Albert Einstein's statement that Isaac Newton had the right answers but for the wrong reasons reflects his view on the development of physics and the progress of scientific understanding.
Isaac Newton's work, particularly his laws of motion and theory of gravity, laid the foundation for classical mechanics and provided a highly accurate and useful description of the motion of objects on Earth and in the solar system. Newton's laws were successful in predicting and explaining a wide range of physical phenomena.
However, Einstein's theory of relativity, especially his general theory of relativity, introduced a new and more comprehensive understanding of gravity. According to general relativity, gravity is not solely a force acting at a distance, as Newton described it, but rather a consequence of the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. Einstein's theory expanded our understanding of gravity to include the effects of acceleration, time dilation, and the warping of space.
Einstein's statement can be interpreted as acknowledging Newton's achievements in providing accurate mathematical descriptions and predictions of motion, while also recognizing that Newton's explanation of the underlying mechanisms of gravity was incomplete or, as Einstein put it, "for the wrong reasons." Newton's theory did not account for the concept of curved spacetime, which is a fundamental aspect of Einstein's theory of general relativity.
In essence, Einstein saw Newton's laws as a highly successful approximation of reality that worked well in everyday situations but became inaccurate or insufficient in extreme conditions or when dealing with phenomena at very high speeds. By developing his theory of relativity, Einstein expanded upon and refined Newton's ideas, providing a more comprehensive and accurate framework for understanding the nature of gravity and its effects on the universe.
Einstein's perspective on Newton's work exemplifies the nature of scientific progress, where new theories build upon and refine earlier ones, incorporating new insights and expanding our understanding of the natural world.