I want to make a poll on who is most influenced history in the last 500 years. Who...

[Solomwi]

[JohnT]

Luther, for destroying Christendom, regardless of how inadverdant it was.

Had you added another 50 years, the answer would've undoubtably been Gutenberg. But you didn't, so it isn't.

[Whoha]

Re: I want to make a poll on who most influenced history in the last 500 years. Who...

Originally posted by Lancer
...should I put in the poll, and why?

Here's one...

Bismarck, because he ran europe at a time when europe ran the world.

the Commander that disregarded the warning that Washington was planning to cross the river and attack.

[Agathon]

I see the Enlightenment isn't doing too well. Typical of Poly really...

[Agathon]

Locke, Hobbes and Rousseau. Invented the modern conception of government.

[Drogue]

Well, I would credit the founding fathers and Robespierre and the French Revolutionaries more with democracy and modern government, for both being involved in the idea of what it is, and in showing that it works and how to do it. Far more influential than Rousseau, et. al.

I think the US struggle with England was more about taxation and wanting independance, and that even without The Enlightenment, they'd still have founded a democratic government, which would have developed into the modern system of governance we know.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Martin Luther, easily. A nod also to John Calvin.

Though I see John has mentioned him as well.

I'm surprised Karl Marx isn't listed, so I'll mention him.

[DanS]

Another interesting question is: who in the last 500 years will influence the course of the next 500 years the greatest?

[Lancer]

That is good DanS, you should do one.

[Qilue]

Originally posted by DanS
Another interesting question is: who in the last 500 years will influence the course of the next 500 years the greatest?

Sir Isaac Newton

Although there have been many great scientists through the ages, none can match Newton's contributions, which are present in almost all fields of modern science. Short of a complete revision of maths and science, this influence will continue to exist for another 500 years.

[General Ludd]

Mel Gibson.

[Agathon]

Well, I would credit the founding fathers and Robespierre and the French Revolutionaries more with democracy and modern government, for both being involved in the idea of what it is, and in showing that it works and how to do it. Far more influential than Rousseau, et. al.

They stole the ideas from the others. They didn't do much except kill people to make it happen.

[Drogue]

But as I said, even without the Enlightenment, they founding father's would still have created a democratic, modern style of government. The French would still have copied that.

They may have stolen the idea, but I doubt they would have changed their actions much if they hadn't read those texts before.

Moreover, I think you underestimate how important making it work was. The idea was all well and good, but few thought it would work until it was implimented successfully. The Enlightenment would have done little if it wasn't for people implimenting their ideas successfully, yet the same basic form of government would have emerged regardless of the writings of Rousseau et. al. Hence the founding fathers and French revolutionaries had more impact/influence than the writings they used.

[Agathon]

But as I said, even without the Enlightenment, they founding father's would still have created a democratic, modern style of government. The French would still have copied that.

Without Locke they would have been flailing in the dark. After all they copied almost all of their ideas from him, just substituting "happiness" for "property" to keep the proles happy.

Moreover, I think you underestimate how important making it work was. The idea was all well and good, but few thought it would work until it was implimented successfully. The Enlightenment would have done little if it wasn't for people implimenting their ideas successfully, yet the same basic form of government would have emerged regardless of the writings of Rousseau et. al. Hence the founding fathers and French revolutionaries had more impact/influence than the writings they used.

Rubbish.

Without the idea, no possibility of change. Without those particular people but with the idea, possibility of change.

[Agathon]

It's like saying Newton was less important than people who used his ideas to make gadgets.

Locke, Rousseau et al changed the way people think of themselves.

You could add Freud to the list too. Every day I hear someone unwittingly describe themselves in terms of his theories.