# Who was the Most Important Person in History? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 3, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753 "2009-01-03T23:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jesse\_Leigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ea924/32.png) [@Jesse\_Leigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesse_Leigh)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/41 "2009-01-04T08:33:19Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > [Aristotle.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle) He invented comprehensive, systematic philosophy, especially in the areas of ethics and logic. He basically taught us how to think. > > And he was Alexander’s teacher. Greetings! There’s no arguing that Aristotle coined an intriguing phrase or two, but to state that he taught us how to think is somewhat… absurd. Tens of millions of people have never heard of Aristotle, or if they have, they’ve no idea what he thought, said, or wrote, etc., and yet their reasoning powers and ability to think is not impaired or compromised, and they manage to live moral, ethical lives. Human’s don’t have to be taught how to think, the ability is innate in us, as is our sense of morality and ethics - for the most part - there are exceptions to every rule. I know I looked up at the stars and wondered long before I heard of Aristotle, and was thinking deeply about many subjects before I knew the meaning of the word ‘philosophy.’ Certainly great human thinkers, and those with great minds, and the visionaries among us have taught us valuable things, but humankind didn’t _need_ any of them. Shalom - Jesse. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/42 "2009-01-04T08:44:28Z")
There is no **one** most important person in history, because for all of those special folk (of which there are literally legions in various spheres) there are also their mums and dads, uncles and sisters etc who helped shape and mould their intellectual and philosophical leanings. History is a process, not an event that can lay claim to particular spectacles. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/43 "2009-01-04T08:46:24Z")
“Abraham,” i.e., whoever was most instrumental in getting Western monotheism off the ground. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/44 "2009-01-04T09:52:27Z")
> [@Jesse\_Leigh](#): > > Jesus is still working miracles every day and millions will testify to this. When was the last time you heard of Mohammed working a miracle? Yes, but do they have any empirical evidence to support their claims? ---
**Author:** ![ch4rl3s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@ch4rl3s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ch4rl3s)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/45 "2009-01-04T09:56:15Z")
Haven’t made up my mind myself, so I’m just going to make a couple nominations. [QUOTE=Little Nemo] How about Leonardo of Pisa (aka Fibonacci)? He convinced the Western World to stop using Roman numerals and switch over to the decimal system. A major advance in mathematics which built a foundation for science, technology, and finance. [/QUOTE] Although I like this idea, I would have to put the most important advance in mathematics and science as the invention of zero. (Whoever did that, usually ascribed to India about 5th century.) [QUOTE=Driver8] Not to take away from the genius of most inventors or discoverers, but I believe in many of these cases if they personally hadn’t existed someone else would have shortly invented or discovered the item in question. I think the person in question will be a political or religious leader of some sort - someone who if they didn’t exist history might have moved in a very different direction. If a strong leader or influence didn’t exist at a critical time entire powers may never have materialized. [/QUOTE] Very good point. Though I’m not sure just how quickly zero might have been invented otherwise. But, in the political realm… Genghis Khan has a very good shot, since his Y chromosome is in 1 out of every 200 men on the planet. No one else has had that much influence on the make up of humanity that quickly or that recently. (And I don’t believe anyone else can actually be identified.) But for the actual question, “Who was the most important person in history?” you might have to think of something without which history would be impossible. i.e. language. The ability to communicate ideas to another being. Although the answer, “the person who invented language,” has two problems with it. 1. They aren’t actually _ **IN** _ history. Existing before it, but being instrumental in it. 2. It can’t be only one person who invented it. Of necessity, at least two people had to agree on language. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/46 "2009-01-04T10:34:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Maybe not. Western Europeans were trying to find a route to sail directly to Asia for strictly commercial reasons. The primary plan was to sail south around Africa and most of the money went for voyages south. Columbus represented the minority view that ships could successfully sail west across the ocean to Asia. There were flaws with Columbus’ reasoning but Spain eventually decided to risk some money to fund a trip in 1492. > > Then in 1499, Vasco da Gama returned. He had finally made the trip around the Cape of Good Hope and proven you could sail around Africa to Asia. > > So if Columbus had been delayed a few more years or some other captain heading south had been a little braver earlier, the African route would have been discovered before the western route. And once the African route was proven there was no incentive to explore other routes, especially ones that were less promising. It might have been decades before any expeditions tried to cross the ocean. Decades, yes, but it still would have happened. As soon as Europeans developed true ocean-going ships and advanced navigation devices, the discovery of the Americas was pretty much inevitable. The question is, would there have been a difference if they had been discovered by some nation other than the Spanish? What if England, France or the Netherlands had first settled the Caribbean and conquered the Mesoamericans? I’d think the current map of the Western Hemisphere (and possibly the Eastern) would be very different. ---
