Who was the greater physicist: Isaac Newton or Albert Einstein?
TLT Sounding Board November 2010
Isaac Newton Albert Einstein
In Round Two of TLT’s Great Science Smackdown, we matched Sir Isaac Newton against Albert Einstein. As with Round One, where we pitted Leonardo da Vinci against Thomas Edison, our readers had to evaluate the creativity and contributions of both men and allow for the difference in their eras. In the end, our readers gave the nod to Newton 55% to 45%. Many readers rated Newton higher because he came first and, therefore, is considered the more original thinker. Many cited Newton’s contributions in a broader range of study—physics, mechanics, calculus, optics and even coin minting. Those who chose Einstein noted that he is still considered the most intelligent person who ever lived. Others noted that Newton’s work was observational, Einstein’s theoretical. As one reader noted, “We’re still trying to understand Einstein’s work. Newton’s is taught in junior high.” Many who chose Einstein offered three words as their reason: Theory of Relativity. Perhaps the final statement on this Smack down comes from the reader who said, “Isaac Newton opened the door, and Albert Einstein walked through.”
Newton’s contributions and invention of calculus is very wide reaching.
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity is the basis for science today.
Albert Einstein built on Newton’s gravity ideas, which were groundbreaking.
E=mc
2 was so far out there and visualized (correctly) in Einstein’s head long before he could derive it.
Newton understood and explained basic rules of physics.
Newton’s theory is more fundamental.
Einstein’s E=mc
2 is the basis of the universe as we know it today. And he inspired the likes of Steven Hawkins and company in further discoveries of black holes, wormholes, etc.
Einstein’s work is more abstract than Newton’s.
Newton introduced broader concepts.
While Newton’s work changed the course of physics at the time, Einstein developed a unified theory of mass and energy under the strict oversight of peer review and the highly competitive environment in modern university research. The ramifications of his theories are still not completely understood and may not be for decades.
Isaac Newton was the father of physics. Einstein used a lot of concepts and interpretation of Newton for his theory.
Newton invented Calculus. All Einstein did was relate energy to matter, no big deal.
Newton’s physics was grounded in the observable. Einstein was greater because he was able to think beyond the observable and theorize physics that are only now being verified.
Newton’s discoveries had a greater impact on the everyday lives of those who followed. Calculus probably had a greater impact on modern life than any other of his discoveries. I say this with all due respect to Leibniz.
Einstein’s thinking was further outside the box that existed at his time than Newton’s was.
Einstein had contemporaries that would have come to the same conclusions sooner or later. His thoughts were profound but not altogether alone. Newton revolutionized science and math in far more reaching ways. His impact on society has been deeper.
Einstein’s thinking went beyond observations and created new mathematics.
Newton invented Calculus. I hated it, so he gets my vote.
I think Newton takes the title by points, not by knockout. Both were brilliant minds who thought outside of the box, made many bold assumptions and reached revolutionary conclusions. However, when it comes to contribution to civilization, Newton is more significant. Newton truly changed the course of scientific thinking and set into motion the entire scientific revolution that is still running today. Einstein’s ideas and discoveries would have not been without Newton running centuries before him. I think Einstein’s contribution is massive and, too, has still to run its course. However, the applications of his ideas are a lot more advanced, niche and esoteric. So, I go with Newton.
Newton was more practical, while Einstein theorized many of the principles upon which modern subatomic physics is based.
Einstein defined the universe.
Physics refer us to Albert Einstein because of his great and talented discoveries. Isaac Newton made great contributions to our everyday physics. Both of them should be recognized by the same level.
Albert Einstein is still recognized today as the smartest person to ever live.
Einstein because he and his intellect were in the right place at the right time, which resulted in important breakthroughs as the technical world was exploding with developments and needs.
Isaac Newton formulated the basics.
Newton made contributions to many fields and his innovative math skills were arguably better than Einstein’s.
Albert Einstein was a thinker and able to use physics, chemistry and math to prove his hypotheses. Again he was a major factor in the use of available technology to move further ahead.
Theory of Relativity. ’Nuff said.
Consider their abilities, creative thinking and allow for the difference in eras. Who was the greater physicist: Newton or Einstein?
Isaac Newton
55%
Albert Einstein
45%
Based on responses from 153 TLT readers.
Isaac Newton gave us calculus and the law of gravitation. Without calculus and the law of gravitation, Einstein would not have been able to develop the Theory of Relativity.
This is a tough one, but I go with Einstein because Newton only knew classical physics. Einstein went beyond classical physics and long before computers were available to make this task easier.
Newton’s work in several areas were transforming. Einstein’s work was a paradigm shift in thought, but much of the results were already known (but not explained).
Einstein’s discoveries led to more practical results.
Without regard to the moral implications, Einstein was extremely influential in bringing us into the nuclear age.
Isaac Newton was attacked for his concepts because they were relatively too far out for the status quo. He pushed social boundaries with his concepts.
