14 Nov 07
I don't mean in terms of being a great person necessarily. It can be measured in terms of their contribution to academia, medicine, business, music, film, chess, or whatever their field was or whatever they did in life.
In terms of academia Einstein, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud come to mind.
I don't know who my number one is, but I back Kasparov hard!
If you don't like Jews then don't post, unless you can concede that some were great and you don't post something hateful!
14 Nov 07
Originally posted by twhiteheadSo tell us, how was the world a better place before Jesus came?
If you are talking about total contribution positive or negative then Jesus would win. If you are talking about mostly positive then I would pick Einstein. Although Jesus' intentions where probably good, the results had far reaching negative effects.
14 Nov 07
Originally posted by Bosse de NageThe Ba’al Shem! I love it! In that vein, we might as well add Moshe de Leon.
Bar Kokba...the Ba'al Shem Tov...Woody Allen...
Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides) and Baruch Spinoza, in the philosophical realm; also Derrida and Levinas. Wittgenstein, too, although he was raised as a Christian, baptized an buried as a Catholic (his parents were converts).
In what one might call mystical religious philosophy, Abraham Joshua Heschel is a giant; I rank him with, and perhaps a bit ahead of, Buber.
14 Nov 07
Originally posted by vistesdThat Moshe de Leon, he sounds like quite a character.
The Ba’al Shem! I love it! In that vein, we might as well add Moshe de Leon.
Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides) and Baruch Spinoza, in the philosophical realm; also Derrida and Levinas. Wittgenstein, too, although he was raised as a Christian, baptized an buried as a Catholic (his parents were converts).
In what one might call mystical religious philosophy, Abraham Joshua Heschel is a giant; I rank him with, and perhaps a bit ahead of, Buber.
The mediaeval ghetto; what a place.
Heschel -- intriguing, but a lot of reading...
Isaiah Berlin wrote a fascinating account of the irrationalist Hamann.
16 Nov 07
Originally posted by The Dude 84Sandy Koufax or Hank Greenberg?
I don't mean in terms of being a great person necessarily. It can be measured in terms of their contribution to academia, medicine, business, music, film, chess, or whatever their field was or whatever they did in life.
In terms of academia Einstein, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud come to mind.
I don't know who my number one is, but I back Kasparov hard! ...[text shortened]... n't post, unless you can concede that some were great and you don't post something hateful!