Benderino
Loyal American Democrat
Your opinion is too low of Kennedy, however, you are right in that Lincoln should be way higher and Kennedy shouldn't be on the list.
The 100
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Your opinion is too low of Kennedy, however, you are right in that Lincoln should be way higher and Kennedy shouldn't be on the list.
Stefan Haertel
Title
I'm always very cautious with this kind of lists. You should never believe them. Read the reasons for inclusions and include your own ones. Trying to collect the top-any-number of "most influental personalities in history" is absolutely pointless, as you'd always have to leave someone out you would like to include yourself. It will only make your head hurt.
MajorGeneral2
Just happy to be here
The probable reason for the number of Europeans (especially recent ones) is that as the world has shrunk, it has become easier for individuals to impact a lot of people, and Europe (and N. America more recently) has been the leader of most of this. The list is certainly flawed in many ways, but it would be nearly impossible to compare certain people, especially in different fields.
I beleive that JFK is on there because had he been too rash and started the apocolypse the world could be gone or humans extinct.
Also I believe the reason for the europe bias is that thats where 1 we know more about as they kept better records then some. 2 Most major events happened in Europe. Europe ruled the world in the 17th 18th 19th and most of the 20th century. They were the center of all events and thoughts. Sure if somebody changed culture in africa very seriously and influenced millions what does it matter. Western culture is the pre-dominant one now so what ever changes happend in western culture matter more then those of other lesser important nations.
Also I believe the reason for the europe bias is that thats where 1 we know more about as they kept better records then some. 2 Most major events happened in Europe. Europe ruled the world in the 17th 18th 19th and most of the 20th century. They were the center of all events and thoughts. Sure if somebody changed culture in africa very seriously and influenced millions what does it matter. Western culture is the pre-dominant one now so what ever changes happend in western culture matter more then those of other lesser important nations.
I suggest people read this book before you speak too criticaly of his rankings. I at first wondered why people like Benjamin Franklin, the most talented all-around man in history, and DaVinci, an artist who imagined and designed many modern machines hundreds of years ahead of their time, were not included on the list but as honorable mentions, but as I read I began to change my opinion at least on DeVinci.
Though Leonardo designed many machines he never built one of them. And most of his ideas stayed in his note-books not revealed until after his inventions were made by other people. Also as an artist he very rarely finished a piece as he got bored with them and so he has very little effect on art.
Though Leonardo designed many machines he never built one of them. And most of his ideas stayed in his note-books not revealed until after his inventions were made by other people. Also as an artist he very rarely finished a piece as he got bored with them and so he has very little effect on art.
The author incudes Abraham only as an 'honorable mention.' As the founder of Judaism, the father of Ishmael (the first ancestor of all muslims), and an ancestor of Jesus, he's seen as an extremely important person in 3 of the worlds biggest religions.
As for JFK/ Lincoln- Hart says of Lincoln that he doesn't deserve a place on the list because the world was turning away from slavery anyways and the USA would still be the 4th most populous country and the leading industrial power today. I still don't buy this...
JFK greatest accomplishment was probably motovating the US to land a man on the moon in the 60's, but he was killed before he could really prove himself.
As for JFK/ Lincoln- Hart says of Lincoln that he doesn't deserve a place on the list because the world was turning away from slavery anyways and the USA would still be the 4th most populous country and the leading industrial power today. I still don't buy this...
JFK greatest accomplishment was probably motovating the US to land a man on the moon in the 60's, but he was killed before he could really prove himself.
Interesting to compare this list with this one.
IMO, this should be the top 6:
1. Jesus
2. Muhammad
3. Guttenberg
4. Buddha
5. Newton
6. Confucius
Also, I think Darwin should be higher than Galileo, and maybe Pasteur. And maybe Einstein. (I won't bother comparing them to the non-scientists around them; that'll just give me a headache.) And of course JFK definitely should not be on the list.
Beyond that, not a bad list.
Edit: Oh yeah, and Bill Gates should be on the list, as already said.
IMO, this should be the top 6:
1. Jesus
2. Muhammad
3. Guttenberg
4. Buddha
5. Newton
6. Confucius
Also, I think Darwin should be higher than Galileo, and maybe Pasteur. And maybe Einstein. (I won't bother comparing them to the non-scientists around them; that'll just give me a headache.) And of course JFK definitely should not be on the list.
Beyond that, not a bad list.
Edit: Oh yeah, and Bill Gates should be on the list, as already said.
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