Einstein authored the basics for all particle-based physics.
Newton is to theory what Einstein is to application.
Newton’s contributions are more original in their concepts and more far reaching to all areas of science. Einstein was brilliant, but he expanded on and perfected mostly the ideas of others.
Einstein introduced totally new ways of thinking about physics. Newton was a great scientist, but I think of him more as a mathematician than a physicist.
Both were great relative to physics and gravity, but I believe Newton was a scientist in a much earlier time when little thought or concern was given to science.
Newton really broke ground at a time of nearly universal ignorance and superstition. Einstein built on accepted scientific concepts and pushed them further.
Newton observed and reported observations of nature in a scientific manner. Einstein developed his concepts as completely theoretically.
Einstein’s concepts went much further than Newton’s!
Newton. He let the apple fall where it may.
Newton’s work is more relevant to day-to-day life on earth. That could change with time.
Newton because gravity and attraction was the base that started it all.
Newton defined the everyday concepts, Einstein’s theorized his.
Although in part limited by the people during his lifetime, Newton observed what was and explained it. Einstein not only observed and explained what was but also explained that which was not only unobservable but also what was counterintuitive (Theory of Relativity) and explained why it must be true.
Einstein dealt with more abstract ideas.
Einstein’s work went beyond what was readily observed.
This one is very close but it would be difficult to ignore Newton, the discoverer of gravity and the principles of motion.
Einstein went beyond the observable.
Relativity says it all.
Newton provided the foundation on which much of engineering is based (calculus, dynamics, mechanics, etc.).
Einstein has no peers.
Way too early to tell on all the contributions of Einstein, but Newton transformed the world like no other (calculus, optics astronomy, world view, etc.) Even coinage.
Einstein’s theories, although of a much more recent time period compared to Newton, are always in use and constantly being challenged.
Both were brilliant minds with Einstein being the slightly more forward thinking of the two.
Einstein went way above and beyond known concepts.
Newton because the concept of gravitation or logs were totally new.
Newton adduced his theories based on observation. Einstein did as well, but some of his seminal thinking on the relationship between energy and matter had to be intuited without the benefit of accurate measurements.
Newton because the law of gravity has paved way for man to reach for stars.
Einstein challenged most people’s conventional minds.
Many people today know and use Newton’s laws, but few understand the importance of Einstein.
Newton’s laws did more for the development of civilization than Einstein’s.
Einstein produced many great theories, but Newton produced many things that were relevant to moving mankind forward.
Difficult call, but to me Newton’s work applies more in everyday life.
Newton discovered many principles that are still commonly practiced in the engineering world today.
Had Einstein not existed, his concepts would have been thought of by others within a few years. Without Newton, it might have taken quite a while longer.
Newton combined the ideas of other scientists into a new synthesis, while Einstein’s idea was unique.
Many of Isaac Newton’s findings were the foundation for Albert Einstein’s work.
Newton for innovative concepts before their time!
Einstein’s papers led to the discovery of atomic energy, which helped end the war with Japan.
Isaac had less to work with. His thinking was more original. Albert was building on a larger body of science. Both were great, but I would hedge Sir Isaac a little ahead.
Newton’s concepts have more real world value and can be understood by less-educated people.
Einstein’s reasoning power to understand and explain the obscure general and special theories of relativity, quantum mechanics and the photoelectric effect far exceed Newton’s substantial discoveries.
Although Einstein was an outstanding theorist, Newton gave us a practical understanding of the physical world.
Newton was the original “out of the box” thinker. Einstein was able to capitalize on known information and take it to a new height.
Einstein, the genius that he was, only built on the foundation Newton had already laid.
Newton was head and shoulders above his peers. Einstein was surrounded by great thinkers.
Newton was also fighting the opinions of the established religions.
Einstein explained the conundrum in Newton’s laws.
Newton’s work had a bigger impact. Also, some of Einstein’s work should have been attributed to others (Maxwell, etc.).
Newton—my gosh, mechanics, calculus and optics. All theories developed in isolation while hiding from the plague ravaging Europe.
Newton created the language of calculus and allowed others to use it to explore what is happening in the world. He explained why things that appeared random were, in fact, not.
Newton laid down the foundation for physics that others built upon.
Isaac is everywhere and Albert gives us the power to see it.
Whom do you think made the greatest contribution to human civilization?
Isaac Newton
28%
Thomas Edison
26%
Leonardo da Vinci
23%
Albert Einstein
19%
Other
11%
Based on responses from 153 TLT readers. Total exceeds 100% because some readers chose more than one answer.
Editor’s Note: Sounding Board is based on an e-mail survey of 7,200 TLT readers. Views expressed are those of the respondents and do not reflect the opinions of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. STLE does not vouch for the technical accuracy of opinions expressed in Sounding Board, nor does inclusion of a comment represent an endorsement of the technology by STLE.