World Thinkers 2013

The results of Prospect's world thinkers poll

by Prospect / April 24, 2013 / Leave a comment

Published in May 2013 issue of Prospect Magazine

Left to right: Ashraf Ghani, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker © US Embassy, Kabul © Rex Features

After more than 10,000 votes from over 100 countries, the results of Prospect’s world thinkers 2013 poll are in. Online polls often throw up curious results, but this top 10 offers a snapshot of the intellectual trends that dominate our age.

THE WINNERS

1. Richard Dawkins
When Richard Dawkins, the Oxford evolutionary biologist, coined the term “meme” in The Selfish Gene 37 years ago, he can’t have anticipated its current popularity as a word to describe internet fads. But this is only one of the ways in which he thrives as an intellectual in the internet age. He is also prolific on Twitter, with more than half a million followers—and his success in this poll attests to his popularity online. He uses this platform to attack his old foe, religion, and to promote science and rationalism. Uncompromising as his message may be, he’s not averse to poking fun at himself: in March he made a guest appearance on The Simpsons, lending his voice to a demon version of himself.

2. Ashraf Ghani
Few academics get the chance to put their ideas into practice. But after decades of research into building states at Columbia, Berkeley and Johns Hopkins, followed by a stint at the World Bank, Ashraf Ghani returned to his native Afghanistan to do just that. He served as the country’s finance minister and advised the UN on the transfer of power to the Afghans. He is now in charge of the Afghan Transition Coordination Commission and the Institute for State Effectiveness, applying his experience in Afghanistan elsewhere. He is already looking beyond the current crisis in Syria, raising important questions about what kind of state it will eventually become.