**Author:** ![Jesse\_Leigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ea924/32.png) [@Jesse\_Leigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesse_Leigh)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/47 "2009-01-04T10:57:52Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > Yes, but do they have any empirical evidence to support their claims? Hello! Probably none that you would accept, but one third of the planet accepts it without question. My point is that there is no one anywhere making this sort of claim about Mohammed. I have no wish to disparage Mohammed - I’m simply pointing out that a human being cannot be compared to a Divine Being. Shalom - Jesse. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/48 "2009-01-04T11:07:30Z")
> [@Jesse\_Leigh](#): > > Probably none that you would accept, but one third of the planet accepts it without question. :dubious: As someone raised Xtian, I don’t believe a full third of humanity accept it without question. There’s a lot of philosophy written to keep questioners in the Xtian fold. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/49 "2009-01-04T11:09:45Z")
> [@Jesse\_Leigh](#): > > Probably none that you would accept, but one third of the planet accepts it without question. Wait-- These miracles, that are happening by the millions-- 1/3 of the world accepts them on their face, without any question? Do **you** have any empirical evidence to support this claim? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/50 "2009-01-04T11:52:56Z")
**John Locke** Jesus may have personally been a nice guy (for his time and day) but he really didn’t add anything to the world. The morals he preached weren’t particularly new–see [asceticism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asceticism) and [karma](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma)–and his ideas on social responsibility and wealth worked about as well as Communism. You’re better to accept that humankind is flawed and work to find ways to deal with that problem than to tell people that they should be nice and cooperative with one another sheerly for goodness’ sake. So while I can certainly appreciate the attempt, I’ll have to go with the guy who actually had an idea that worked. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/51 "2009-01-04T12:12:03Z")
> [@Jesse\_Leigh](#): > > The Apostle Paul (a favorite here) was halted by Jesus and commissioned to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles/nations, and who said '_ **If in this life only I have hoped, I am of all men most to be pitied.’** _ He did not say this. At least, there is no passage in the Bible where this is attributed to him. In Corinthians 15:19 he says something that might be paraphrased as “If all we (believers) have in this life is hope, but that it’s the case that there is nothing beyond the grave, the believer’s life is a (potentially) wretched one filled with self-denial and persecution, and we (believers in general) are to be pitied above others.” This is quite a different nuance from singling himself out. (Li’l bit of trivia.) And while I’m stamping out pedantry substituting for knowledge: Gutenberg was probably given the name of his house as a surname well before his association with the printing press–perhaps as early as 1430. In any case, the notion that Gutenberg is not his “real name” is completely incorrect. It betrays a misunderstanding of how names were used at the time. The SDMB will bite you in the a$$ for dropping incorrect “facts” casually, and it will gnaw off both cheeks if you are so bold as to correct someone else without checking the fact you are correcting. To the thread in general: the whole notion of who was the most important person takes on a flavor of “My Dad can beat up your Dad,” does it not? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/52 "2009-01-04T12:27:14Z")
> [@Jesse\_Leigh](#): > > I’m simply pointing out that a human being cannot be compared to a Divine Being. Nonsense, Christians do it all the time. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/53 "2009-01-04T12:55:13Z")
Both my mum and my dad. Without them I’d be unable to post witty comments, regale you with my exploits as a 1950s style Teddy Boy and generally be me. Charming, erudite, articulate and most of all really really handsome 🙂 Almost forgot, modest ---
**Author:** ![Jesse\_Leigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ea924/32.png) [@Jesse\_Leigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesse_Leigh)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/54 "2009-01-04T14:05:49Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > :dubious: As someone raised Xtian, I don’t believe a full third of humanity accept it without question. There’s a lot of philosophy written to keep questioners in the Xtian fold. By whom? That’s a rather cryptic answer you gave. Care to elucidate? - Jesse. ---
**Author:** ![Jesse\_Leigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ea924/32.png) [@Jesse\_Leigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesse_Leigh)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/55 "2009-01-04T14:18:51Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@Chief\_Pedant](#): > > > > He did not say this. At least, there is no passage in the Bible where this is attributed to him. > > > > In Corinthians 15:19 he says something that might be paraphrased as “If all we (believers) have in this life is hope, but that it’s the case that there is nothing beyond the grave, the believer’s life is a (potentially) wretched one filled with self-denial and persecution, and we (believers in general) are to be pitied above others.” > > > > This is quite a different nuance from singling himself out. (Li’l bit of trivia.) > > You’re quite right, it’s in the plural. Sorry, I typed it from memory. My Bible reads, > > \*\*‘If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.’ \*\*(NWT.) > > > [@](#): > > > > And while I’m stamping out pedantry substituting for knowledge: > > > > Gutenberg was probably given the name of his house as a surname well before his association with the printing press–perhaps as early as 1430. In any case, the notion that Gutenberg is not his “real name” is completely incorrect. It betrays a misunderstanding of how names were used at the time. > > > > The SDMB will bite you in the a$$ for dropping incorrect “facts” casually, and it will gnaw off both cheeks if you are so bold as to correct someone else without checking the fact you are correcting. > > I did check my ‘facts’ such as they were available. [http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/](http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/) > > Just scroll about an eighth of the way down the page. > > > [@](#): > > > > To the thread in general: the whole notion of who was the most important person takes on a flavor of “My Dad can beat up your Dad,” does it not? I didn’t think we were supposed to be taking this personally, but rather opining on who we thought contributed the most to humankind. That’s how it read to me. I’m sure all who were mentioned contributed a great deal. Shalom - Jesse. ---
**Author:** ![Jesse\_Leigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ea924/32.png) [@Jesse\_Leigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesse_Leigh)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/56 "2009-01-04T14:23:43Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Nonsense, Christians do it all the time. Well, that’s one point of view, not mine, but you’re entitled to yours. Shalom - Jesse. ---
**Author:** ![ch4rl3s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@ch4rl3s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ch4rl3s)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/57 "2009-01-04T14:54:33Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > **John Locke** > > Jesus may have personally been a nice guy (for his time and day) but he really didn’t add anything to the world. The morals he preached weren’t particularly new–see [asceticism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asceticism) and [karma](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma)–and his ideas on social responsibility and wealth worked about as well as Communism. You’re better to accept that humankind is flawed and work to find ways to deal with that problem than to tell people that they should be nice and cooperative with one another sheerly for goodness’ sake. > > So while I can certainly appreciate the attempt, I’ll have to go with the guy who actually had an idea that worked. Yes, Jesus’ ideas on social responsibility and wealth work about as well as Communism in the real world. Both of them would require a change in the attitudes and beliefs of people to work. I think the difference being Jesus told people they should change and act a certain way. Communism seemed to assume that if you imposed the system, the people would be happy in it, or could be forced to change to it. Jesus’ system is one designed for changed people, where communism is one to change people. Trying to change people doesn’t work. But I believe they can change themselves. Communism is a human system that requires changed people. It’s not going to work. Jesus’ system doesn’t claim to be one for humans as they are in this world, it asked people to change to it. But amonst people who have changed themselves to the system, it appears they can treat each other nicely and for mutual benefit. I agree that people are flawed and we should deal in that world. If people were perfect there would be no need for laws and police. But If people were just a little better, there would be **less** need for laws and police, etc. Why shouldn’t we strive for that? Why shouldn’t we tell people they can be better? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/58 "2009-01-04T14:59:33Z")
> [@ch4rl3s](#): > > Why shouldn’t we strive for that? Why shouldn’t we tell people they can be better? Because it doesn’t work. Game theory and capitalism work better. They employ the _greed motive_ to create charity. > **[News Archives](https://www.findarticles.com/news/)** > > Explore the News Articles featuring Technology, Business, Entertainment, and Science & Health topics. Access reports, insights, and stories. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/59 "2009-01-04T15:00:29Z")
> [@Jesse\_Leigh](#): > > Hello! > > Probably none that you would accept, but one third of the planet accepts it without question. My point is that there is no one anywhere making this sort of claim about Mohammed. > > I have no wish to disparage Mohammed - I’m simply pointing out that a human being cannot be compared to a Divine Being. > > Shalom - Jesse. Evidently they can be. Isn’t that what you’re doing? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753/60 "2009-01-04T15:06:53Z")
Per the OP, I’d ask, who’s history are we talking about? Since many advances are built upon previous advances it’s difficult to decide who deserves credit for what. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-most-important-person-in-history/479753.md?page=4)