Now, I am not sure that we can really judge the "smartest people of all time", given the extensive history of the entire world, and the vast contributions by intellectuals the world over. Especially when we want to narrow it down to 40, like this list suggests.
So, as interesting as the first link is, it really is a limiting subject matter, albeit fascinating. Some people come immediately to mind, such as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking in recent times, and Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilee, Michelangelo, and Da Vinci, going much further back. But what of the contributions of other geniuses throughout history. What about Tesla? What about some of the truly inspired inventors over the course of literally millenia, literally the world over? Can we even really narrow it down to simply the 40 smartest throughout history?
Personally, I have my doubts.
Now, the next link is about the 15 smartest presidents of all time, and that, I believe, is a different matter. After all, there have only been 43 of them (remember that Grover Cleveland counts twice, having served two different times as president, with years spaced out in between the terms). Plus, they are well-documented, their actions and speeches. We can indeed gauge their intelligence based on these things, as well as how they conducted themselves, and then judge accordingly, if we are to judge. But the thing is, there are different ways of looking at these things, as well. I have seen comparable lists that, at different times, placed Kennedy, Clinton, and Carter atop the list. In this one, we have someone that dates back much, much farther in history.
So, whether we can actually judge these guys or now, this is a fascinating subject to think about and, of course, to discuss. I welcome any and all comments or questions, so please feel free!
Here are the links:
The 40 smartest people of all time NATASHA BERTRAND FEB. 27, 2015:
The 15 smartest US presidents of all time NATASHA BERTRAND MAR. 30, 2015
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