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Comments

Roberto
April 25, 2013 at 07:08
Oliver Sacks is not a psychologist.
Jeremy Fancher
April 25, 2013 at 11:13
The presence of Steven Pinker and Niall Ferguson illustrate the vast chasm between 'Prospect World Thinkers' and legitimate scholarship. These Harvard pop icons' psuedo-scholarship entice TED-talk devotees looking for glossy morsels of glib wisdom, but you'd be hard pressed to find any serious, respectable scholars amongst their legions of adoring fans.
jon mall
April 25, 2013 at 14:08
Startling absence of Terry Eagleton, Frederic Jameson, Michel Houellebecq, and Chomsky confirms the silliness of the list. As does the number of economists. And Zadie Smith? What? Oh, yes, of course, the towering intellect behind the recent NYRB piffle on 'Joy'.
Dimas
April 25, 2013 at 15:35
Dawkins Best.
Hayley
April 25, 2013 at 15:51
I find the lack of women in the Top Ten disconcerting.
David
April 25, 2013 at 16:00
The absence of Jürgen Habermas is equally revealing.
Andreas Moss
April 25, 2013 at 16:39
Confused about the total absence of Noam Chomsky. He's usually on top of lists like this, so its curious that he's not even in the Top 65 here.
Richard Block
April 25, 2013 at 17:34
This is a bit like a list of the top 100 albums. It is a matter of taste. As an atheist, Keynesian, and believer in evolutionary psychology and behavioural economics, I was pretty happy with the list. It's got a good beat, I can dance to it.
Ramesh Raghuvanshi
April 25, 2013 at 17:58
I voted Steven Pinker,Olive Sacks and Amartya Sen. Why voters chooses Richard Dawkins that I did not understand in my opinion he is pompous writer want publicity so always wrote loud rattling.He did not wrote anything in his entire life some thing original.He life long writing is carbon copy of Darwin. I did not read anything of Ashraf Ghani so did not give my opinion on him.
António M. A. Gonçalves
April 25, 2013 at 18:04
The absences mentioned in previous comments can perhaps be explained by the vote's criteria, namely the thinkers' "(...) influence over the past 12 months and their continuing significance for this year’s biggest questions." Even that would, of course, be debatable. But did anyone expect this or any other list to generate consensus?If there's one thing the list illustrates, to some extent at least, it's the strength of the availability bias. In this case, however, that's not even necessarily a bad thing, as the ability of people to easily bring to mind any of these names is a measure of their influence, if not of their stature as world thinkers.
Thomas
April 25, 2013 at 18:41
Hahha Christine Lagarde, a thinker, as a french I'm still laughing, please stop, ahah...
Simon
April 25, 2013 at 18:50
The inclusion of Jared Diamond on this list is depressing enough, but to call him an anthropologist is simply inaccurate. Diamond is not an anthropologist. He is an biologist/ornithologist whose work is anathema to most actual anthropologists.
ET
April 25, 2013 at 20:32
It's mostly a popularity contest. The lack of women and serious intellectuals is revealing.
Dale Marion
April 25, 2013 at 21:13
Great list, but it really should be called The worlds top thinkers...That you know of.
Amro Mar3y
April 25, 2013 at 21:14
I am one of those who believe in the curriculum of Egyptian President Dr. Mohamed Morsi. Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, the largest Dr. Morsi's opponents, but the presence of Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei on this list is a honor and pride of every Egyptian whatever political orientation
Roedy Green
April 25, 2013 at 21:17
I distrust the results. I would expect the top choices to all to be very well known. Such a poll is really more a measure of fame than merit.Little known choices at the top make me suspect some fiddling for political ends to make the USA look good in its imperialistic wars.
Evan Milner
April 26, 2013 at 00:10
The author's claim of being surprised at the "lack of women at the top of this year’s list" is a bit rich considering that the longlist drawn up by the panelists includes only 15 women out of the 65 names put forward.
RJD
April 26, 2013 at 00:16
The very presence of Dawkins on this list renders it meaningless.
Depressionist
April 26, 2013 at 01:05
What about Ben S. Bernanke's absence??
BAS
April 26, 2013 at 01:27
It's like the folks at American Idol came up with a top ten list.
Thiago
April 26, 2013 at 02:57
hahaha.. This is a joke? Dawkins? George Soros? kkkkkkkkkk
Denis F
April 26, 2013 at 04:11
Interesting to see the considerable number of scientists ..... and the complete absence of theologians.
P.Brain
April 26, 2013 at 04:29
I just noticed that I'm not bloody well on it either...well,then again,I do think for myself...
juliano
April 26, 2013 at 16:16
Where is Sheldon cooper?
Lena Tara
April 26, 2013 at 18:57
