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greatest people of all time

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Siddharth N

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Feb 17, 2002, 9:03:44 AM2/17/02
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I would like to vreate a list of the greatest people of all time, and
the first question that pops up is the parameters to use. Some I have
thought of are Effect on our lives today, Originality, Whether greatly
influenced by others ideas and only implemented or both created and
implemented ideas...

The only list i have found on this forum uses irreplaceability as a
parameter to judge their merit. What do you think ?

- Siddharth Nambiar
1st year College Student ( IIPM, New Delhi )

" I never let my schooling interfere with my education. " - Mark Twain

Bob Kolker

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Feb 17, 2002, 9:35:28 AM2/17/02
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Siddharth N wrote:
>
> I would like to vreate a list of the greatest people of all time, and
> the first question that pops up is the parameters to use. Some I have
> thought of are Effect on our lives today, Originality, Whether greatly
> influenced by others ideas and only implemented or both created and
> implemented ideas...

Many of the Greats are unsung and their names and dates are unknown, but
to themselves and God. Who invented the wheel? Who discovered how to
make fire at need? Who first learned to count and tally by making marks
or heaping pebbles? Who was the first to set down ideas as marks on a
surface? We have not the foggiest idea, although we know such people
must have existed. What writers and philosophers are now lost to us
because of the destruction of the great libraries?

As for Greats who are recorded in history, please know that history is
selective, biased and incomplete. Short of taking a Time Machine back to
the point of great ideas and inventions we have, at best, a rough idea
of which Histories are somewhat accurate.

In a sense your question cannot be answered by anyone living today or by
any historical record that we have.

obWI. What important writings will be lost to us because they are
recorded exclusively on computer systems that be be obsolete in a decade
and forgotten in a century. Good old hard copy is a more reliable way of
preserving writings.

Think of how many important ideas were recording * incidentally * as
correspondence (as opposed to treatises and books). What happens to
e-mail when it is expunged or thrown into some humongous archive which
will be undecipherable 100 years from now.

Bob Kolker

spud (secret potato utility developer)

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Feb 21, 2002, 7:49:10 PM2/21/02
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Well,

In science

Newton
Einstien
Pastur (sp?)
Goddard and Von Braun
Nobel
the guy who figured out the demascis steel
Steven Halwking

In Politics

Hitler (for good or bad he caused a lot of changes)
Quene Victoria
Gengus Kahn
The first emperor of china
Hamrabui
Pharo Khufu
Pharo Ramsese
King Charlamen

In Entertainment

Jamse Neighsmith (Come on basket ball will survive for all time)
J. Michale Strazinski (I happen to think Babylon 5 is the best story ever
created by any human)
Babe Ruth
Geroge Carlin


In Thought

Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther
Christopher Columbus
Carl Marx (Imigane where we would be with out the Red threat?)

Just to start

"Siddharth N" <sid...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Bob Kolker

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Feb 21, 2002, 9:02:20 PM2/21/02
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"spud (secret potato utility developer)" wrote:

> Well,
>
> In science
>
> Newton
> Einstien
> Pastur (sp?)
> Goddard and Von Braun
> Nobel
> the guy who figured out the demascis steel
> Steven Halwking

You left out James Clerk Maxwell who invented electrodynamics and provided
material for Einstein to formulate what came to be called Special Relativity.

You also left out Ludwig Boltzmann who is one of the founders of statistical
mechanics, an important forerunner of quantum theory.

Bob Kolker


Daniel Seriff

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Feb 21, 2002, 10:11:30 PM2/21/02
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on 2/21/02 9:02 PM, Bob Kolker at bobk...@attbi.com wrote:

>> In science
>>
>> Newton
>> Einstien
>> Pastur (sp?)
>> Goddard and Von Braun
>> Nobel
>> the guy who figured out the demascis steel
>> Steven Halwking
>
> You left out James Clerk Maxwell who invented electrodynamics and provided
> material for Einstein to formulate what came to be called Special Relativity.
>
> You also left out Ludwig Boltzmann who is one of the founders of statistical
> mechanics, an important forerunner of quantum theory.

