You need your thinking cap on...

[xfactor]

Most influential in the 20th century.

Albert Einstein

The most recognized physics equation: E=mc2.

What is the consequence of this law? If an atom splits into two with slightly less total mass, a tremendous amount of energy is released. In other words it pretty much describes the relation between mass and energy, or the key relation to making an atomic bomb.

 

[Hornet]

Albert Einstien was voted by the editors of Time magazine as the most influential and considering his theories lead to the creation of the atomic bomb and nuclear power which in turn lead to the cold war and the capitalist/communist world power struggle.

The people voted Elvis Presley and although he changed the course of music I think the creation of TV and colour motion pictures had a bigger effect.

Henry Ford's assembly line manufacturing process changed the course of history as it pertained to manufacturing but so did the practise of parts standardization that allowed the Allies to mass produce and repair vehicles and armour on the battlefield quicker then the Axis. They won the battle of attrition as a result.

The guys that created the internet, the IBM guys that created the computer, the founders of the OPEC cartel that controls the oil all play a big role.

I think its Albert Einstein as the trickled down effect or his theories reach futher than any of anyone else.

However, the Pope could easily fall into that category as he is the spiratual leader of the Catholic religion.

 

[Cool Dude]

Somehow I think our friend Chivas
has chosen someone a little more obscure.

 

[Cool Dude]

Well that was a waste of time.

Perhaps your friend Holden knows the correct answer

Sensing a clue here I perused the posts of Holden MacNeil. The only thing I learned was he and Banky Edwards are the same person or VERY close friends. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Was this a hint Chivas?

 

[gala]

Margaret Sanger, the woman who fought from 1914 to 1969 to make contraception legal and acceptable in America, and by extension, the world. Her efforts culminated in the full legalization of contraception in America in 1972.

I think her influence extends to China's ability to control its population, the sexual revolution of the 1960's, the aging of Western populations, and ultimately, by freeing women from perpetual pregnancy, in the success of the feminist movement which has so transformed our world.

Without her efforts condoms, pills, etc., might not be so widely available, or so effective, as they are today. Women might still be tied to the kitchen, many more people would be starving, and we would be a much poorer and much more conservative society.

Way to go Margaret.

 

[Ogenstein]

Adolph Hitler

He started the largest war the world has ever and hopefully will ever see. That war killed over 56 million people including over 21 million Russians and 11 million Chinese.

Japan and China were already fighting prior to Germany's engagement. Offhand, I don't think any Chinese were killed by any Germans. Whatever burdens his ghost bears, that isn't one of them.

 

[Ogenstein]

Incidentally, Average Joe...

I agree with you. There's even more to it. He was responsible for chasing countless peoples out of continental Europe before and during the war. Many of these made their way to North America. I think a lot of them were heavily involved in the post-war development of American technology. A lot of them were writers and artists and musicians who influenced others as well.

His efforts to lose a two-front war ensured that the armies of the West and those of the Soviets would meet somewhere in the middle. His efforts decisively elevated the U.S. and the USSR to the top of the heap because of the gargantuan efforts required to bring Germany down. It broke France and the UK and relegated them to secondary powers. While indirect, China rose to the second tier in the aftermath.

The timing of the bomb's development was more directly related to his efforts than to Einstein's. Germany's working on it provoked the efforts of the Americans.

The Soviet Union was already interested in world domination. They weren't capable of extending their reach though until Hitler had caused the entire nation to mobilise. Remember, it was the same person running the USSR before, during and after the war. Einstein didn't influence him directly.

Finally, it wasn't until after WW2 that the modern ideologies of democracy/capitalism and communism/collectivism engaged face to face. Prior to WW2, the Soviet Union was too busy consolidating power (e.g. crushing the Ukraine and instituting collectivism nationally) to gaze outward upon the world. It was part of their ideology but beyond their capability.

Just an opinion

 

[Chivas Regal]

Very good ALL

The answer is indeed within the thread!

It is always a great conversation/argument starter at any party, and it will generally last until desert!

The person in question is the person who uttered the following quote=

"I follow my course with the precision and security of a sleepwalker."

food for thought sure, and the speaker is someone that influenced everyperson mentioned within the thread, Who then praytell is it?

