Most Influential Intellectuals of the Millennium (New)
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: General History
Forum Name: General World History
Forum Discription: All aspects of world history, especially topics that span across many regions or periods
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2388
Printed Date: 28-Apr-2024 at 12:43
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Topic: Most Influential Intellectuals of the Millennium (New)
Posted By: Winterhaze13
Subject: Most Influential Intellectuals of the Millennium (New)
Date Posted: 08-Mar-2005 at 11:15
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I'd like to dicuss intellectuals and how they have impacted the society we live in. I think intellectuals have largely shaped our society and ways of thinking and therefore should receive recognition. Remember that by "intellectuals" I mean writers and scientists, but not inventors or artists. ------------- Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes. -- Voltaire French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778) |
Replies:
Posted By: Winterhaze13
Date Posted: 12-Mar-2005 at 11:13
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Marxism has come to shape our society the most, I think. His ideas have been incorporated into capitalism. And that is why I voted for him. Many would try to demonize Marx but his ideas are largely misinterpreted by people who can't acknowledge the distinction between Marxist Socialism and Soviet Communism. ------------- Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes. -- Voltaire French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778) |
Posted By: Berosus
Date Posted: 12-Mar-2005 at 17:05
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In 1999, Time-Life Books published a volume listing the 1,000 most
important people of the preceding millennium. I think the title
was, "1000 years, 1000 people." Despite all the activity of our
own time, nobody from the twentieth century won a place in the top ten,
though Mahatma Gandhi and Adolf Hitler made it in the top twenty.
The top-ranked person of the second millennium A.D. was Johann
Gutenberg, due to the effects of his printing press. So why isn't
Herr Gutenberg in this poll?
------------- Nothing truly great is achieved through moderation.--Prof. M.A.R. Barker |
Posted By: Serge L
Date Posted: 12-Mar-2005 at 20:29
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Uh? did I not see this poll yet? However, I vote again for Galileo, who put the basis for the "scientific method". |
Posted By: Winterhaze13
Date Posted: 13-Mar-2005 at 13:55
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I mentioned in my opening post that I was not going to include inventors. ------------- Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes. -- Voltaire French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778) |
Posted By: Winterhaze13
Date Posted: 13-Mar-2005 at 13:55
I forgot to add Issac Newton to the other poll, so I began a new one. Please ignore the other. ------------- Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes. -- Voltaire French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778) |
Posted By: Komnenos
Date Posted: 15-Mar-2005 at 05:42
I couldn't agree more, and once the unfortunate episodes of Soviet and Chinese so-called communism are forgotten and global capitalism will spiral to its inevitable collapse, there will be a rebirth of Marxist ideas. ------------- [IMG]http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/komnenos/crosses1.jpg"> |
Posted By: Winterhaze13
Date Posted: 15-Mar-2005 at 11:11
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I agree with everything you said except about the rebirth of Marxist thought. I think it never really died out. Many of Marx's ideas were incorporated into capitalism in the form of keynesianism and the Welfare State. However, I agree that capitalism is very fragile and would eventuallu collapse like feudalism did. ------------- Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes. -- Voltaire French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778) |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 17-Mar-2005 at 14:02
I take it you are referring to our somewhat recorded history. The new or the third millenium would be absolutely pointless, considering our intelectual prospects. Given the list provided, "other" is the choice although Newton, Galileo and Einstein could golf in my foursome anytime. |
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Posted By: Tobodai
Date Posted: 17-Mar-2005 at 22:35
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Adam Smith, he was right, and his ideas have defeated many others in confrontation. ------------- "the people are nothing but a great beast... I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value." -Alexander Hamilton |
Posted By: Winterhaze13
Date Posted: 18-Mar-2005 at 11:08
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Right about what? The capitalism which he proposed is very different to capitalism today. ------------- Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes. -- Voltaire French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778) |
Posted By: gcle2003
Date Posted: 18-Mar-2005 at 14:34
I like the reason but not the choice. But I can't vote for Kepler. The real point about Kepler is that he changed his mind when he found he was wrong. I don't think any of the other scientists in the list did that. (cf Arthur Koestler, 'The Watershed')
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Posted By: Tobodai
Date Posted: 18-Mar-2005 at 15:26
that is true, but even without him what we have today would be very different than what is is now. He also unintentionally greatly influenced British econimic policy for a long time, affecting nearly a quarter of the world by some means or another. ------------- "the people are nothing but a great beast... I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value." -Alexander Hamilton |
Posted By: rhazes
Date Posted: 18-Mar-2005 at 22:41
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The poll is too Eurocentric for my taste.
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Posted By: Tobodai
Date Posted: 18-Mar-2005 at 23:37
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I agree but its ok to have little polls for different culture groups, perhaps we could start other intellectual polls for different time periods and culture groups. ------------- "the people are nothing but a great beast... I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value." -Alexander Hamilton |
Posted By: Winterhaze13
Date Posted: 19-Mar-2005 at 16:13
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I must admit I am ignorant in Asian history. But European history is all I have been taught. But, I think it is a good poll by virtue of the fact that I have all the most important ones from every field of study. ------------- Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes. -- Voltaire French author, humanist, rationalist, & satirist (1694 - 1778) |
Posted By: Aquila
Date Posted: 19-Mar-2005 at 19:00
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Athough I don't believe in Evolution, Charles Darwin was pretty influential. ------------- Aquila©2004 Victor Chevalier 
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Posted By: Drunt Ba'adur
Date Posted: 19-Mar-2005 at 19:43
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Albert Einstein It isn't the most influential intellectual man of the millenium, but i'm sure that he was one of the best minds that ever lived on the earth. As influential i'm sure that Marx is the most important of that list, but if we talk about intellectual or the one in XX century that's Einstein. Maybe we could have Newton, Marx, Einstein. The first because of the new conception of physics and Einstein said that he was only 'perfecting' Newton's theories. Einstein because with relativity theory opened a new conception of the universe and physics. Marx-Engels because communism theories have changed the world. I'm sure that there are others, for example lutheranism. |