Thoughts. Everyone has them, but most of us will never influence the history of humanity with them. This list presents the top ten thinkers based on their influence on our species today.
10) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)– The German musical prodigy completely changed the way music was played. He reinvented the symphony, reshaped string quartets, and redefined piano sonatas with his own unique twists. Beethoven began going deaf when he was in his mid-20’s, and still went on to create some of the most well-known and influential musical pieces to this date. Musically, there may not be a more influential thinker.
9) Epicurus (341 BC-270 BC)– Epicurus is best known for his contributions to philosophy and science. His view was that we should only believe what could be proven with empirical evidence and logic. This helped to lay the foundation for Western-thinking and analysis. Epicurus was also a pioneer for hedonism, which is the belief that pleasure is the only intrinsic value. This pleasure, in his view, derived from the appreciation of the simple things in life and philosophical conversations with friends rather than physical pleasures such as sex or intoxication.
8) Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)– Perhaps the most famous name in art history, Michelangelo was and is, to this day, one of the most influential artists to have ever lived. Raised in Florence, Italy during the Italian Renaissance, the stage was set to bring out the most in the young artist. Michelangelo is known most prominently for his Sistine Chapel ceiling painting that features The Creation of Adam, but the artist was also a talented architect, poet, and philosopher. There is no doubt that Michelangelo’s genius is still felt to this day.
7) Plato (428 BC-348 BC)– As a young man, Plato’s main interests were comprised of the arts. His aspirations were to be a playwright and/or a poet, but these quickly ceased in his late-teens after he attended a speech by Socrates at the market. Plato devoted his life to philosophy, and as a result, produced some of the most influential philosophical works in history. His works were in the form of dialogues, where several characters argue a topic by asking questions of each other. By using this form of writing, it allowed Plato to present several different sides of an argument and let the reader decide what is right and wrong for themselves.
6) Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)– Nikola Tesla’s inspirational story started in Croatia in the mid-19th century. As a young man in his 20’s, he moved to America for the opportunity to gain interest for his induction motor. Tesla introduced himself to Thomas Edison when he arrived, and found himself working alongside Edison for about a year before going their separate ways. Tesla would bounce back, however, as he sold patents for his Alternating Current motor for $60,000 and stock in the buyer’s company. These electric motors are still used everyday in washers, dryers, refrigerators, fans, elevators, and more.
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