Isaac Newton?

 

I can't get over more people not commenting on Isaac Newton being excluded. His laws of motion and gravitation were/are key to understanding how things work, including ballistics.

Clyde should be on the Honorable Mention list.

^ :no:

I'd also argue for Cicero. His notes on law and governance, much adopted from Plato and Aristotle, were rediscovered in the Renaissance and became a huge foundation for the political thought of the late Renaissance and into the modern era and birth of modern democracy. I'm a great fan of Cicero and I think I can make a good case for his being the greatest Roman of all due to his influence across the centuries.

 

:thumb:

I agree with who said Da Vinci.

Napoleon #2? He is very significant, but behind Jesus? I would think there would have to be somebody else for that runner up spot.

I saw many religious leaders listed. What about Siddhartha Gautama, who would come to be known as "The Buddha"?

I thought about that. John Paul II was the most influential pope of recent times but I don't see him being anywhere on this list. Part of the problem lies in the institutional structure of the Church being far larger than any one man. Among the ones I considered:

 

John Paul II

 

 

The truth is that most of who I'd consider to be the most significant Catholics (and significant because of their Catholicism) were never elected pope:

 

St. Thomas Aquinas

 

I would argue that either of these men could claim a place on the list. John Paul II helped to start and fostered a process that changed the world politically, geographically and economically.

 

St. Thomas Aquinas changed the way we look at the world, defended faith with logic and left his mark on the world of philosophy.

Has anyone said St. Augustine?

I saw many religious leaders listed. What about Siddhartha Gautama, who would come to be known as "The Buddha"?

 

:thumb:

St. Thomas Aquinas changed the way we look at the world, defended faith with logic and left his mark on the world of philosophy.

 

Scholasticism has been the bedrock of Catholic thought for nearly a thousand years. He also revived the philosophy of the ancients and compiled it in a very useful way. I'm with you.

Here is a list that goes to 100.

 

Who?s Biggest? The 100 Most Significant Figures in History | TIME.com

I didn't read all the responses yet but my initial thoughts are Hitler and Einstein are too low.

How does Adam Smith not make this list? I have personal bias for Milton Friedman as well because he may have the biggest impact on me outside of my faith.