1. William James
American pragmatist philosopher. His contribution was to seek to tear away the nonsense and word games of classical philosophy. He was concerned with "what difference does it make?" Unfortunately he was not very successful and the word games continue.
2. James Clerk Maxwell
Remarkable Scots physicist who worked out the mathematics of electromagnetic waves. In some respects even greater than Einstein. A very humble and regular fellow who tends to be neglected because of this. At the peak of his career took some years off to write a biography of Cavendish because he felt Cavendish had been ignored.
3. Louis Pasteur
A great creative thinker. In every field he touched, from beer fermentation to silk worm disease to cholera, he turned up powerful new ideas. A great example of creativity in science.
4. Charles Babbage
Inventor of the computer in the middle of the nineteenth century. Laid the theoretical framework for today's computers.
5. Karl Marx
Had great motivation and good ideas but did not understand either systems behaviour or human nature. The failure of Marxism does not mean his ideas had no merit.
6. Henri Rousseau
An arch hypocrite who preached one way and lived another way. Nevertheless he set the basis for today's values, sentiment and politically correct behaviour.
7. Thomas Edison
A superb example of deliberate creativity at work to take advantage of emerging technology.
8. Thomas Aquinas
Theologian who embraced the rational logic of the Renaissance and converted it into a powerful thinking system. Most religious leaders shunned this sort of thinking because it would destroy blind faith.
9. Catherine the Great of Russia
A remarkably skillful political leader. Succeeded when almost everything was stacked against her. A minor German princess in a macho Russia, she nevertheless triumphed.
10. Walt Disney
An example of superb entertainment and communication skills in a media age. Having the means to communicate does not guarantee the value of the content.
