Who Do You Think is the Greatest Person in History?
@manifestabundance (217)
Singapore
February 16, 2007 11:54am CST
Hi there!
Michael Hart's "The 100 Most Influential Persons in History" ranks them as follows (Hart also gives his reasons for ranking them thus, which I've summarised in brackets after each name):
1. Prophet Mohammed (the only man in history who was supremely successful in both religious and secular levels - founder of Islam and he was also the driving force behind the Arab conquests);
2. Isaac Newton (for his role in science and mathematics - few aspects of human activity have been unchanged by the scientific revolution);
3. Jesus Christ (formulated basic ethical ideas of Christianity - however, Christian theology was shaped principally by St Paul so the development of Christianity is apportioned by these 2 figures);
4. Buddha (founder of Buddhism);
5. Confucius (founder of Confucian ethics);
6. St Paul (for formulating Christian theology);
7. Ts'ai Lun (inventor of paper - indispensable in the spread of knowledge);
8. Johann Gutenberg (inventor of movable type printing, which alsop helped spread knowledge)
9. Christopher Columbus (discoverer of the New World);
10. Albert Einstein (greatest scientist of the 20th Century and 1 of the supreme intellects of all time).
What do you think of Hart's rankings?
Cheers!
Andre
www.theultimatesuccessmanual.com
1 person likes this
2 responses
@look4edmund (198)
• Singapore
23 Feb 07
I would choose No.10 Albert Einstein for being one of the dumbest kid in elementary school to prove that there's a big problem with the education system and it also clearly shows that different people learn at different pace.
Regards,
Edmund Ng
http://www.purchaseresume.com
http://www.internet-empire.com
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I think this list is actually helpful, I didn't know some of these people. I may not totally agree with the order and I personally would add Mother Teresa, what an inspirational lady. But I can see reasonings for the people being on Hart's list.
1 person likes this
@manifestabundance (217)
• Singapore
20 Feb 07
Yes, at 1st glance at Hart's ranking of the Top 100, I too questioned his rankings. When I read some of his reasons for ranking them thus, it started to make more sense.
Even the likes of Churchill, Gandhi, Abe Lincoln, Leonardo da Vinci didn't make it to the list.....
Since this is a ranking based on historical influence, many of the people mentioned in the list tend to have long passed on.
I do agree that Mother Teresa deserves to be on such a list, she was an inspiration to millions.
Cheers!
Andre
www.theultimatesuccessmanual.com
