Albert Einstein's contributions to physics were a combination of building upon existing ideas and developing new concepts. While he did build upon the work of previous scientists, he also introduced groundbreaking concepts and theories that revolutionized our understanding of the universe.
For example, in his early years, Einstein developed the special theory of relativity, which built upon the work of physicists such as Hendrik Lorentz and Henri Poincaré. However, Einstein's theory introduced new ideas, such as the concept of spacetime and the equivalence of mass and energy (E=mc²), which were unique contributions.
Einstein's general theory of relativity, which describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime, was a significant departure from previous theories of gravity. While he drew inspiration from earlier work by physicists like Bernhard Riemann and David Hilbert, Einstein's theory presented a novel and comprehensive framework for understanding gravity.
It's important to note that scientific progress often relies on the cumulative efforts of many researchers over time. Einstein's genius lay not only in his ability to build upon existing knowledge but also in his capacity for creative and innovative thinking, which allowed him to propose new and revolutionary ideas that fundamentally reshaped our understanding of physics.
So, while Einstein's work did involve expanding on the ideas of others, it also included unique contributions that established him as one of the greatest scientific minds in history.