not prospectmagazine's fault since it was a poll (probably not even the fault of those who voted), but there are more important women thinkers than this list reflects. the problem is, they don't receive the same attention, credit, support, money and prominence as men. high time for the publishing industry and media to change that and invest more coverage, money, support into women thinkers. it's not that they're not there or not writing/thinking. it's just that no one thinks it's quite as important as the big guys. tradition is slow to change but as i said it's high time for the tradition of male public thinkers to change.
kingtute
April 26, 2013 at 22:30
There are other thinkers the Arab World you could chose from than AlBaradie . Opposition to Mubarak's rule goes way back than AlBaradei's . Many people on the national salvation front served under Mubarak , and did not show any opposition to his policy in the last 30 years of his rule !! .
Susan
April 27, 2013 at 07:37
The absence of all but a tiny handful of hard scientists and the inclusion of Hilary Mantel and Zadie Smith as "world thinkers" undermined this list for me.
Peter Melia
April 27, 2013 at 07:42
With regard to Higgs, I seem to remember that when the furore over the "discovery" of the Higgs boson had subsided somewhat, it leaked out that, no, the Higgs boson had not actually been found, but something pretty damn close to it. Not the same though, is it. Consider a basketball player, who didn't get the ball through the net, but pretty close to it.
James
April 27, 2013 at 14:54
Dawkins on a list of great thinkers ....excuse me while I have" spit take". People are so susceptible to good PR
mirwais
April 27, 2013 at 18:08
not just we all (afghans) but all asia must proud to Dr.Ashraf ghani ahmadzi
Ashraf ghani is the best
April 27, 2013 at 19:33
I proud by Ashraf ghani to get second position in all over the world .
Justin
April 27, 2013 at 19:41
It's no surprise Dawkins top this list as he is the high priest of pseudo-intellectualist nonsense. His reversal, under pressure of serious scholarship, of his claim in The God Delusion that Jesus Christ didn't exist and his refusal to debate William Lane Craig are both evidence of this. The poll sadly says more about who votes for this kind of list than it does about serious thinking. Thank God for our universities!
Najib
April 27, 2013 at 20:16
Ashraf Ghani is an asset for Afghan people but unfortunately he did not get the place where he deserved to be among us.
1. 10K Vote!?
  January 19, 2015 at 02:11
  Seriously!!? 10, 000 vote make you the thinker of 2013 !??? lol than I have 20,000 follower in Facebook from all over the world and the vote for me and I will be thinker 2015... lol come on guys don't bother urself....
faroz
April 27, 2013 at 21:45
Ashraf Ghani should think about future of Afghanistan, beacuse we have a lot of problem in our own country. anyway proud on him.
Julia K.
April 27, 2013 at 22:03
Judith Butler? There's on obvious penchant for white men here. Stop the old hierarchies, please! It's bad news.
Anti-Psycho
April 27, 2013 at 22:08
Most of the names are heard or known but many wonder who is the one on 2nd top name Ashraf Ghani, right after Dawkins. Listen to him: http://www.ted.com/talks/ashraf_ghani_on_rebuilding_broken_states.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMvz7zhZaPs
Garreth Byrne
April 28, 2013 at 04:03
Pop stars and pop thinkers - do they miss some of their authentic personality and personal depth by being treated as celebrities? Do any of these World Intellectuals get harrassed by screaming autograph seekers?
roders
April 28, 2013 at 06:16
i love the list as a non intellectual i like reading this list and look up the names and search what each person has written to enhance my knowledge. Yes you can find problems with the list but it just a bit of fun.
We Proud of You Ashraf Ghani
April 28, 2013 at 06:54
We Proud of You Ashraf Ghani,
Mohammad Nader Yama
April 28, 2013 at 07:35
Dr. Ghani is truly a somebody who strives to transition the state to the new generation of technocrats and leaders. He is very dynamic, inspiring and already finding his way to the hearts and minds of people in the periphery.His efforts would make the Transition in Afghanistan successful, make Transition to New Generation to happen, and eventually Transition Afghanistan from being seen as Terrorism to Tourism and Trade.Me being one of the technocrats in the Afghan Government working with him very closely, did enjoyed, learned and inspired of working with him and will continue to support his efforts and take on....
David Cheshire
April 28, 2013 at 14:38
Dawkins is a two trick pony. Selfish gene: not original. No physical evidence for God: elementary. A populariser not a thinker.
Julia
April 28, 2013 at 21:33
I am an atheist woman. But Richard Dawkins first? An intelectual who is rude with the diferent religions in the world? He can be smart in his field, but he does not respect people who wants to believe in divine things...
Aron Bronstein
April 29, 2013 at 02:43
When i think about thinkers i think about Kant or Nietzsche, the people in this list are media figures, not really deep original mind shattering thinkers. In 100 years they will be all nearly forgotten. Compared to Freud or Wittgenstein they are mice.
