Einstein's theory of special relativity is based on the concept of relativity itself, which means that physical laws should appear the same to all observers in uniform motion relative to each other. It does not prioritize one particular reference frame as the "proper" reference frame. Instead, it emphasizes the equivalence of all inertial frames of reference.
In his development of special relativity, Einstein was influenced by the work of Dutch physicist Hendrik Lorentz and others. Lorentz had developed a mathematical framework, now known as Lorentz transformations, to explain the experimental results of the Michelson-Morley experiment, which showed that the speed of light is constant in all inertial frames of reference.
Einstein built upon Lorentz's work and formulated his theory of special relativity, introducing the concept of spacetime and deriving the famous equation E=mc². He showed that the laws of physics should be the same in all inertial frames and that the speed of light is the maximum attainable speed in the universe.
Regarding the consensus among physicists, it is widely accepted that Einstein's formulation of special relativity superseded the earlier ideas of Lorentz. The theory has been extensively tested and confirmed by numerous experiments and observations. It has become a fundamental pillar of modern physics and is incorporated into our understanding of the universe.
While Lorentz transformations are still used as mathematical tools within the framework of special relativity, the overall consensus is that Einstein's theory provides a more comprehensive and accurate description of the nature of spacetime, relativistic phenomena, and the behavior of light.