I got into a very interesting discussion with my friend Pat the other day.
The question was simple, the answer is not.
What is Genius? What makes a Genius?
Who were or are, our greatest Geniuses?
I put it to you all.
Give me a list of who you feel are the top 20 geniuses in the world of all time, living or dead.
Or give me your best take on what you think genuis is.
You may use whatever criteria you wish, and your choices can come from ANY discipline. You can explain some, all, or none of your nominees. You may list them in no particular order, or you can put them in some hierarchy from number 1 super best genius to ummm... number 20 super best genius...
Ready, Set, Go!!!
Now I realize in advance, that there is only 1 woman on my list, and also that no one on this list has been born within the last 100 years, but don't kill the postman...(also 3 of my 20 choices were named Charles..what's up with that??)
Better yet, make a case for other woman..or a younger entry...anybody you think is deserving of the title of one of the World's Top 20 Geniuses............ I am open minded.. ;-)
So.....Here is my list in no particular order..
EXCEPT for the first one.
I think Leonardo is, hands down, the greatest genius of all time...
Questions? Reactions? Arguments? After Dinner Mint?
JACK"S GENIUS LIST
*.5) Irish-Girl
1) Leonardo DaVinci
2) Michelangelo Buonarroti
3) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4) Socrates
5) Thomas Jefferson
6) Thomas Edison
7) Galileo
8) Albert Einstien
9) Aristotle
10) Marie Curie
11) Charlie Chaplin
12) William Shakespeare
13) Karl Marx
14) Issac Newton
15) Charles Darwin
16) Napoleon Bonaparte
17) Charles Dickens
18) Fredric Chopin
19) Srinivasa Ramanujan
20) Robert Heinlein
Ok Boys and Girls...start listing
* this is a recent addition (2/16) after careful reconsideration...
Posted by Jack at February 12, 2003 03:25 PM20 geniouses...well, not me.. I can't spell, but neither could Einstein..hmmmm..and he is on your list.
in no order
1) Kunkleman, Todd
2) Lobben Brett & Angela
3) Megas, Ann
4) Ottenbacher, Larry and Pam
5) Kazimer, Michael
6) Hartwig, Brent and Darci
7) Lulf, Al
8) Schember, George and Dianne
9) Provost, Corrine
10) Zanders, Kizzy
I will stop at 10 because I will now make my point.. I think we all have the potential for Genious, it is just having the right circumstances and finding the right career to match your full potiantial, I think that most of the time people follow false dreams or do what they think best and miss thier calling. so I would say we are all geniouses, even if we can't spell
Posted by: bill on February 12, 2003 06:31 PMOK point made, but I happen to disagree with you.
You think all people have a genius lurking inside them somewhere?? I am talking about that stomp down, writing symphonies at 7, freaky, uber talented Genius....
I do not. Yes, some have the potential....certainly not very many though. I would guess way WAY less than 1% of our total population even has a chance at a hint of what it is. Still, VERY VERY few of even those with the potential actually do achieve this status.
So Bill, if you don't feel like making that list, I'll phrase it to you this way. If you take the small pool of people that might have the potential.....what is it that kicks those few over into geniusville????
Posted by: jack on February 12, 2003 06:44 PMNikola Tesla
Ah yes! He of the hugely important Tesla coil and AC. (alternating current) Good choice, but top 20?? What about the rest of your nominees?
Posted by: jack on February 12, 2003 10:18 PM1) OG Inventor of the wheel
2) Ughn Inventor of the pointy stick
Bill....
Don't you mean
O The inventor of the wheel.
and
OW The inventor of the pointy stick?
"Yes" to your list. plus these favorites...
Nikola Tesla.
Joseph Nicephore Niepce, inventor of photography (1822)
Gutenberg.
John Donne.
D.H. Lawrence.
Frank Herbert.
Terry Gilliam.
Kurosawa.
Miyazaki.
Arthur C. Clarke.
Shackleton (don't know if he qualifies, but very admirable)
NASA crew.
Tim Berners-Lee (the web).
Bjork.
Apple's Design Crew (why not? :^) )
Tesla also invented the radio (he beat Marconi, check it out), radar, remote control, and much more. Very much one of the greatest geniuses and very under-rated.
Posted by: jeremyw on February 14, 2003 01:26 AMand Gutenberg didn't invent movable type, the chinese had it way before he invented it.
Posted by: bill on February 14, 2003 08:50 AMJack, I agree with most of your list, maybe not in that order, and there are some who you have forggot, but I have one question, you really think Charlie Chaplin is a 'great' genius. I hope not.
Posted by: Mathew on May 31, 2003 02:06 PM