David Andrews
April 29, 2013 at 14:42
Nicholas Taleb should be in the top 5, Niall Ferguson should be nowhere, and Stephen Pinker, despite the fantastic head of hair, should be way down the list. His wife, however, deserves a place (Rebecca Goldstein)But c'mon, no Taleb???
WPW
April 29, 2013 at 17:23
The people railing - who are they railing against? The 10,000 who voted? Did they vote themselves?
Authentic
April 30, 2013 at 00:28
Who are the contretemps who devised this list?
Lee Paxton
May 2, 2013 at 19:02
This list is, as so many today, absurd. Really more of a reflection of our sad intellectual bankruptcy, rather than our thinkers. Today's so called economists especially lack in intellectual rigor, and as for Dawkins, a man I like; his books too, but woefully schooled in philosophy. Sixty years ago we would have names like Camus and Bertrand Russell. But as one writer above mentioned, where are men like Kant & Nietzsche?
Roger
May 9, 2013 at 01:55
Richard Dawkins No.1? Really? REALLY? Bottom of the barrel...
Jim Harper
May 9, 2013 at 16:21
Disappointed in lack of climate voices. There's Hansen, Stern and Skocpol, although Skocpol only makes it because of her (in)famous paper on the alleged failure of the climate movement. Why include Stern without including Nordhaus: their dueling discount rate papers were more brilliant in the context of each other than separately. And although Jim Hansen is a great hero of mine, has an unparalleled record in modelling and journal publishing, and IMO deserves major kudos for stepping out of his scientist comfort zone into activism (it couldn't have been easy for this rather reticent individual), I don't really see him as providing intellectual leadership on getting climate action done. Who is that voice? Is there one? McKibben? Romm? Richard Alley? Peter Sinclair. Michael Mann? I don't know, but I know we desperately need a voice for climate to emerge. Where's Rachel Carson when we need her.Love Arundhati Roy's inclusion. I met her during her book tour for God of Small Things, and she exuded brilliance even back then. Hasn't surprised me she went activiist and has been effective in doing so, although I'd love to see her write another novel.
chris
May 13, 2013 at 21:54
I agree that the absence of Chomsky makes the list irrelevant. Yet, I am asking myself why Michael Ruse is not on here. Yeah, thats right! New Atheism tries to deal in absolutes and disregards what philosophers and atheist theologists say.
Kramer
May 20, 2013 at 07:55
Women are 52% of the population. In the west, they are more than 50% of college graduates. It is not possible that you have no women in the top ten. Not. Possible. Re-evaluate. Something is wrong with your classification system. To leave out halve the population is just ridiculous. Enough already.
MilfordP
May 20, 2013 at 08:02
This reads more like Richard Branson's list of "guys I met at TED and other elitist conferences this year." Seriously, writing a tiny pop culture book that sells well does not make you a good thinker, it makes you a good marketer. You need to seriously revisit your list criteria and your process. And no women in the top 10? Really? Really? C'mon.
WPW
May 20, 2013 at 11:02
Astounding the number of comments by people who simply want the list to reflect their own prejudices. This list wasn't assembled, it was the result of a poll. I'm reminded of the liberal journalist who couldn't understand how Reagan had been elected because she "didn't know anyone who had voted for him".
RB2
May 20, 2013 at 16:00
It’s a bit dull to see Prof. Dawkins at the top of this list.What’s he actually done?1. He came up with a good metaphor around which he based a great work of popular science, The Selfish Gene. Well done for this, it was however quite a while ago. 2. He is frequently rude about religion, with rather less style and aplomb (and at far less personal risk) than people like Voltaire etc were a couple of centuries ago. 3. I challenge anyone to explain how any of his actual technical work in biology has impacted public debate. (or indeed what it actually consists of) 4. Or explain how the public understanding of science was improved during his tenure in the chair dedicated to this aim.
Thorsten Pattberg
May 20, 2013 at 18:27
I will eventually crash into that list in my life-time. Just need to find the god damn script again, haha. Go Slavoj, go!
najeeb rahmat
May 31, 2013 at 16:46
We proud of you respected Dr. Ashraf ghani ahmadzai. Wishing him to get first position by next year...
Mohammad Haroon Amarkhail
June 16, 2013 at 07:16
My cordial congratulations goes to his Excellency Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai for this honorable achievement. We all Afghans are proud of him and hope that once he gets the presidency of Afghanistan and lead the county toward prosperity. wish him all the best in his professional career.
Alireza Nejati
July 27, 2013 at 10:39
Thanke you for information ....good afghanistan ...good prospect...good world
Tamim
August 13, 2013 at 08:12
