ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & OTHER NOTES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to individuals and organizations whose help facilitated my research-hauls, which culminated in this publication. Profound appreciations are for the libraries and research centers of these institutions: University of Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, University of Applied Sciences Winterthur, University of Basel, University of Bern, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, École Polytechnique Lausanne, Institut de Hautes Études Scientifiques Bures-sur-Yvette, Pierre and Marie Curie University Paris, École Polytechnique Palaiseau, École Normale Supérieure Lyon, University of Milan, Sapienza University of Rome, University of Pisa, University of Bologna, University of Salamanca, Humboldt University Berlin, Georg August University Goettingen, Goethe University Frankfurt, University of Vienna, Charles University Prague, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow, University of Melbourne, University of Southern Queensland, National University of Singapore, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tsinghua University, Wuhan University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beihang University, South China University of Technology Guangzhou, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Osaka University, University of Tokyo, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, University of Mumbai, University of Madras, University of Calcutta, Assuit University, Cairo University, Al-Azhar University Cairo, Alexandria University, University of al-Qarawiyyin Fez, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Ghana Accra, University of São Paulo, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California 10-Uni-System, and a host of others. Kindly accept my succinct but heartfelt gratitude in lieu of the pages that would be needed to thank you all.
SCOPE AND CRITERIA
Ancient sciences comprised of maths, astronomy, medicine and metallurgy. Alchemy was an adventurous pseudoscience: pursued in the hope of economic guerdons. Before the 19th century, those core sciences we know now as physics, chemistry and biology were collectively referred to as natural philosophy. Only their applied forms (such as medicine and engineering) were clearly demarcated. This project traversed the entire fields of pure and applied sciences: dating from the Mesopotamian era to the dawn of 21st century AD. In other words, the 5000 years between 3000 BC and 2000 AD. As highlighted in the Introduction, my research which saw me visiting over 20 countries (and territories) took more than 15 years to conclude. The rankings were based on merit. My four criteria (each of which carries 25% of the total assessment points) are: overall ability, versatility, productivity and developmental influences. These are no doubt ideal. Though, sieving-out thousands of contenders was to say the least, onerous. Hence, this compilation (including extra revisitations and reassessments) took me years to finalize. Without bothering you with the dour intricacies, I will attest that (based on my experiences) assessments like these are abraded with inherent defects. But at the same time, they evince statistical accuracies, which enhance validity by diluting each of those defects. Comparative analyses can be arduous. The difficulties I encountered in the course of this assignment were immense. Notwithstanding, I did gain insights which still thrill me. Apart from visiting so many places, it was exhilarating to behold all those antique manuscripts whose stories inspired me. Thus, I have become even more knowledge-thirsty; and would continue to update this website, other portals, and the related pages of wikipedia, if I come across any new data. For all intents and purposes, sapaviva remains an ongoing project.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Based on the fact that historic injustices permeate our social and professional lives, it was imperative to ameliorate their impacts: whenever and wherever possible. Hence, in all instances where capable and/or promising individuals were systematically hindered—through sabotage, persecution, discrimination, etc., the circumstances of such hindrances were taken into account during my evaluations. Examples of those affected are Hypatia of Alexandria, Marie Curie, Emmy Noether, Katherine Coleman Johnson, Lise Meitner, George Washington Carver, Georg Cantor, Galileo Galilei, Vivien Theodore Thomas, Jesse Ernest Wilkins Jr., and James Joseph Sylvester. As compensation, I prioritized their natural talents such as ingenuity, deftness, expertise, and resourcefulness above all else in evaluating what should be their optimal ranking positions.
DISCLAIMER
Although I did my best in ranking those scientists (and mathematicians) as they deserved, I admit that it is practically impossible to obtain complete information on their respective lives and works. I was particularly disappointed by Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras, Hippocrates and Archimedes. Despite millennium-old stories about their achievements, few proofs exist. Every “expert” I confronted with the astonishing lack of substantiations admitted that in their stead, tales might have sufficed. Even the “authoritative” catalogs I perused replicated those tales with pardonable exaggerations. Also, majority of the inventions attributed to these Greeks were developed and used by Egyptians many centuries prior. Hence, reexamining “the works of these philosophers” did expose inextricable tinctures of facts and fictions. And in the absence of better options, I had no choice but make do with inherently embellished ‘proofs’. As a result, this site is presented in “as it stands” basis. You must condone all the shortcomings therein. It is always difficult to comparatively rank people or things. And, I do not claim perfection of any sort. Notwithstanding, my research were based on the available facts; neither hypes nor myths were invoked. So, bear with me. Thanks for understanding.
UNSUNG HEROES AND COINCIDENCES
Maths and astronomy are the oldest sciences. Prior to European ascendancy, the ancient empires of Egypt, Babylon, China, India, Japan, Persia, Arabia, Maya, Inca, Aztec, Kush and Western Sudan dominated these sciences. But it is unfortunate that much of the intellectual glories went to their sovereigns; instead of the geniuses who drove the civilizations. As a result, little is known about them: thereby making it impossible to assess and rank them. Also, I perceived coincidences (during my research), which connected a number of scientists. For example, the two female pioneers of Radioactive Chemistry and Nuclear Physics, Marie Curie and Lise Meitner, share the November 7th birthday. Claude Bernard, Wilhelm Roentgen and Joseph Lister, all of whom advanced medical sciences in the 19th century, died on the 10th day of February. These three ingenious pacesetters: Pierre-Simon Laplace, Emmy Noether and Wernher von Braun share the March 23rd birthday. Two of the world’s most impressive polymaths: Alhazen Ibn al-Haytham and Gottfried von Leibniz, share the July 1st birthday. Similarly, two of the acclaimed scientific revolutionaries: Paul Ehrlich and Albert Einstein share the March 14th birthday; whereas these two 18th century great physicists: Alessandro Volta and Pierre-Simon Laplace died peacefully on the same day (which was Monday the 5th day of March 1827).
THE REALM OF INTELLECTUAL MIRACLES
For most parts, the lives and works of great scientists are fascinating. Numerous things about them seem impressive. But even more awesome are the virtuosos who despite having little or no training, dominated their respective fields at the highest levels. Everything about them is mind-blowing. I mean; how could one explain the triumphs of an “academic nobody” like Srinivasa Ramanujan, who quelled penury, poor health, and several other vicissitudes to dominate leading mathematicians in their own domain. The same applies to Vivien Theodore Thomas, whose innate abilities relegated racism, privation, and incommensurate High School Certificate: compelling top cardiologists, as well as surgery professors, to seek his advice. Needless to mention Michael Faraday, who lacked even Primary School Certificate; yet, rose to become the greatest experimenter in the entire history of science. Are we missing something? Or, are there intellectual miracles which remain as mysterious as science itself? Even after holidaying in the territories of ultra-geniuses, the abilities of Ramanujan, Thomas and Faraday still had me wondering: How could such rarities be explained?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Valentine Oduenyi. I live in Switzerland, and enjoy learning. Having excelled in academics as a child, I became disillusioned with the Education System during my teenage years. Even now, I still believe that reforms are overdue. All the academic curricula which I have reviewed seemed profoundly deficient. And as such, my four degrees from universities in three continents are just for official purposes. I consider myself a perpetual student. The liberty to explore various disciplines is invigorating. Perhaps, that is why studying is a lot more intriguing to me now than while at school. As an omnivore, I nibble at Sciences, Arts, and everything in-between. For a glimpse into my perspectives and philosophies, click on the following link https://www.sapaviva.com/the-220-quotes-of-valentine-oduenyi. Thanks for visiting. I wish you all the best.