XO POLL: Moast Intelligent Human Being Known In Human Hi$tory?
| Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/04/25 | | Fantasy-prone 180 Alpha Twinkling Uncleanness | 07/04/25 | | Hairless Shimmering Mother Locale | 07/04/25 | | Blue razzmatazz volcanic crater | 07/04/25 | | Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/04/25 | | rusted circlehead | 07/04/25 | | Fantasy-prone 180 Alpha Twinkling Uncleanness | 07/04/25 | | rusted circlehead | 07/04/25 | | Fantasy-prone 180 Alpha Twinkling Uncleanness | 07/04/25 | | rusted circlehead | 07/04/25 | | Fantasy-prone 180 Alpha Twinkling Uncleanness | 07/05/25 | | Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/05/25 | | adventurous set | 07/05/25 | | Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/06/25 | | adventurous set | 07/05/25 | | Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/05/25 | | adventurous set | 07/06/25 | | Avocado Bespoke Immigrant | 07/06/25 | | Vivacious office | 07/05/25 | | garnet boiling water bawdyhouse | 07/06/25 | | Vivacious office | 07/06/25 | | rusted circlehead | 07/06/25 | | Vivacious office | 07/06/25 | | rusted circlehead | 07/06/25 | | Heady generalized bond rehab | 07/05/25 | | Bronze zippy locus kitty | 07/06/25 | | startling piazza | 07/05/25 | | Awkward Den | 07/06/25 | | rusted circlehead | 07/06/25 | | stubborn excitant senate | 07/06/25 | | rusted circlehead | 07/06/25 | | Hairraiser Lavender Church | 07/06/25 | | Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/06/25 | | Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/06/25 | | Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/06/25 | | Avocado Bespoke Immigrant | 07/06/25 | | Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/06/25 | | garnet boiling water bawdyhouse | 07/06/25 | | Cobalt jet-lagged church building clown | 07/06/25 | | stubborn excitant senate | 07/06/25 | | Bronze zippy locus kitty | 07/06/25 | | rusted circlehead | 07/06/25 | | sadistic base selfie | 07/06/25 | | Ebony hospital | 07/06/25 | | Canary Self-centered Faggot Firefighter Hairy Legs | 07/06/25 | | Ebony hospital | 07/06/25 | | dead theater stage | 07/06/25 | | Vivacious office | 07/06/25 | | floppy light community account personal credit line | 07/06/25 |
Poast new message in this thread
Date: July 4th, 2025 6:09 PM Author: rusted circlehead
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) |
 |
Date: July 4th, 2025 6:24 PM Author: rusted circlehead
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) |
 |
Date: July 6th, 2025 4:33 PM Author: rusted circlehead
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) |
 |
Date: July 6th, 2025 7:19 PM Author: rusted circlehead
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: Awkward Den
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: Avocado Bespoke Immigrant
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: Bronze zippy locus kitty
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) |
|
|