Who Is Considered the Greatest Physicist of All Time?

[Reshma]

I voted for Galileo but my personal favourite is Michio Kaku .

 

[zoobyshoe]

Once SR became an established physical theory a vivid discussion arose in Germany on the topic of "relativity of time"...The Catholic Church did not want to accept this fact for the obvious reasons.

This may be the case, but it can't have been an important issue in his life, or to the church, because it is a completely obscure contoversy. If the Church adopted an official stance against Relativity, they certainly never pushed it very much.

Now, The link with Hitler is very well known. I am ofcourse not referring to Hitler himself but to the political regime under Hitler. Einstein got a lot of publicity from this regime for all the very well known reasons. this just needs to be mentioned.

It's really the other way around. Einstein's fame attracted the attention and hostility of anti-semitic factions. They made a special point of trying to "debunk" relativity in several journals and public lectures because they felt he was getting too much worldwide attention and admiration for "a jew". The attacks on him didn't precipitate his fame, the fame precipitated the attacks.

EDIT : and i really do not think that the average man in the street really cared about some mathematician that figured out that light can bend around corners. In that day and age, the average man was not like us, he was very busy with providing for his family and...basically...surviving. Especially in the Interbellum Period.

True, and I'm not saying they particularly cared, just that they became familiar with the name and associated it with some kind of scientific achievement that other "mathemetitians" seemed to be exited about. "Oh yeah, Einstein. Something about light going around corners, or something". More sophisticated people with some education appreciated it on the level of a theory having predicted an effect before anyone had actually ever observed that effect. The results of Eddington's observations, for some reason, was made into a news story, and published in regular daily newspaper around the world. It wasn't limited to science journals. That was kind of unusual in and of itself, but it's what started all the attention Einstein got all his life.

 

[marlon]

The results of Eddington's observations, for some reason, was made into a news story, and published in regular daily newspaper around the world.

All you said in your last post is very true. Again, i just want to point out that Einstein's fame comes from those reasons, but from the ones i mentioned as well.

Haven't you ever wondered why Eddington's observations were world news ? The answer is just what i am trying to say. Because they proved "this infamous theory" that "everything is relative"...The seed for the entire discussion is the relativity aspect coupled to morals/ethics and traditions...

regards
marlon

 

[zoobyshoe]

Haven't you ever wondered why Eddington's observations were world news ? The answer is just what i am trying to say. Because they proved "this infamous theory" that "everything is relative"...The seed for the entire discussion is the relativity aspect coupled to morals/ethics and traditions...

Thing is, SR wasn't "infamous" yet when Eddington did his observations. There was really only a small core of influential physicists who were exited about SR. The world heard about the theory and the news of confirmatory evidence at the same time. No one outside of a select group of physicists was sitting around wondering if that Einstein guy could be right about everything being relative. They didn't even know anyone had proposed such a thing till the announcement the bending of light by gravity had been confirmed.

I just took a look into a biography and I think the real reason newspapers decided to pick this story up is explained in this quote from a letter by Robert Lawson, who was a correspondent for Nature: (writing fom Berlin)

"The talk here is of almost nothing but Einstein, and if he were to come here now I think he would be welcomed like a victorious general. The fact that a theory formulated by a German has been confirmed by observations on the part of Englishmen has brought the possibility of cooperation between these two scientifically minded nations much closer. Quite apart from the great scientific value of his brilliant theory, Einstein has done mankind an incalcuable service."

Einstein, The Life and Times, Ronald W. Clark, pp.296-297

It's as I mentioned before: this apparent "cooperation" of two former enemy nations, was taken as a sign of great hope. The story was probably widely circulated for this message above all others: enemies can make up, learn to get along and work together.

 

[Lisa!]

You are being a bit easy on this. Asking you why you think a certain way is not equal to being "argumentative". If "they" tend to misunderstand you, maybe asking questions is just about avoiding that. I think you are just a bit afraid of really speaking your mind and thinking like an adult.

That's not true. I guess you didn't get what I meant there and I have to admit that it was all my fault. I really like to exchange my ideas with other people and speak my mind to them.
But you know some people just want to disagree with you without listening and thinking about what you're really saying. You say something and they hear something else!(I have a thread about misunderstanding and we had a very nice discussion with some people about that. If you'd read that thread, you can get what kind of misunderstanding I'm talking about). Hope you wouldn't think I was referring to you as a argumentative person in a negative way. Honestly I just barely know you and in fact we'd never argued about anything since now.(we've just talked(and not argued) about some trivial things like my photo.)


