Top 3 most intelligent people of all time

In fact, we can see that most nominees in this thread are scientists of some sort. Einstein, for instance, although a genius in physics and also a very sensible man, wouldn't have been exactly the smartest guy you could have come across in everyday life. In fact, I'm pretty sure most people (here as well) would have categorized him as "slow-witted" if they'd dealt with him in some common situations (you know, driving down the lane, at the market, walking down the street, sipping something in a pub/bar etc etc).
Not necessarily a genius of some sort is a brilliant, intelligent guy all around...

 

Nikola Tesla rules.

 

I narrowed it down to 4 from about 12. It wasnt easy to just pick 3, so i left the 4. Between the 4 who would you have knocked out? /grin

epic

 

Albert Einstein
Emil Kraepelin
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus

 

Uh...duh...part of the trinity of god who is all-knowing implies he knows EVERYTHING and has unlimited intelligence...doesn't it?

 

To add to my post above: Tesla gave us AC-current and enabled the world to develop much faster thanks to broad use of electricity. Zuse invented the first computer as we know it. Otto made cars possible.

The contribution of people like Einstein to our civilization are more of theoretical nature, thus to be valued lower IMHO.

 

Shouldnt it be the other way around? strategic should always trump operational.

 

The relativity theory is not even 100% proven yet

 

The problem i see is that some people are just at the right time in history to get the credit. If person x hadnt done y by time t someone else would have soon enough.

epic

 

Intresting that you picked Pico della Mirandola. A professor I had is developing a evolutionary model on religous and philosophical thought, likes to refer to Pico a lot. After attending many lectures from Steve Farmer, I gained a lot of respect for Pico. Definatley an amazing human being and fascinating historical figure.

http://www.safarmer.com/pico/

 

In my opinion It should be as equal as possible.

and for some reason...I feel that Friedrich Nietzsche should be on this list....I've read his books but after watching a PBS hour long special on the existence of GOD and singularity (all that good stuff)...i've grown to have more respect for him as a writer and a thinker.

 

I wish there were criteria for this thread but...

1. the person who first harnessed fire.
2. the person who invented the wheel.
3. The first shaman/priest to organize a religion

with names now!

1. Imhotep - the worlds first known multi-genius
2. Da Vinci
3. Einstein/Newton/Tesla

 

In no particular order

Einstein
Newton
Gauss/Euler/Riemann
Galileo
Bach
Darwin

 

Prometheus. Paid a hety price for it too.

 

Einstein
Da Vinci
Newton
err... Pascal, Srinivasa Ramanujan?

 

Id say philosophy scores low on both the practical level and the strategic one (Also I think eternal recurrence was a bit of a cop out.)

 

I have no idea.

 

Ramanujan did an intense amount of work, starting off with very little.

 

What? No Joseph Campbell??

 

No Jesus the guy who created you and everything you have and holds it together by the force of His will. that Jesus.

What proof? 2,000 years before there were prophecies about him and 2,000 years later we are still talking aobut him.