Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:06 am Post subject: Henri Poincaré Discovered Special Relativity, not Einstein
The mathematician Henri Poincaré set up all the basic concepts of special relativity several years before Einstein published On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies (Annalen der Physik vol XVII 1905 p 891-921). Here is the short version of the story:
For a 254 page commentary discussing the substantial contributions made to relativity theory by Henri Poincaré, see http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0408077
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:17 am Post subject: demigods on stilts
Insights on the physics community's shameful exaggeration of Einstein's abilities and originality, and the creation of Einstein's superhero status, are mentioned here:
Have you ever noticed how many books, articles and science programs (Nova, PBS) are devoted to instilling a sense of worship for characters like Einstein and Steven Hawking rather than explaining modern physics?
Have you ever noticed how many books, articles and science programs (Nova, PBS) are devoted to instilling a sense of worship for characters like Einstein and Steven Hawking rather than explaining modern physics?
Frankly, yes.
It is pathetic. Einstein seems to be the lowest common denominator for physics, something like Darwin for 'Evolution'. Darwin was also quite the thief, and stingy at giving credit where it was 'borrowed'.
They have both become 'watchwords' for orthodoxy, as a litmus test for 'quackery'. If you don't tow the party line, you are branded a heretic of science, and can be dismissed out of hand, while those who conform pat each other on the back (or worse...)
It has become a game over govt. grant dollars or something, like the scandal of the 'Cancer' Industry, or the 'AIDS' crisis.
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:53 pm Post subject: You believe in a mighty small god
Chris Osborne wrote:
I have two words for you guys: General Relativity.
Either of you studied it? I mean REALLY studied it?
He is indeed a God.
Mathematicians don't believe that Einstein was smarter than Hilbert in general relativity. Even physicists agree that Hilbert was the first to derive the field equations of general relativity and that Einstein was continually depending on mathematicians to help him develop his physical principles. Click here.
I recall the geometer Theodore Frankel (in my geometry of physics class at UCSD) and the relativist Wolfgang Rindler (UTD) both saying that David Hilbert derived the field equations of general relativity before Einstein.
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 1:50 pm Post subject: You seek to be a demigod on stilts
You're mistaken.
Quote:
It has been the accepted view that David Hilbert completed the general theory of relativity at least five days before Einstein. And it has been suspected that Einstein arrived at the correct form of the gravitational field equations only after having seen Hilbert's paper, of which Hilbert sent Einstein a copy prior to Hilbert's delivery of his paper to the Goettingen Academy.
Winterberg concludes that three people should be given credit for developing the general theory of relativity: Einstein, for recognizing the shape of the problem, Grossmann for his insight that the contracted Riemann tensor was key to solving the problem, and Hilbert for completing the gravitational field theory equations. [1]
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:55 pm Post subject: A true definition of superhero
I deeply appreciated Rindler's explanation: "General relativity was Einstein's baby" and he worked on it for a long time. It takes a very great man to not strive for the claim of sole authorship of GR.
It's not known if Hilbert resented Einstein for publishing the final answer so quickly. Fighting public perception is futile and vain. Frankel and probably all mathematicians believe that what Einstein stole was minimal. Only simpletons think that being first to publish is everything.
Frankel's opinion is that Hilbert's derivation is infinitely superior to Einstein's. Frankel only respects the highest form of sophistication and elegance. Hilbert arrived at his answer by only assuming that the field equations can be derived from a variational principle.
I have a question for you Eugene. Who was responsible for the brunt of newton's work (Newton's laws, gravity, etc.) And who was responsbile for inventing the calculus. I am curious to see your answers.
I haven't studied that subject. I assume it's Newton. I believe that Galileo is an important discoverer of "Newton's first law of motion." I was taught that Newton invented physics and calculus, and that Leibnitz created calculus independently.
That's all true, but I was curious what bizarre spins you would have on the facts. None, apparently. In any case, GR is the work of Einstein. Just because random people may have had a contribution here or there does not mean that Einstein did not do the brunt of the work. Most physicists doubt GR would have been discovered in the next 50 years after it was were it not for Einstein.
I now recall that Archimedes discovered calculus first [2].
Einstein could not have discovered general relativity in 100 years without the mathematicians of his day. So it's obvious that Einstein didn't do the brunt of the work. What physicists think is irrelevant.
Credit for special relativity belongs primarily to Hendrick Lorentz, Henri Poincaré and Mileva Maric, Einstein's mathematically gifted first wife.
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