Ashraf Ghani really deserves to be in the place where he has been put by the votes of Prospect Magazine readers. For us, he is first because he has helped design and implement so many good and great programs in Afghanistan. We wish him a good health and continuous presence in Afghan politics and Economy.
Ali Ahmed
August 25, 2013 at 08:26
Who is that stupid guy who chose these ordinary person and ranked them as world thinkers?
Hossam
September 2, 2013 at 20:38
Congratulations Dr Mohamed ElBradei,,Egyptian and proud.
Wolfghostninja
September 15, 2013 at 07:02
Far too many economists on this list, with far too little concrete evidence that economic theory genuinely improves human lives rather than simply "muddying the waters".
Maxim Arnold
September 15, 2013 at 10:31
Shouldn't David Graeber be there somewhere?
Mukesh Negi
December 12, 2013 at 11:08
I would accepting Arvind Kejriwal
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January 25, 2014 at 14:55
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February 16, 2014 at 06:25
Very shortly this website will be famous amid all blogging and site-building viewers, due to it's pleasant content
Michael Somerscales
March 3, 2014 at 08:32
Back to Richard Dawkins' inclusion at the top of the list. I can't claim proficiency at understanding the details of his evolutionary research, which appears to be both original and far reaching, but I'd like to comment on his populist stance vis-a-vis religion and it's effect on the world at large. Dawkins' academic background, rooted in scientific thought, has clearly provided him with the ability to see the irrationality of conventional religious worship. The perspective of his upbringing, mellowed somewhat by a relatively benign Anglican tradition, which he rightly acknowledges, has had to confront the current world in which religious intolerance, bigotry and ignorance abounds. He recognizes the negative effect religious dogma has incurred on mankind throughout history and justly feels an obligation to offset it. He doesn't shirk away from addressing those believers who look to faith as a comfort, because he feels that they, as victims, should accept the world we live in without a crutch. It is better to face reality and deal with life honestly than hide behind the false promises of an afterlife. The harsh words of criticism he sometimes uses are usually applied only to those who most deserve them; the proponents and advocates and the profiteers who expound the most extreme ideas with bogus logic, utilized to persuade their naive followers. He also chastises those institutions, well intentioned though their motives may be, that are simply guiding the world in the wrong direction. He may periodically come across as rather peevish in his attacks, occasionally overstating his case, but we must remember how virulent the opposition can be. Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. I do commend his efforts to enhance rational thought in this crazy world of ours. It takes heroic courage to risk ones reputation and livelihood advocating ideas that many find abhorrent, and do it with such elegance and style.
any mary
April 11, 2014 at 08:40
Twitter also gave readers a chance to respond to the list and highlight notable omissions, many comment thank you for tagging this awesome blog
Fahim Pashtoon Wardag
April 17, 2014 at 19:21
How could Ashraf Ghani become a thinker while he has not even a single article for his Afghan people in their native language Pashto? No one in Afghanistan knows what he thinks?
S.M. Paiman Aslami
April 21, 2014 at 07:13
Proud to be an Afghan as Ashraf Ghani is the second man of the world thinkers.
Nasrullah
May 23, 2014 at 19:55
Very very proud to an Afghan as Ashraf Ghani is the second Intellegend man of the world thinkers and specially In Afghan.
Ganpat
June 9, 2014 at 17:25
What a pitiful bunch - with the exception of Krugman, Piketty and Ha Joon Chang. (I am speaking of economics and politics and history.)The rest are just jokers.I find it hard to take a list of thinkers with Arudhati Roy on it seriously..
Richard
June 10, 2014 at 19:19
Not one "New Right" thinker? Alain de Benoist? Alexander Dugin? My God, Dawkins????Pinker?No environmentalist, no theist....economics and neo liberal and liberalists extraordinaire, no wonder the West is collapsing.
Samir
June 12, 2014 at 12:22
I really like Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and his idea, he is really one of the best two thinker of the would , I want to be like him, I know it will be very hard but I think with hard working I can be like him, he is the hero of my mine the who can make Afghanistan, the one who is the best chance of Afghanistan, I respect him, and I vote him
Wali Khan
June 17, 2014 at 10:48
By Respect to all world 10 thinkerthe most respectfully is Ghani which is he shows practicly in afghanistan he is a real thinker and perfect man
hamidudin
June 19, 2014 at 08:36
i am proud that we have ashraf ghani .the honest and perfect man .................. proud ......proud ...proud to ashraf ghani