Einstein quote--giants
Molly Klein
A very old quote. The first reference I know is Bernard of Chartres (b.
Brittany, late 11th c. -- d.c.1130, Paris?) Can't cite off the top of
my head, but Bernard's works surviveonly in fragments; his humanist
philosophy is known from the Metalogicon of John of Salisbury. Many
writers since Bernard have emplyed this phrase; first, the humanists,
referring to themselves as dwarves and the roman and greek authors as
giants, then mostly post enlightenment scientists referring to the
giants of the 17th and 18th c.'s.
q
> I am looking for the einstein quote (I think) that talks about how he has
> stood on the shoulders of giants.... any ideas? it isn;lt on that
> gopher.ainet.com place btw.
Sir Isaac Newton
1642-1727
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.
_Letter to Robert Hooke, February 5, 1675/1676_
-- Bartlett 16. Note: See Robert Burton. On the history and the
pseudo-history of this celebrated aphorism see Robert K. Merton, _On the
Shoulders of Giants_ [1965].
Robert Burton
1577-1640
A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a giant
himself.
_The Anatomy of Melancholy [1621-1651].
Decomocritus to the Reader_
Bill Thomas
libl...@nic.cerf.net
Todd E Van Hoosear
: On 30 Dec 1995, Vaca wrote:
: > I am looking for the einstein quote (I think) that talks about how he has
: > stood on the shoulders of giants.... any ideas? it isn;lt on that
: > gopher.ainet.com place btw.
: Sir Isaac Newton
: 1642-1727
: If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.
: _Letter to Robert Hooke, February 5, 1675/1676_
Here are some twists to the quote:
In the sciences, we are now uniquely privileged to sit side by side with
the giants on whose shoulders we stand.
-- Holton, Gerald (*)
K: giants shoulders science vision
In computer science, we stand on each other's feet.
-- Reid, Brian K. (*)
K: giants shoulders feet vision computers
N: See also quotes from I. Newton, G. Holton, H. Abelson
And my favorite...
If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing
on my shoulders.
-- Abelson, Hal
K: giants shoulders vision
N: See also quotes from I. Netwon, G. Holton and B. K. Reid.
Happy New Year, all!
- Todd
: -- Bartlett 16. Note: See Robert Burton. On the history and the
: pseudo-history of this celebrated aphorism see Robert K. Merton, _On the
: Shoulders of Giants_ [1965].
: Robert Burton
: 1577-1640
: A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a giant
: himself.
: _The Anatomy of Melancholy [1621-1651].
: Decomocritus to the Reader_
: Bill Thomas
: libl...@nic.cerf.net
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Antonio Almeida
>On 30 Dec, in article <4c47bs$6...@mariner.cris.com>
> Va...@mariner.cris.com "Vaca" wrote:
>
>V> I am looking for the einstein quote (I think) that talks about how he has
>V> stood on the shoulders of giants.... any ideas? it isn;lt on that
>V> gopher.ainet.com place btw.
>
> It was Isaac Newton. The quote goes something like "If I have seen
> farther, it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants." (I
> don't have the exact quote handy, but the above is quite close).
>
> He said it after another scientist, whose name escapes me, claimed
> that he had discovered some of Newton's laws before Newton.
>
> Shakib
>
>--
>
>In science, read the newest works; in literature, the oldest.
>
>***********************************************************
>Shakib Otaqui Al-Quds Consult
>
Problably was W.G. Leibniz. There was an issue between them
(Newton and Leibniz) on the foundation of infinitesimal calculus.
Who really discovered it first. It seems that Newton had already
developed it before Leibniz, but published his results only some years
after. Anyway I believe this to be a somewhat unclear issue when studying
the Scientific knowledge in the Enlightment. There is also much folklore
on this matter, because usually historians of Science tend to concentrate
much more on the circumstantial aspects of history than in a true history of
the ideas.
--
| Antonio Almeida |"Is tasteless to recommend one's |
| aalm...@lemac18.lemac.ist.utl.pt | own taste, but scarcely honest |
| Phone: (351) (1) 8417917 | to recommend any other." |
| http://lemac18.lemac.ist.utl.pt/~aalmeida/myhomepage.html __________|
Craig Myers
>In the sciences, we are now uniquely privileged to sit side by side with
>the giants on whose shoulders we stand.
> -- Holton, Gerald (*)
> K: giants shoulders science vision
Don't forget:
"Standing on the shoulders of giants leaves me cold."
-- R.E.M., "King of Birds"
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Craig Myers "Life is just one damn thing after another."
cmy...@mednet.swmed.edu -- Mark Twain
FIDO 1:124/1208
Arnold Klingert
> Sir Isaac Newton
> 1642-1727
>
> If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.
> _Letter to Robert Hooke, February 5,
>
> Robert Burton
> 1577-1640
>
> A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a
> giant
> himself.
>
But: I recall reading Eco's "Name of the Rose" someone was quoting
something similar (first quater - can't find it right now).
Since this plays much earlier and since Eco is the kind of
guy that get details right this might be even older than
we think. Ideas?
Arno (in computer science the giants are standing on our shoulders)
--
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