In your opinion, who is the most influential figure throughout history?

In your opinion, who do you think had the most influential impact upon history?

SW-User

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Every modern political and societal argument can be traced back to them. The roles, rights, motivations, and duties of the individual versus the obligation to mankind and society are at the core of all our modern political debates as well as our historical debates, and those concepts were first fully articulated by them. If you want to find ground zero, start with those three.

firefall · 61-69, M

Probably Yeshua son of Yosef, measured by length of time, number of people affected, and depth of change/effectiveness.

From what I've read of history from 3rd century BCE through to 8th century CE, the religion founded in his name and inspired by his actions & speeches, had a truly profound, positive*, effect on the views of sacredness of life, infliction of cruelty, and sharing wealth. Given the (by modern standards) cruelty and casual disregard for life that was endemic in the trans-Mediterranean area, and the enormous spread subsequently to other continents, it seems to me to be the most influence.

Mohammed would be a close-runner up, who I put lesser primarily just because his influence has 600 fewer years to work.

*positive on balance, anyway

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therighttothink50 · 56-60, M

Without a doubt it is Winston Churchill, he saved western civilization and individual liberty. Without Churchill we would be currently existing in a full blown totalitarian state of dystopia, a place the leftist psychopaths wish us to inhabit today or in the near future. The fascist left is the greatest threat to mankind today.

Northwest · M

Abraham, if you believe he's a real person.

monte3 · 70-79, M

It has to be a religious figure because than the influence can last 1000’s of years . So Jesus or Mohamed or Budda.

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jackjjackson · 61-69, M

Excellent response. I elected to leave out religious figures to avoid the wrath of the libs who deny the existence of a deity. @monte3

monte3 · 70-79, M

Actually I think you could/should come to the Sam conclusion even if you were a militant atheist. If your teachings are influencing people 2000 years later THAT is influence.
And not all Democrats or liberals are atheists, as I am sure you know.@jackjjackson

jackjjackson · 61-69, M

True and all good points. I’m not sure whether the existence of Jesus had ever been confirmed. The Ten Commandments seem pretty important and sensible so maybe Moses should be in the mix. @monte3