Has Einstein Become the Most Overrated Intellectual Figure in Modern History?

[StudentDriver]

"We need general relativity. We need that absolute light speed."

[trevor123]

It would seem remiss to disconnect his popularity with the simple fact that he was the most prominent public figure for a campaign that resulted in the use of the deadliest weapon ever used in human history. Many people seem to think that somehow increasing the magnitude of things that have existed previously (e.g. making weapons capable of killing more people in less time), is somehow evidence of human excellence.

[LisleIgfried]

Indeed, Einstein has a properly cultish following. I think his look of reserved madness has much to do with it. His name too, a perfect blend of the mundane Albert with the exotic Einstein. None of the quotes for which he is so famous have much intellectual weight, and most of them aren't even legitimate to begin with. In terms of intellectual ability Einstein ranks nowhere close to even the top twenty. To compare him to the likes of Goethe or Aristotle is laughable. Einstein was nothing close to a universal genius, and the fact that we have failed to produce universal geniuses for quite some time only indicts our age, it does not mean that our men of limited genius are somehow superior to those who did more in more fields.

[mak]

I feel like this happens all the time in history - a very thin slice example of something becomes not only a symbol of that thing, but almost the very thing itself.

What I don't understand is why you would want to live in a world full of idiots just because they follow your institution. Humans are humans, and if we aren't hurting each other, I see no reason to resent someone just because we do different things at home.

That part disappointed me because you make some remarkable points in your videos, Mr. Cromwell. But that is steering off-topic.

TL;DR Einstein is overrated.