Why is Thomas Edison more well known than Nikola Tesla?

[karthikc]

It is very clear that Tesla was by far the greatest inventor by a country mile. Edison was more of a business man who used to get his work done by a factory of engineers (like a Steve Jobs).

Then why is that tesla's name is just confined to the unit of magentic flux in a physics text book??

Tesla's greatest achievement is the discovery of AC because of which we are able to even show views of Earth from space.

He worked on cryogenics 50 years before real research started.

And most importtantly..unlike Edison..he wanted to share everything with common people for free...

Please share your thoughts on the same..

 

[TM Riddle]

While Tesla was a great inventor without a doubt internet has popularized and turned him into a sorta cult figure with superhumanesque status.
Both are equally known imo.

 

[karthikc]

While Tesla was a great inventor without a doubt internet has popularized and turned him into a sorta cult figure with superhumanesque status.
Both are equally known imo.

I think he is getting the deserved recognition

 

[CricketCartoons]

I think he is getting the deserved recognition

He is dead, so any recognition doesn't matter to him. But it does matter to the millennials who can increase their coolness quotient by stating they love Tesla.

 

[Slog]

In recent years he has been receiving a lot of attention and has gained a cult following.

Though most (including myself) dont really have enough of a grasp to actually know his full impact

 

[karthikc]

In recent years he has been receiving a lot of attention and has gained a cult following.

Though most (including myself) dont really have enough of a grasp to actually know his full impact

Nolan's "The Prestige" did play a part in that

 

[BlackShadow]

It used to be the case thanks to text-books around the world. But I think Tesla's popularity has far surpassed Edison's in last many years.

 

[cricketjoshila]

How well known is Srinivas Ramanujam?

Edison is well known because the bulb was used in every home.

 

[Slog]

Nolan's "The Prestige" did play a part in that

exactly

 

[Slog]

How well known is Srinivas Ramanujam?

Edison is well known because the bulb was used in every home.

theoretical output will always get less hype and recognition than practical

 

[BlackShadow]

Another way to look at it is that the question "Who invented light bulb?" fits better in a child's text-book as compared to something about AC current, magnetic flux or cryogenics.

 

[Greenstorm]

Because Thomas Edison invented a lot of things for practical use in daily life.

 

[karthikc]

Because Thomas Edison invented a lot of things for practical use in daily life.

He modified the design of bulb made earlier by at least 20 other people. And he was a good businessman...

I dont think anyone will say AC is not of practical use. Tesla also help setup the first hydro electric plant at Niagra falls..Cant say that did not have any impact

 

[ManFan]

Edison was a Steve Jobs. He rarely invented his own stuff and mostly paid others to do it for him while creating a cult-figure of himself as the "The Wizard of Menlo Park". He promised Tesla 50,000 in the late 1800's to modify his DC(?) and Tesla made the AC work better. Edison than refused to pay stating it was "American humor" and blackballed Tesla, who used science purely for technological purposes while Edison was more of an entrepreneur. Tesla died alone in a hotel and the government took his documents and is yet to return them while Edison lived a life of wealth and fame.

 

[troodon]

Tesla is a European.

Edison is American.

Americans always get more hype.

 

[Syed1]

I don't see a car named after Edison

 

[R3verse Swing]

Tesla did not profit from his inventions, Edison did make a profit.

This is why Edison is more famous.

Money.

This analogy also applies on so many other levels.

 

[PetroDollars]

Its simple, Edison was a businessman and a marketer, they always get famous, its because of them people like Tesla get known in the first place and get the oppertunity and funds to work even though they are liars and manipulators.

However things have changed in modern times with the rise of venture capitalists and angel investors, otherwise someone like Zuckerberg would have still been an employee in FB working for The Twins.

 

[Suleiman]

Not anymore.

But it's the same why Steve Jobs is more well known than Steve Wozniak. Jobs was more of an influencer and more of a salesman.

 

[Pakistanian]

Tesla has gotten famous now especially after the popularity of tesla cars.