Why I said ' Spanish inquistion':
Wasn't it? just go read your reply to this thread(24th post), and I guess you get what I mean by that. Sounds like you want to know if I really want him or I've just voted for him because he's the only famous name on this list)
Anyhow that was just a joke. Don't take it so seriously!

Don't worry, wisdom comes with age...

Don't agree with you on that! That depends on the person!

I do know we had some discussions before but what i meant with this question is how can you pass judgement on me , based upon the few superficial/hollow talks we had before ?

I never passed judgement on you, in any of my posts! But I guess you did when you talked about Einstein's fans in 1 of your post!(and again you've passed some judgement on me when I was just new here )
Note that I just said 'Spanish Inq.', then you said 'have we met before?'! So why do you say I've passed judgement on you?

In my second reply to your post I said: I don't know you well now.(so I can't be a fan of you now and if you would be 'argumatetive,...', I can never be.)For no better reason that I simply don't respond to people with this characteristic. So since I'm talking to you now, that means I don't think of you as a person with that characteristic!
(so again no judgement yet!)

Really, well not for other scientists' work. Just look at his INCORRECT opinions on the very fundaments of QM.

I said he's openminded because he tried to see the world different from others.(his theories on secial and general relativity) As you know some other scientists did lots of work on this area, but since they couldn't accept the fundamentals of relativity, they just gave up and didn't continue their work!

I know you think he was a great thinker, he question is WHY DO YOU THINK THAT ? This is a question you still have not answered.

I don't know what I should say here. His theories aren't enough reason for that? Most of physicists are mathematicians in fact. They just work with math equations to get something new, they just don't think. But as you know he wasn't a good math., so he must think a lot find something new and then describe it with math equations!(in fact ask someone to do it for him! )

Then again I'm telling you that I just don't like these questins and I just took it as a joke when I said 'Einstein! because I feel more comfortable with him...'

Regards

 

[Chi Meson]

What is the deal with the anti-Einstein faction? I guess it's polls like this that make us wish the "other guys" got more credit. So that's why I voted for JC Maxwell. I can't say that anyone of these great physicists was greater than the others, but I love the story about Maxwell:
While at University of Edinborough, he was told to attend chapel at 5:00 AM, to which he replied "Aye, I suppose I can stay up that late."

 

[marlon]

Why I said ' Spanish inquistion':
Wasn't it? just go read your reply to this thread(24th post), and I guess you get what I mean by that.

I checked that post, but i am sorry because i really do not get the link.

Besides, for your information, i do not think that the Spanish Inquisition is funny.

Sounds like you want to know if I really want him or I've just voted for him because he's the only famous name on this list)

Yes indeed, and i am still waiting for an answer to that question. Permit me to speak my mind : "I have a gut feeling you are, for some reason, not willing to understand what my question is about."

Don't agree with you on that! That depends on the person!

Actually, you are right on this one.

I never passed judgement on you, in any of my posts!

Yes you did, when you started describing "argumentative people" and how you are not comfortable with them because they "never listen or never get your point". These are your own words and you were referring to me. Why else would you have brought that up, especially at the beginning of your first reply to me ?

But I guess you did when you talked about Einstein's fans in 1 of your post!

How is that ? By saying that most people do not even know what Einstein's work is about ? Well, isn't this the truth ?

(and again you've passed some judgement on me when I was just new here )

Ooo ? Really ? I have difficulties believing that, sorry...
But i do not think this is even relevant to our discussion here.

Note that I just said 'Spanish Inq.', then you said 'have we met before?'! So why do you say I've passed judgement on you?

Why , err, perhaps by bringing up Spanish Inquisition ? Or is that supposed to be a complement ? If so, please enlighten me because i do not get it.

In my second reply to your post I said: I don't know you well now.(so I can't be a fan of you now and if you would be 'argumatetive,...', I can never be.)For no better reason that I simply don't respond to people with this characteristic. So since I'm talking to you now, that means I don't think of you as a person with that characteristic!

Ok point taken. this is clear...

(so again no judgement yet!)

Are you sure ? You are excluding people here just based upon the fact that you do not like them. This is not very mature and since maturity does not come with age, what can we deduce from this ? What if your boss is someone with this caracteristic, hmmm?

I said he's openminded because he tried to see the world different from others.(his theories on secial and general relativity)

ok, true, but this counts for many scientists. Why are you not mentioning the people that founded QM ? Why does Einstein deserve this extra credit, according to you ? Beware, i am not contesting your choice, i am just asking for clarification.

I don't know what I should say here. His theories aren't enough reason for that?

