Who was more genius, Einstein or Newton?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around the futility of comparing historical figures like Newton and Einstein in terms of who is the "best" physicist. Participants emphasize that both were brilliant in their own contexts, facing different challenges and building on the work of predecessors. The conversation highlights that such comparisons are subjective and often lead to unproductive debates. Some argue that Newton's contributions were more mathematical than groundbreaking, while others suggest that Galileo deserves recognition as a significant physicist. The thread also touches on the broader nature of discussions in the forum, where light-hearted topics often dominate, and questions the relevance of comparing historical figures in science. Ultimately, the consensus is that there is no definitive answer to the question posed, and it may be better to avoid such comparisons altogether.
sancho2007
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Please help to find the answer of this question.
 
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NOT AGAIN!

There is NO answer to this question. It is not worth the effor to try. Both smart. Both geniuses. Different times, different problems. No answer. Hurry, hide before Cyrus sees you!
 
It seems rather subjective.

They came from different places and times. Einstein had the benefit of the his predecessors, which includes Newton.

What is the point of such a question? And why do people worry about "who is/was the best?"
 
sancho2007 said:
Please help to find the answer of this question.

I think it is agreeable that they both were very smart and your question is kinda like "Which one tastes better, an apple or an orange?"
 
Astronuc said:
They came from different places and times. Einstein had the benefit of the his predecessors, which includes Newton.

Didn't Newton also stand on the shoulder of giants? :wink:
 
Chi Meson said:
NOT AGAIN!

There is NO answer to this question. It is not worth the effor to try. Both smart. Both geniuses. Different times, different problems. No answer. Hurry, hide before Cyrus sees you!

Cracks knuckles :smile:
 
I'd say Galileo was the greatest physicist ever.

Newton didn't really discover anything new as far as I know, he was really mathematician not physicist. All he did was apply Leibnitz's new mathematics of caculus to Galileo's 100 year old law of motion. Now Galileo's law of motion has mysteriously become renamed as Newton's first law...:rolleyes:

I think Newton didn't even fully understand Galileos laws until they were explained to him by Hooke (of Hookes Law and the universal joints). Also there's no reason to believe Newton was first to discover the inverse square law for gravity either, a number of people were dicussing the same at that time and Hooke actually took out a court case against Newton accusing him of plaigiarism.
 
Unless you do something great, they were both smarter than you. That's the answer.;)
 
YellowTaxi said:
I'd say Galileo was the greatest physicist ever.

Newton didn't really discover anything new as far as I know, he was really mathematician not physicist. All he did was apply Leibnitz's new mathematics of caculus to Galileo's 100 year old law of motion. Now Galileo's law of motion has mysteriously become renamed as Newton's first law...:rolleyes:

I think Newton didn't even fully understand Galileos laws until they were explained to him by Hooke (of Hookes Law and the universal joints). Also there's no reason to believe Newton was first to discover the inverse square law for gravity either, a number of people were dicussing the same at that time and Hooke actually took out a court case against Newton accusing him of plaigiarism.


:bugeye: :eek: :confused:

I vote for a lock
 
  • #10
Reminds me of a thread in another forum where one member claims that Mozart and Haydn didn't write most of their works, and that Mozart was nothing more than a sham. :biggrin:
 
  • #11
What's the point in 95% of the topics posted in General Discussion Astronuc, Chi Meson, cyrusabdollahi?

It seems that in General Discussion people just want to chat about all kind of things like cracking jokes, cute cats, disney, how much presidential candidate X is so much better than candidate Y etc.

I do not see a problem with that.
But now there is apparently an issue with this particular posting?
 
  • #12
Astronuc said:
What is the point of such a question? And why do people worry about "who is/was the best?"

I second that.

Edit:

MeJennifer said:
It seems that in General Discussion people just want to chat about all kind of things like cracking jokes, cute cats, disney, how much presidential candidate X is so much better than candidate Y etc.

I do not see a problem with that.
But now there is apparently an issue with this particular posting?

Because this is a scientific forum, and topics related in any way to science are regarded in a different way.
 
Last edited:
  • #13
I don't know how many times this question, or ones very similar, have been asked here. There's no answer, for all the reasons already described. Toss a coin and pick one if you really must.

Cyrus, you've disappointed me...I was counting on a "Thread Locked" line. This time I'd have granted it. :biggrin:
 
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