A question

Hi

Very broadly, there are two theories of history. One is that history moves forward because of the actions of a few great people. The other is that history moves forward because of large-scale economic and political events

You have to decide which of those views you agree with. I'd say it's the second, but you must decide. Here's a link ...

AnonymousAre certain individuals of greater importance to the flow of history?

Do some people influence the course of events in world history more than others?
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Given the fact that I have never influenced the course of events in the world, but have mostly sat home minding my own busines

Hi

I have been a trade union representative for a few hundred workers in social housing (= project housing, US). My daughter is campaigning for a living wage in the media and entertainment industry

I don't think either of us expects to be a famous character in history. It's about joining in with what many other people believe in. Emphatically, no

Dave :-)

In other words you think you are as influential as Putin, Merkel, and Obama? Or as Darwin, Einstein, Jesus, or Mohammed, for that matter? Because that's what the original question was about.

CJ

Hi

I'd say that the politicians are there because they have the support of millions of voters; the scientists because they were backed up by the work of thousands of other scientists; the religious leaders because they represented large cultural communities

None of them would be famous if it weren't for the ordinary people behind them. If people like you and me had said 'Nah, we

dave_anonI'd say that the politicians are there because they have the support of millions of voters

In democracies, yes, but there have been a great many places and times in world history when democracy was not practiced. That aside, each of a million voters has one-millionth of the influence of the person who is elected. That's not equality in influence. T

Hi

There were significant protests at G7 and each of the politicians there knew they would face similar when they got back to their home countries

Of course, my influence on the globe is only one in about seven billion. But I still think the course of history will be decided by most of the seven billion rather than by a few people that can be name-checked

Dave :-)

OK. We're getting off-topic, so I'm going to bow out of this thread.

Laters.

CJ

Me too

I'm glad we illustrated one or two of the themes that the enquirer asked about

Best regards to you

Dave