But that counts for Bohr, Dirac, Heisenberg, Newton, ...too ? Again why Einstein out all of these people ?

Most of physicists are mathematicians in fact. They just work with math equations to get something new, they just don't think.

Sorry, but this is absolutely not true.

regards
marlon

 

[Lisa!]

I'm very immature. I just don't know what QM is! In fact I know nothing of physics and I don't want to know right now. Bohr is the greatest physicists of all time.At least his son was a physicist too.(honestly he really is a great physicist) I just voted for Einstein because I've never heard of other names on the list. I'm afraid of speaking my mind to people!...
So tell me what can I do with this all stupidity and immaturity?
Now I have to go because I'm late!

 

[marlon]

I'm very immature. I just don't know what QM is!

Arrghh, i really should have become a lawer instead of a physicist.

So tell me what can I do with this all stupidity and immaturity?

Nothing

regards
marlon

 

[MSI]

feyman is really great .. but not all time :) , i think it must be bohr or instien

 

[Anttech]

I voted Galileo, but I would have voted for Archimedes... Both were making observations regarding our Universe with only having the shoulders of dwarfs to stand on ;-) They also both changed the way we thought with regard to science radically.

Newton and Einstein were both great men, and deserve to be there, and made great descoveries in there time...

 

[quantumdude]

Newton is no physicist,

Very much untrue. Newton is arguably the greatest physicist ever (though I voted for Einstein). Newton's laws of motion are not purely mathematical results. They are contingent statements about the 'non-analytic' world, and have proven to be very reliable.

 

[Aether]

What is the deal with the anti-Einstein faction?

What anti-Einstein faction? Perhaps you are referring to the anti-false-image-of-Einstein faction?

Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized. -- Albert Einstein

 

[SpaceTiger]

Besides, for your information, i do not think that the Spanish Inquisition is funny.

Indeed. Everyone beware, for their chief weapon is surprise...fear and surprise. Their TWO chief weapons are surprise and fear...and an almost fanatical devotion to the pope. Their THREE weapons are fear, surprise, a fanatical...oh, never mind.

 

[robphy]

When this poll ends, it would be interesting to compare the results with the 1999 "greatest physicist" poll:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/541840.stm
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/286/5446/1843d

(Of course, in the 99 poll, five names were contributed by each voter, whereas here the names were already provided.)

In my opinion, I think Fermi should have been included among these great physicists.

[I voted Newton.]

 

[zoobyshoe]

Am I seeing things, or is Galileo's name italicized on that list, while no one elses' is?

 

[TD]

Am I seeing things, or is Galileo's name italicized on that list, while no one elses' is?

You probably voted for him then

 

[zoobyshoe]

You probably voted for him then

So, it automatically italicizes the person you voted for? I didn't realize that. Yeah, I voted for him.

 

[marlon]

Very much untrue. Newton is arguably the greatest physicist ever (though I voted for Einstein).

Sorry to bump in like this but i do not understand the content of your post for the obvious reason : why did you not vote for Newton ?

marlon

 

[quantumdude]

When I say that Newton is arguably the best I meant that one could make a strong case for him. The case is stronger for Einstein, IMO.

 

[Lisa!]

@ marlon: Now I have enough time to respond to your post. I seriously recommend you to study logic. You really need it.(because you jump to a conclusion base on irrelevant information! )Oh and thank you very much. It was fun to talk to you. I just don't know why PF'ers' posts don't make me laugh recently but you really made me laugh.

I checked that post, but i am sorry because i really do not get the link.

Besides, for your information, i do not think that the Spanish Inquisition is funny.

Agree with you! So please stop doing that.

Yes indeed, and i am still waiting for an answer to that question. Permit me to speak my mind : "I have a gut feeling you are, for some reason, not willing to understand what my question is about."

You're not really making sense here! Since what I said is relevant to your question, that couldn't be true!

Yes you did, when you started describing "argumentative people" and how you are not comfortable with them because they "never listen or never get your point". These are your own words and you were referring to me. Why else would you have brought that up, especially at the beginning of your first reply to me?

I was awaring you that I have no wish to argue wih that kind of people and I was thinking of the characteristic of a guy who I know in my real life and mentioning whatever makes a discussion impossible with him![ we never get anywhere in any argument (I don't mean we should agree with each other at the end. I just want him to talk base on facts...)][/size]
BUT anyway you can think I was talking about you if you like!:zzz:

How is that ? By saying that most people do not even know what Einstein's work is about ? Well, isn't this the truth ?