And Leon Theremin, who basically developed television broadcasting
single-handedly. His advances in radio technology changed the nature of
communication science. He didn't just invent a cool musical instrument.


--
Daniel Seriff
micro...@sericap.com
http://members.tripod.com/microtonal

I never worry that all hell will break loose. My concern is that only part
of hell will break loose and be much harder to detect.
-Carlin

spud (secret potato utility developer)

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Feb 21, 2002, 10:08:47 PM2/21/02
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"Bob Kolker" <bobk...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:3C75A6AC...@attbi.com...

How could i leave some one out that i didnt even knew existed? The guys i
listed were just people that i knew of.


H Simpson

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Feb 21, 2002, 11:43:44 PM2/21/02
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On Fri, 22 Feb 2002 03:11:30 GMT, Daniel Seriff
<micro...@sericap.com> wrote:

>on 2/21/02 9:02 PM, Bob Kolker at bobk...@attbi.com wrote:
>
>>> In science
>>>
>>> Newton
>>> Einstien
>>> Pastur (sp?)
>>> Goddard and Von Braun
>>> Nobel
>>> the guy who figured out the demascis steel
>>> Steven Halwking
>>
>> You left out James Clerk Maxwell who invented electrodynamics and provided
>> material for Einstein to formulate what came to be called Special Relativity.
>>
>> You also left out Ludwig Boltzmann who is one of the founders of statistical
>> mechanics, an important forerunner of quantum theory.
>
>And Leon Theremin, who basically developed television broadcasting
>single-handedly. His advances in radio technology changed the nature of
>communication science. He didn't just invent a cool musical instrument.
>
>
>--

Leaving out religous/mythological figures I would rate Newton as the
greatest influence because he created the scientific method and that
was the building block on what so much more was built.

Bob Kolker

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Feb 22, 2002, 11:48:28 AM2/22/02
to

"spud (secret potato utility developer)" wrote:

>
> How could i leave some one out that i didnt even knew existed? The guys i
> listed were just people that i knew of.

Research. Finding out who did what is only a web-browse away.

Bob Kolker

Bob Kolker

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Feb 22, 2002, 11:50:51 AM2/22/02
to

H Simpson wrote:

> >--
> Leaving out religous/mythological figures I would rate Newton as the
> greatest influence because he created the scientific method and that
> was the building block on what so much more was built.

Quite so. Isaac Newton showed us the first example of a workable and working
scientific theory. He made the mold into which others poured their talents. Other
workers were verging toward a sound physical theory of motion (Galileo and Kepler in
particular) but Newton got motion right for the first time. It was he who lifted the
yoke of Aristtotle, finally, once and for all from the neck of science.

Bob Kolker

John Freck

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Feb 22, 2002, 3:49:12 PM2/22/02
to
Since I'm not thoughly familar with all of world history,
personalities and events, my list will be baised towards the English
speaking culture history.

Political-Military-Statespersons

1. Augustus Ceasaur
2. Plato
3. George Washington
4. William Pitt
5. Theodore Roosevelt
6. Constitine
7. Seliman the Magificent
8. Stalin

Art

1. Picasso
2. Frank L. Wright
3. Sullivan
4. Emerson
5. Homer


J. Freck

Bob Kolker

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Feb 22, 2002, 4:05:05 PM2/22/02
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John Freck wrote:

> Since I'm not thoughly familar with all of world history,
> personalities and events, my list will be baised towards the English
> speaking culture history.
>
> Political-Military-Statespersons
>
> 1. Augustus Ceasaur

Julius made Octavian possible

>
> 2. Plato

Include also Aristotele.

>
> 3. George Washington

George fathered the country, Lincoln preserved the Union.

>
> 4. William Pitt
> 5. Theodore Roosevelt

FDR should figure in here, somehow.

