Why was it OK for Einstein to win a Nobel prize for a theory based upon the work of another scientist?

Question

Why was it OK for Einstein to win a Nobel prize for a theory based upon the work of another scientist?

Answer 1

Because the Nobel Prize Comittee said it was.

Answer 2

Einstein traveled to New York City in the United States for the first time on 2 April 1921. When asked where he got his scientific ideas, Einstein explained that he believed scientific work best proceeds from an examination of physical reality and a search for underlying axioms, with consistent explanations that apply in all instances and avoid contradicting each other. He also recommended theories with visualizable results  

Answer 3

Einstein won the Nobel prize for discovering the photoelectric effect, not for any theory.

Nobel prizes are never given for theoretical work.

Answer 4

A Nobel prize is awarded for scientific excellence.

Conducting an experiment is meaningless unless you can identify the results. Einstein was among many scientists that were trying to explain the photoelectric event and his theory was the best and was subsequently proven. His theory was revolutionary and opened the way to new science such as quantum mechanics.

No scientist works alone. Every single one builds their knowledge and discoveries from those that go before them. The results of everyone in the field are considered.