You're not talking to most people here. Here's a physics forum and people around here must be a bit different from others in this case!

Ooo ? Really ? I have difficulties believing that, sorry...

Reminds me of paranio!

But i do not think this is even relevant to our discussion here.

It was you who brought it up at first! Instead of judging others, please just continue your debate. Oh but I guess if you didn't pass any judgement on me at the first place, you didn't start all this.(note that you thought my lack of info. led me to choose Einstein.)

Why , err, perhaps by bringing up Spanish Inquisition ? Or is that supposed to be a complement ? If so, please enlighten me because i do not get it.

Sorry but I'm not a mind reader to tell you why you brought it up!

Ok point taken. this is clear...

Not sure of it! If the point taken, why are you still insiting I made a judgement on you?

Are you sure ? You are excluding people here just based upon the fact that you do not like them.

What's the use of discussion with people who don't listen to you? Anyway you're oversimplified here. It's not the way you're thinking!

This is not very mature and since maturity does not come with age, what can we deduce from this ?

Another immature person around here discovered by our Mr.marlon!

What if your boss is someone with this caracteristic, hmmm?

Don't worry about me. I can get along well with people around me! Anyway thank you for your thought!

ok, true, but this counts for many scientists. Why are you not mentioning the people that founded QM ?

Right now I'm talking about Einstein not others! Are you their lawyer?

Why does Einstein deserve this extra credit, according to you ?

Who said that? here we can only vote for 1 person. If you read my first post, you get you're only killing yourself somehow for a humorous post!

Beware, i am not contesting your choice, i am just asking for clarification.

Let's say the next time you're asking me why I'm dating A not B, C or D?

But that counts for Bohr, Dirac, Heisenberg, Newton, ...too ?

Sure! I told you I don't like to choose 1 of the physicist as a greatest.

Again why Einstein out all of these people ?

because i can only vote for 1!:zzz: You know if you hadn't already made up your mind on this and wanted to know more, I certainly spend some time to tell you more. Oh anyway you can think the way you like!(i told you I don't care anyway!:zzz: )

Sorry, but this is absolutely not true.

You're almost right!

Arrghh, i really should have become a lawer instead of a physicist.

Not a lawyer because they have to have reasons for what they're saying! An for sure nobody's going to jest with a lawyer and admit something! But I guess that would have been a lot bette than being a physicists in your case!

Nothing

I see ! So if you can't be any help, please let others to be happy with their stupidity. I mean why should you let them how stupid they're when they can't do anything about it and it just make them sad?


Regards;
Thanks

 

[Cyrus]

I voted bohr for his sexy eyebrows and dashing good looks!

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/5937

I don't know, something about him in his photos. He always comes off as a humble and descent guy. The kind of guy anyone would get along with. Am I the only one that gets that vibe when looking at his old photos? Plus I am biased because I loved the play Copenhagen. (This pole really isint fair, you can't say one is more important than any other, so I just voted for fun )

 

[Entropy]

I voted Galileo, but I would have voted for Archimedes

Exact same here. It blew my mind that Archimedes developed a form of calculus almost two thousand years before Newton.

I'd like to mention also, that I like Einstein as a physicist only. As a person I think he was an obsolutely self-involved jerk.

 

[marlon]

Lisa! You are a sweetie, you really are...

regards
marlon

 

[JasonRox]

I voted Galileo because he was living in a difficult time for science, and helped change everything in a lot of ways for us.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Plus I am biased because I loved the play Copenhagen.

I saw the version they made for television and was quite hypnotized by it. An excellent piece of theater.

 

[Aether]

...he's one of the greatest because he saw all the connections that nobody else did.

For example? And for each example, please cite an experiment that proves the point (e.g., unproven/unprovable, coordinate-system dependent, etc. conjectures don't count).

I can't hear you!

No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong. -- Albert Einstein

 

[Lisa!]

Still no vote for Rutherford and Plank!

 

[arildno]

You can bicker all you want, but Archimedes still rules!

 

[selfAdjoint]

You can bicker all you want, but Archimedes still rules!

Aristotle wasn't a physicist, he was a meta-physicist!

Actually it was one of his students, Straton, who first called himself Physicist (ho Physikos). Straton is one of the figures in the prehistory of conservation of momentum.

 

[Lisa!]

Since you studied fluid mechanics, you know him better than us! Anyway I think he was a cool physicist.

 

[arildno]

Since you studied fluid mechanics, you know him better than us! Anyway I think he was a cool physicist.

Don't mess about his circles, though; he tends to get rather irate, with dire consequences..