>
> 6. Constitine
> 7. Seliman the Magificent
> 8. Stalin

Hitler is in Stalin's class.

>
>
> Art
>
> 1. Picasso

Well justice demands that Rembrandt be included.

And you might want to throw in Monet.

>
> 2. Frank L. Wright
> 3. Sullivan

Who is Sullivan?

>
> 4. Emerson

What? And leave out Whitman?

>
> 5. Homer
>
> J. Freck

Daniel Seriff

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Feb 22, 2002, 5:35:27 PM2/22/02
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on 2/22/02 3:49 PM, John Freck at FRE...@mail.broward.cc.fl.us wrote:

> Since I'm not thoughly familar with all of world history,
> personalities and events, my list will be baised towards the English
> speaking culture history.
>
> Political-Military-Statespersons
>
> 1. Augustus Ceasaur
> 2. Plato
> 3. George Washington
> 4. William Pitt
> 5. Theodore Roosevelt
> 6. Constitine
> 7. Seliman the Magificent
> 8. Stalin

9. Chairman Mao
10. Chin Shihuangdi
12. William of Conqueror

> Art
>
> 1. Picasso

1a. Kandinsky

> 2. Frank L. Wright
> 3. Sullivan

As in "Gilbert & Sullivan"? Hardly important, in the long run. Offenbach and
Joh. Strauss are far more important to the development of operetta.

> 4. Emerson
> 5. Homer

6. Pierluigi da Palestrina
7. Ludwig van Beethoven
8. Richard Wagner
9. Arnold Schoenberg
10. Anton Webern
11. John Cage

Ian Osborne

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Feb 23, 2002, 5:52:07 AM2/23/02
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in article a5450i$8hi$1...@slb7.atl.mindspring.net, spud (secret potato utility
developer) at thewri...@hotmail.com wrote on 22/2/02 12:49 AM:

No vote for your English teacher :(
--
Ian Osborne
ijos...@ijosborne.worldonline.co.uk

John Freck

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Feb 23, 2002, 11:32:52 AM2/23/02
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Daniel Seriff wrote:

>> 1. Picasso

> 1a. Kandinsky

Never heard of him.



> > 2. Frank L. Wright
> > 3. Sullivan
>
> As in "Gilbert & Sullivan"? Hardly important, in the long run. Offenbach and
> Joh. Strauss are far more important to the development of operetta.


L. Sullivan pioneered the sky-scrapper that billions now live it. He
is father of the sky-scrapper. He is known as founder of the Chicago
School. He and Wright took a leadship role in the Chicago World's
Fair.



> > 4. Emerson
> > 5. Homer
>
> 6. Pierluigi da Palestrina

Nver heard of this person.

> 7. Ludwig van Beethoven
> 8. Richard Wagner

Both are behind Classic Rock people in my view.


> 9. Arnold Schoenberg

Who?

> 10. Anton Webern


Who?

> 11. John Cage

Rigns a bell.


J. Freck

Daniel Seriff

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Feb 23, 2002, 3:29:03 PM2/23/02
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on 2/23/02 11:32 AM, John Freck at FRE...@mail.broward.cc.fl.us wrote:

>>> 1. Picasso
>
>> 1a. Kandinsky
>
> Never heard of him.

The father of abstract impressionism, and one of the most important painters
of the 20th century.

>>> 2. Frank L. Wright
>>> 3. Sullivan
>>
>> As in "Gilbert & Sullivan"? Hardly important, in the long run. Offenbach and
>> Joh. Strauss are far more important to the development of operetta.
>
> L. Sullivan pioneered the sky-scrapper that billions now live it. He
> is father of the sky-scrapper. He is known as founder of the Chicago
> School. He and Wright took a leadship role in the Chicago World's
> Fair.

That's a different Sullivan.

>>> 4. Emerson
>>> 5. Homer
>>
>> 6. Pierluigi da Palestrina
>
> Nver heard of this person.

