How would you rank the top 10 scientists of all time?

Question

Think carefully, and try to avoid bias (ie picking more physicists if you happen to enjoy physics)

And if you do give a ranking, an explanation of why would be nice. Asinine answers aren't really appreciated.

Answer 1

From 1 to 10

Answer 2

Ranking scientists would be like ranking the answers you get here. It's all about the useful content. But seriously, folks...

The contenders would have to make contributions in several different areas, have ideas that were ahead of their time, and their work would have a profound effect upon our lives.

Remember, some of the best scientists have not had plentiful resources, nor have their ideas been accepted during their lifetime.

It's possible to find scientists in unusual surroundings, like Dr. Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan and Dr. Christian Barnard. Keep an open mind, and Good Luck.

Answer 3

Well, first I'd draw up a grant proposal to establish a committee to study the problem. Once we received funding, a poll of the major universities would determine a list of candidates by consensus. Female and minority candidates would be weighted to insure an unbiased result. The committee would then vote on the top 10, the result of which would require at least one woman, two racial minorities, at least 4 nationalities, and a minimum of 6 disciplines of study to be considered unbiased. If such a spread could not be reached, the committee would conclude such an undertaking impossible....then we'd write a grant proposal to study the lack of minority representation within the scientific community.

Answer 4

Make them fight! The winner will be the first etc.
You can not rank them.
Without Archimedes or Newton Einstein could not solve his problems.
This ranking thing is useless.

Answer 5

Galileo
Freud
Einstein
Banting & Best
Curi
Newton
Tesla
Edison
Copernicus
Archimedes