Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Oxymoron · 12-01-2002, 04:12 AM

I find the whole "cult of personality" thing really annoying. Science is a human endeavour, not a personal one. Sure, it has its stars and its, er, whatever the opposite of a star is; but what is important is the ideas.

For instance, Newton and Leibniz both invented calculus around the same time; whoever claims it, the fact is that without it there would be no modern science yet neither are around to take credit and gloat. The ideas outlive the personalities.

Shake · 12-01-2002, 06:33 AM

I remember reading that Einstein's mathematical skill was really not all that good, but I fail to see where the author gives any real evidence that Einstein plagerized. He keeps just stating that Einstein stole the ideas, but he doesn't back it up! <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

So maybe he left school without a diploma or whatever. So what?! There are people with degrees who are morons, and others who perhaps only have GEDs, but are quite intelligent. A piece of paper doesn't make you smart! And not everyone thinks the same. Remember Rainman? Counting through 6 decks of cards and doing huge multiplications without paper, but unable to grasp the concept of money. So maybe ol' Albert didn't possess the mathematical ability of Newton, Leibniz, etc. He apparently had a good grasp on physics.

Valentine Pontifex · 12-01-2002, 08:25 AM

Quote:

The article says, "But the 'energy of the atom' is something else again. If you believe that man will someday be able to harness this boundless energy-to drive a great steamship across the ocean on a pint of water, for instance -- then, according to Einstein, you are wrong"

Again, Einstein clearly did not understand the branch of physics he had supposedly founded, though elsewhere in the world at the time theoretical research was underway that would lead to the atomic bomb and nuclear energy.

This was actually not unreasonable position for what was known in the early 1930s. Relativity merely says mass and energy are equivalent, it does not tell anyone who to make any "conversion" between mass and energy.

It mentions Heisenberg spending time in prison for his involvement in Nazi Germany. I know he was held by the Allies after his capture and was extensively interogated on Nazi technical efforts. But I don't think ever served in what could correctly called "prison" at least not in the criminal sense. He was held like millions of others who served in military, government, etc. of the enemy.

Walross · 12-01-2002, 02:00 PM

Friar Bellows wrote:

Quote:

By the way, if you're interested I can point you to an article which argues that the reason Poincare missed out on inventing SR before Einstein did had something to do with Poincare's philosophical ideas about science. It's an interesting read.

Please do. I'm interested in reading it. Thanks,

Walross

fando · 12-01-2002, 06:55 PM

I agree with Oxy. Newton once said while commenting on his accomplishments,

Quote:

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

Einstein tied a lot of previous findings together to come up with new insights just like every other scientist has in history. That this article is calling Einstein a fraud and plagiarizer for doing this is an insult to the whole history and culture of science.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-01-2002, 04:12 AM	#11
Oxymoron Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: http://10.0.0.2/ Posts: 6,623	I find the whole "cult of personality" thing really annoying. Science is a human endeavour, not a personal one. Sure, it has its stars and its, er, whatever the opposite of a star is; but what is important is the ideas. For instance, Newton and Leibniz both invented calculus around the same time; whoever claims it, the fact is that without it there would be no modern science yet neither are around to take credit and gloat. The ideas outlive the personalities.

12-01-2002, 06:33 AM	#12
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	I remember reading that Einstein's mathematical skill was really not all that good, but I fail to see where the author gives any real evidence that Einstein plagerized. He keeps just stating that Einstein stole the ideas, but he doesn't back it up! <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" /> So maybe he left school without a diploma or whatever. So what?! There are people with degrees who are morons, and others who perhaps only have GEDs, but are quite intelligent. A piece of paper doesn't make you smart! And not everyone thinks the same. Remember Rainman? Counting through 6 decks of cards and doing huge multiplications without paper, but unable to grasp the concept of money. So maybe ol' Albert didn't possess the mathematical ability of Newton, Leibniz, etc. He apparently had a good grasp on physics.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.