[Guille]

I wonder. We tend to talk about thinkers, and great thinkers. What is the difference? What makes a thinker become or be considered a GREAT thinker?

Is it:
Grand
Retrospective
Energetic
Asimilation of
Thoughts
????????

OR what?

[Guille]

I've been thinking. Should we consider "great thinker" all of those that have contributed in a mayor positive manner to the evolution or existence of humanity, by his/her thoughts? But then we would have the problem of deciding which contributions are bad and which are good. Is tv good? Without it, all those documentaries and news wouldn't be there... But also we wouldn't have all that tv sh...! Is internet good? Without it, we wouldn't have wikipedia or toequest... But also we wouldn't have child pornography and all that sh... around!

Should we consider thinker that who thinks? In such case, all human being (yes, it may look amazing but also politicians) could be considered thinkers. And should we consider great thinker that who thinks a lot? But now, what if he thought a lot but destructivelly (Hitler thought a lot about his invations... so if we use this--clearlly wrong--description of great thinkers, Hitler would be one!).

[michellemfry]

A great thinker often breaks new ground on a particular subject, is capable of much synthesis, and consistently stays active in the forums in order that they might stay current to the discussions. A great thinker can start a new topic, steer an existing topic, and finalize the discussion of a well worn topic. A great thinker can write on a subject, rather than just comment or inspire. They consistently write thoroughly on a subject. There are a few great thinkers around and we depend on them more than we realize.

[Guille]

Originally Posted by michellemfry A great thinker often breaks new ground on a particular subject, is capable of much synthesis, and consistently stays active in the forums in order that they might stay current to the discussions. A great thinker can start a new topic, steer an existing topic, and finalize the discussion of a well worn topic. A great thinker can write on a subject, rather than just comment or inspire. They consistently write thoroughly on a subject. There are a few great thinkers around and we depend on them more than we realize.

So we cans ay a great thinker is a genius. Whiles just a "thinker" is???

[michellemfry]

A thinker would be just the rest of us, I'm afraid. Sorry, but so true. Little thinkers tend to follow those great thinkers. It's the sincerest form of flattery. I'm comfortable with that place.

I expect that when I finally hear the TOE it will break such new ground as we have never heard before. I am prepared for even absurdity. None of our theories has that element. Maybe it's time has come.

[Guille]

Well, I don't consider myself a great thinker and yet I follow no thinker or movement, the only thoughts in which i slightly base to discover are mine, and I'm quite of an inconformist when comming about ideas. Great thinkers are genius that manage to develop new great thoughts. Thinkers are all those that manage to define, explain, describe, understand.... thoughts. So someone that write a book about hermeneutics is a thinker, but not a great thinker (the great tihnker would be Heidegger for he developed hermeneutics). I knwo that all of us think, but when I say thinke ris not that who tihnks but that who thinks a lot and is quite good at it. So we divide between genius and thinker. But what is genius? Ability to create?

[michellemfry]

What is genius? That would be a great thread. I think someone who has covered alot of ground and consistently breaks new ground is a genius. We all have fundamentals that we use, rely on, and abuse. To go a little farther is a risk that we take. There is more risk involved than creative thought.

[mkirkpatrick]

A great thinker is one who can of course communicate his/her thoughts,so that the
thoughts can be known to all the fellow peers of the place of origin,plus of course,putting
pen to paper,so that the profound thinker,is duly recorded for posterity.Who knows maybe
one of us on this forum,will make the grade,"no names no pack drill"?


regards michael.

[mkirkpatrick]

For when a man knows not his own first principle,and when the conclusion and intermediate steps are also constructed out of he know what,how can he imagine that such a fabric of convention can ever become science? Plato.


regards michael.

[mkirkpatrick]

What makes a great thinker is;profound magnetic utterences that are simple to grasp,
but contain more than is easily explainable,that reach the ear that will carry the idea into
history,and posterity.Is this prehaps someone i know?



regards michael.