Inspired by the thread of the opposite theme, who do you think has made the greatest impact in making planet Earth a better place? Could be someone living or passed on. All categories are open, arts, music, philosophy, literature, etc. Let the nominations begin.
I don’t agree with this answer, but I’d guess either Jesus or Buddha.
Mohandas Gandhi has to be up there.
Einstein…unharnessed the power of the atom, clean electricity…and saved many lives (on our side, and possibly the other) by ending the war in less than a week.
Althou, it seems inevitable that North Korea, Pakistan, or Iran will use e=mc squared, to anniliate millions…either in offensive & retaliatory attacks, or via a pre-emptive strike on their backyards. Add Russia and the USA into the mix, and its billions.
There is a clock on the web, started in the 1950’s, which shows we are now at 10 minutes until our midnight hour…it averages statistics and current events. Maybe someone can can cite a link
Most people say Da Vinci but I think it’s Michelangelo.
Nikola Tesla seems quite popular at the moment.
Mandela
Newton
Erasmus
Woody Allen, of course.
Me
Someone had to say it.
I’m going with Ghandi and Mandela, the greatest advocates for peaceful change and tolerance.
Louis Pasteur
Alexander Fleming
Jonas Salk
We`re currently at 5 minutes to midnight. See the Doomsday Clock at the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
What is the question exactly? The most universally agreed upon or the one I think has made the best impact?
If we go by “most universally agreed upon” then it would likely be that British boy band, the Beatles.
The ones I think:
Thales Of Miletos started the ball rolling on getting us away from superstition and to a physicalist understanding of reality.
Norman Borlaug is said to have saved 1 000 000 000 people from starvation (Green Revolution - Wikipedia)
And obviously, Al Gore, without whom we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
Who invented the paper clip? That guy.
Hmm. I’d go with Jesus myself, but it’s not “universally” agreed upon.
So count my vote for Norman Borlaug as well. Saving a billion people from starvation? Are you serious, bro?!
Good nominations, came in to suggest Norman Borlaug who I’d never heard of until he was mentioned on an episode of QI. He should have statues and monuments across the world, high schools named after him.
Speaking of high schools, what about MLK or Abe Lincoln? I’ve never heard a word against them by anyone who isn’t a nutjob.
Skald the Rhymer obviously.
Definitely Mr. Rogers. There’s not a soul in the world who hates that man. Well, except for Westboro Baptist Church, but none of them actually have a soul so they don’t count.
One way of honouring him may be to spell his name correctly. Gandhi.
So shoot me for a typo