Who is your favorite physicist and why?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Benzoate
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Physicist
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread explores participants' favorite physicists and the reasons behind their choices. The discussion includes a variety of perspectives on historical and contemporary figures in physics, touching on their contributions, personalities, and cultural significance.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express admiration for Richard Feynman, citing his approachability and commitment to academic integrity.
  • Others favor Schrödinger, with mixed opinions on his character and contributions.
  • Several participants mention historical figures like Newton, Archimedes, and the ancient Greeks, highlighting their foundational roles in physics.
  • Some participants appreciate the ingenuity of Eratosthenes and the discoveries of Robert Hooke.
  • Einstein is noted for his humanitarian efforts and unique contributions, though some express critical views on his personal life.
  • Participants mention a range of physicists, including Fermi, Curie, and Tesla, each for different reasons such as innovation or cultural impact.
  • There are humorous mentions of fictional physicists like Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth and Chuck Norris.
  • Some participants express difficulty in choosing a favorite due to the many great physicists, indicating a subjective nature to the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a single favorite physicist, with multiple competing views and preferences expressed throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a variety of personal biases and cultural references, with some participants engaging in light-hearted banter and humor, which may influence their choices.

  • #61
Wow, by what criteria do you guys choose the physicists? Everyone mentioned here (apart from Buzz Lightyear) has done a great contribution to the physics we know today. Do you choose them because of the topics they studied or excelled at? In that case, it's probably Faraday or Thomson for me.

Other than that, Eratosthenes seems to be a cool guy. He's idea of how to measure Earth's diameter, in my opinion, is quite an achievement for the era he lived in.

Or do you choose them because of their personalities and scandals caused?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #62
Dirac.
 

Similar threads

Who is/are your favourite physicist(s) and why?
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
8K
Graduate Focus all of your ire on me, if you would
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Dreaming to become a scientist (physicist), can I?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
How Can the Philosophies of Great Physicists Guide Us Beyond the Standard Model?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
What Are Your Favorite Enlightening Quotes?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
5K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 239)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Graduate Note the comment on SR herein:
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
My Thoughts On the Heritability of Intelligence and Eugenics
  • · Replies 64 ·
3
Replies
64
Views
9K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 236)
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Mathematica This Week's Finds in Mathematical Physics (Week 236)
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K