Your loss. Palestrina singlehandedly revolutionized music in the 17th
century.

>> 7. Ludwig van Beethoven
>> 8. Richard Wagner
>
> Both are behind Classic Rock people in my view.

Why, because they didn't shoot their veins full of heroin while playing
incoherent songs about drugs and fucking?

Beethoven alone had more musical and cultural influence than all of the
great classic rock groups combined.

>> 9. Arnold Schoenberg
>
> Who?

Your loss. Schoenberg led music into the 20th century.

>> 10. Anton Webern
>
> Who?

Your loss. Webern was the father of modernism in music. One of the most
influential figures in 20th century art.

>> 11. John Cage
>
> Rigns a bell.

Look him up. More a philosopher than a musician, though.

Dude, are you actually talking about the greatest people of all time, or are
you just making a list of famous people you like? The two are different, you
know. In order to make a list of the greatest people of all time, you have
to know who they are and what they did.

Kimi

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Feb 24, 2002, 8:53:14 PM2/24/02
to
Bob Kolker <bobk...@attbi.com> wrote in message news:<3C7676EB...@attbi.com>...


Bacon.
Copernicus.
Leibniz.
Lakatos.

Learn some history.


kimi
YMMV

Bob Kolker

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Feb 25, 2002, 1:16:27 PM2/25/02
to

Kimi wrote:

Said nothing about motion

>
> Copernicus

Copernicus assumed uniform circular motion in orbit.

> .
> Leibniz.

Did he invent a workable physical theory?

>

>
> Lakatos.
>

Lakatos is contemporary. What is he doing here.

Bob Kolker

Dana Sindell

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Feb 26, 2002, 11:30:57 PM2/26/02
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I am surprised you did not include
Abraham Lincoln.

-Dana

"spud \(secret potato utility developer\)" <thewri...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<a5450i$8hi$1...@slb7.atl.mindspring.net>...

Kimi

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Feb 26, 2002, 11:48:10 PM2/26/02
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Bob Kolker <bobk...@attbi.com> wrote in message news:<3C7A7F7B...@attbi.com>...

> Kimi wrote:
>
> > Bob Kolker <bobk...@attbi.com> wrote in message news:<3C7676EB...@attbi.com>...
> > > H Simpson wrote:
> > >
> > > > >--
> > > > Leaving out religous/mythological figures I would rate Newton as the
> > > > greatest influence because he created the scientific method and that
> > > > was the building block on what so much more was built.
> > >
> > > Quite so. Isaac Newton showed us the first example of a workable and working
> > > scientific theory. He made the mold into which others poured their talents. Other
> > > workers were verging toward a sound physical theory of motion (Galileo and Kepler in
> > > particular) but Newton got motion right for the first time. It was he who lifted the
> > > yoke of Aristtotle, finally, once and for all from the neck of science.
> > >
> >
> > Bacon.
>
> Said nothing about motion

Your claim was that Newton showed the first working and workable
scientific theory and the previous poster stated he developed the
scientific method. Neither claim is true. Bacon did more for the
foundation of modern science than Newton for the simple reason that
Bacon laid the foundations for science to appear, outside of the
control of Church doctrine.

Newton did more science, but that's neither here nor there.


> >
> > Copernicus
>
> Copernicus assumed uniform circular motion in orbit.

Only after failing to build a model for angular motion. It's hardly
his fault that the maths of the period wasn't up to it. He was the
more important figure for what his work suggested and lead to though.


> > Leibniz.
>
> Did he invent a workable physical theory?

He was arguably brighter than Newton. But he tends to be ignored in
the English-speaking world. Can't think why... ;-)


> >
> > Lakatos.
> >
>
> Lakatos is contemporary. What is he doing here.

Moving his car. He'll be done in a few minutes.

You're all talking about 'who did what in science', but you haven't
said what this 'science' this is yet. I think Lakatos was probably
the most important contributor to *that* field in the last several
hundred years.


kimi
YMMV

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