Chivas

 

[TravellingGuy]

Spill it

If someone in the thread already guessed it, then tell us who this person you believe to be the most influential is.

As for Einstein, even his theories on gravity won't last for ever:

http://slate.msn.com/?id=2072733

Considering how fast we have advanced in the last 100 years, this next century will make this discussion seem meaningless.

 

[Sansabelt]

That's a quote from Hitler. What a madman he was.

Cheers.

Slackman

 

[Chivas Regal]

Adolf Hitler

Never before was the world so united in defeating evil.

This person sparked advancements in Science, Ideology, Geography, Religion, War, Medicine and Inventions.

Albert Einstein was a reaction to Adolf, as was Winston Churchill, surprised no one mentioned him.

"That's a quote from Hitler. What a madman he was." Indeed it is, you were quick to pick that up. And you are right he was a Madman, I don't disagree. I didn't say the most influential would be the most popular, did I? But this one person alone influenced a Whole World United, and still illicits fear a reaction from people 57 years after his death.

JMHO, Chivas

 

[Perry Mason]

Chivas: That is not a clue, it is a giveaway...

In spirit and style, it is something that Einstein might have said... but, of course, it was not him.

But, yes, WW II triggered an explosion of technological development, and technological advance over the past 60 years has totally changed each and every one of us.

As Shakespeare said:
"The evil that men do lives after them.
The good is oft is interred with their bones."

Perry

added after reading the last 2 or 3 messages

Oooops... I see others have quicker fingers than I!

But, my firend, saying that Einstein was a reaction to Adolf is to grossly undervalue Einstein... though he did leave Germany because of the rise in fascism. Had he stayed, he probably would have been burned in one of Hitler's crematoria.

 

[Chivas Regal]

Not meant to offend

Sheik, as I stated above, I concur with your sentiments, I absolutely agree with you!

But as you have stated, he still affects the world to this day.

Chivas

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Even if the rest of you disagree, I still think Fred Zed is better than Hitler.

*runs*

 

[xfactor]

Hitler was simply a 20th century incarnation of a mass murderer. His impact can only be felt if you measure influence by the number of people that were killed. Ultimately it is not about the lives that were lost but, the lives that were changed. Whether its through acts of courage, sacrifice or the simple elegance of a scientific formula, the most influential are those that have managed to provide us with a lasting inspiration. As one author puts it, “..an idea that changes lives can have more power than an army that takes them.”

Yes, you’re right, Hitler did affect us, but did he ultimately influence us? The answer is NO.

BTW, Einstein was not a reaction to Hitler. Among other things, Einstein was a reaction to the failure of Isaac Newton’s theories to explain certain phenomenon like the bending of starlight by gravity and the tiny shift in the orbit of the planet Mercury.

 

[Chivas Regal]

Einstein left Germany because of Hitler and ultimately E=mc2 is a reaction to the atrocities that one man started.

Yes, Einstein was a genious, but he was conscripted by the USA to develop the bomb, as were many European scientists.

Chivas

 

[shack]

My 1st choice was Einstein.

My 2nd choice was whoever invented Viagra.

 

[gala]

Einstein was not a reaction to Hitler. He was born in 1879, and completed his most important work in Switzerland around 1900--publishing his work on relativity in 1905 and 1906. He received his Nobel prize in 1921, a full decade befor Hitler came to power.

He renounced his German citizenship and moved to America in reaction to Hitler--but he'd already made his mark by then.

It took a very long time for the significance of his discoveries to sink in to the popular consciousness, not until well into the 1950's and 60's, which is why it seems like his work happened after Hitler.

 

[Perry Mason]

How do you divide any person, most important or otherwise, into categories?

Does it hurt?

But I am really writing to protest your spelling. I am not usually all that fussy, but in this case I am: it is Gandhi, not Gandi!

Perry

 

[Chivas Regal]

Here we go again...

Not sure if this is all time or 20 th century...


1. Political - Winston Churchill
2. Scientific- The inventor of the Zipper
3. Literary-The Gutenberg Bible, Gene Roddenberry
4. Music- Elvis
5. Social/Human Rights- Martin Luther King