Science Forums 2

[Boerseun]

Isaac Newton.

I cannot see why they keep on including Stephen Hawking in lists like these. I think he's getting way more credit than he deserves. Probably 'cause we simpletons cannot see beyond his wheelchair, and we are bulled into the romantic notion of this incredible brain living amongst us, denied the use of a proper body. So we credit him with more and more and more intelligence. Besides, he knows it, and he's cashing in on it. Go and read "The Universe in a Nutshell" to see how incredibly full of himself this guy is, and how shamelessly he goes about flogging his disability. For cash. I think the guy's a con, but that's a bit off-topic.

Ole' Isaac gets my vote, 'cause I reckon he had the biggest influence to this day. But then it must also be said that he couldn't have done what he did without being able to stand on the shoulders of all the greats before him, all the way back to the very first guy who did the very first experiment. So it's hard to say.