XO POLL: Moast Intelligent Human Being Known In Human Hi$tory?
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Date: July 4th, 2025 6:09 PM Author: Glassy Giraffe
Past, I'm sticking with Feynman.
Present, my vote goes to Penrose.
We don't have sufficient information to speak to the majority of mankind, so it's really not a meaningful question.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746210&forum_id=2/#49072538) |
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Date: July 4th, 2025 6:24 PM Author: Glassy Giraffe
Can we really speak to ancient peoples? So little of their work and others' views of them is extant. Their popularity and contributions may be more a function of momentum than objective truths... just look at any old religious book.
I'd argue even the likes of Newton or Leibniz are too old to speak of in the same way as modern people.
I actually don't know much about Witten. I bet most scientists don't have Feynman's charisma & ability to communicate, though. (Just flip through anything Penrose has written.)
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746210&forum_id=2/#49072579) |
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Date: July 6th, 2025 4:33 PM Author: Glassy Giraffe
A lot of writings (and the history of people) have been lost over the past 2.5k years.
There were also great contributions from India & the far East in classical & medieval times that most of us aren't aware of. (How many of us could name the author of Al-Jabr, let alone read it?)
We can speak of those the knowledge of whom is extant, or has been translated into our native language, but not so much to the 'most intelligent person ever.'
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746210&forum_id=2/#49076775) |
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Date: July 6th, 2025 7:19 PM Author: Glassy Giraffe
Who's to say that the four contributors to QED won't go down as the most intelligent, influential people of the history of the world 2.5k years from now?
I would argue that the most influential individuals aren't necessarily the most intelligent. The further back in time we go, the more influential an individual becomes. Some kid in 2021 with a wacky GUT hasn't had 2.5k years to gain the infamy of a Plato.
Besides, could Plato even handle UG physics at CalTech today? (Conversely, could a CalTech grad today do what Plato did c. 500 BCE?)
Obviously, OP's question has no absolute answer, but it's still fun to argue.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746210&forum_id=2/#49077202) |
Date: July 6th, 2025 12:10 AM Author: buck-toothed coral bawdyhouse
I think it has to be Newton, for coming up with calculus + figuring out all the aspects of practical physics.
The only other contender is Einstein, who on 2 occasions figured out things in physics that don't make intuitive sense at all.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746210&forum_id=2/#49075462) |
Date: July 6th, 2025 7:26 AM Author: tantric pearl lettuce property
Short list:
Tesla, Newton, Da Vinci, Plato
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746210&forum_id=2/#49075746) |
Date: July 6th, 2025 4:51 PM Author: curious saffron pisswyrm
Jansci von Nuemann
As much as I hate to nominate a turd, Ramanujan is easily a top contender
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5746210&forum_id=2/#49076800) |
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