Secondly, the mathematics he used is not a simple thing. Who paid attention to Riemannian geometry and general relativity before? This is also a tensor equation. In fact, the field equation is also very complicated, and each term is thousands of terms. After it was written, few people in the world could understand it.
Third, when you say eight years, your professor should mean 1907- 10 15. Indeed, the equivalence principle of "the happiest idea" in Einstein's life appeared in 1907. But this is just the beginning. Besides, he hasn't been engaged in general relativity for eight years, and there are many other problems in his life and work. In fact, the time when he really started to study the equation was about 19 15, that is, he told Hilbert the essence of Guangxiang's thought. Hilbert was one of the greatest mathematicians in the world at that time, but the results of their solving equations were almost at the same time. So it can be seen that Einstein's mathematical ability is not bad. In fact, he can become a master in some fields of mathematics. He also made small achievements in mathematics. Einstein's peace agreement, you know, without this, the field equation would be at least twice as long.
Finally, I strongly object to the professor's point of view. In physics, especially theoretical physics, thought is always the most important, whether it is a hundred years ago or a hundred years later. A thoughtless person, no matter how good at math, can only be a teacher who can only solve other people's equations forever. For physicists, mathematics is indeed a great help, but it is by no means fundamental. Not a mathematician after all. Faraday's mathematics is not good, but this can't hide his unique physical vision and wisdom. Of course, if he is good at math, he will be even greater. In Hilbert's words, although he worked out the field equation himself, perhaps even a day earlier, there is no doubt that this should be regarded as Einstein's achievement, because his thoughts originated from him.
Didn't he look down on Einstein's mathematical ability? You can ask your math professor to try to work out a physical equation, or simply say.
Finally, I haven't heard of anyone treating Einstein as a folk theme. Well, there's too much praise for folk science. I guess the professor just read some popular science books for fun. A civil subject of this degree. . Is he capable of doing it? Back to the people's department. It seems that he is something. He may not even be able to use the word "branch".
Take the gravitational wave, which has been heated up recently, as we only know, it took a whole hundred years for such a folk science, the smartest mind and the most expensive equipment in the world, to finally catch up with his footsteps a hundred years ago.