in my top 5 list.

@DiracPool - If only amazingness of the discovery is considered, Feynman will rank higher compared to Einstein.

 

[M Grandin]

In youth I was extremely impressed by both Newton and Einstein. But later I have understood it is unfair regarding them as single bright shining stars of their time.

Consider Newton: As I now understand most of his concepts were originally ideas from Robert Hooke. But Hooke did not have sufficient mathematical skills and knowledge to express them as stringent mathematical formulas. But Newton did have the mathematical skills demanded and was therefore awarded honour for creating these theories. So in that case it was not the "philosopher" behind theories who became world famous, but the mathematician having ability translating theory into mathematics.

Then consider Einstein: He had philosophical theories, but not sufficient mathematics skills to solve and express them by himself. It appears as if he needed help both regarding elementary mathematics (algebra etc) and more advanced mathematics (Riemann etc). But he was still regarded as single creator of "Theory of Relativity" just because of his
philosophical insight. So in that case it was the philosopher, not the mathematician, who
got the Medal of Genius.

 

[ClintWalker]

I would say Einstein. He was the one after all that did not discredit Newton, but further build on it. he questioned Gravity. As a result we have a deeper understanding that Gravity as a force is an illusion and in fact we are subject to gravitational fields instead. Until this breakthrough and what has become the theories of relativity we were operating in 'absolutes'

 

[jedishrfu]

Well, maybe THIS discussion has run it's course, but I think we are still at 50-50 as to who is the more significant physicist. Did we get your vote Jedi?

Did you not remember I was the first to post here and cast my vote at that time?

The thread has run its course you have your answer 50-50 and the reasoning for it so why not thank everyone and end it now.

 

[uperkurk]

I'd say they can not be compared simply because what they discovered is really quite different from each other.

If I had to say which one contributed more to humanity I would say Newton hands down.

But when we invent interstella space travel and start traveling huge distances at extreme speeds. Then you can ask this question again.

 

[WannabeNewton]

It is pretty clear that if you don't know GR formally or classical mechanics formally then you cannot make a proper judgement of the question being asked. Sayajin I have no idea why you are being defensive of a historical figure that you didn't even know personally but there is no reason to start being so contentious. DH knows the formalism of GR and if you did too then I don't think you would be so sensationalist. It is clear from your statements of you think Einstein was better at math than David Hilbert (Hilbert developed an action and used the variational principle to derive the EFEs much more elegantly than Einstein's guess and check) that you do not really know the formalism of the theory nor its history. I don't think you have any place to insult DH in such a way. At this point it seems like this topic has been saturated enough.

 

[micromass]

He have shown that his math skills surpass Hilberts in 1v1 competition.

Seriously?? Do you even know who Hilbert is?? He's one of the most genius mathematicians who ever lived. Einstein most certainly did not surpass Hilbert at all. In fact, it is quite well known that Einstein his math skills were pretty weak. Einstein knew that himself and often joked about it.

 

[Evo]

Did you not remember I was the first to post here and cast my vote at that time?

The thread has run its course you have your answer 50-50 and the reasoning for it so why not thank everyone and end it now.

It's over.