- #1
Loren Booda
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Vincent van Gogh comes to mind as someone who gained fame only after their death. What others can you think of?
Who Gained Fame Posthumously Like Van Gogh?
- Thread starter Loren Booda
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around individuals who gained fame posthumously, similar to Vincent van Gogh. Participants share various examples from different fields, including art, science, and philosophy, while exploring the circumstances surrounding their lack of recognition during their lifetimes.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Exploratory
Main Points Raised
- Some participants mention Vincent van Gogh as a primary example of posthumous fame.
- Others propose Socrates, noting his execution for opposing the government.
- Galois is mentioned as someone who did not have enough time to be appreciated by society.
- J.S. Bach is cited, with a note that his sons were more famous at the time of his death.
- Alfred Wegener is referenced, along with a link to a related model by Kuhn.
- Franz Schubert and Robert Goddard are also suggested as figures who gained recognition after their deaths.
- Boltzmann is included in the list of individuals who were underappreciated during their lifetimes.
- Charles Darwin and Nikola Tesla are mentioned as well.
- One participant raises the issue of women in science from the early 20th century, specifically referencing 'Pickering's Harem' and their varying degrees of recognition.
- Another participant points out prehistoric individuals who contributed significantly but remain unsung.
- Guy Fawkes is noted as someone who became famous due to his death, despite not being appreciated in life.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants present a variety of examples and perspectives, with no clear consensus on a definitive list of individuals or the criteria for posthumous fame. The discussion remains open-ended, with multiple competing views and interpretations.
Contextual Notes
Some participants challenge the framing of certain historical figures' deaths, particularly Socrates, suggesting that the language used to describe their circumstances may be subjective.
- #2
rootX
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Reminds me of ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkvLq0TYiwI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkvLq0TYiwI
- #3
Char. Limit
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People who were only appreciated after death... Socrates comes to mind. Remember, in his time, he was viciously murdered for disagreeing with the government.
- #4
Jimmy Snyder
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Galois.
- #5
Chi Meson
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J.S Bach.
By the time of his death, his son's were more famous than he; not to say he was unknown.
By the time of his death, his son's were more famous than he; not to say he was unknown.
- #6
Andre
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Alfred Wegener (1880-1930) whose case was model for http://www.des.emory.edu/mfp/Kuhn.html, but Kuhn has to die first, before he can be mentioned in this thread.
- #7
KrisOhn
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Char. Limit said:
I wouldn't say viciously murdered...
As the quote by him goes: 'The unexamined life is not worth living.' He chose death over giving up his practice of philosophy, namely forcing people to examine their own lives; he chose to die by hemlock.
But contributing to the thread:
Composer Franz Schubert and American Physicist Robert Goddard.
- #8
Niles
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Boltzmann.
- #9
DanP
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KrisOhn said:
He was sentenced to death by a tribunal, hence this is a form of legal homicide.
Philosophical wording that he "choose death" are only dust in the eye of beholder.
The truth is that he was condemned to death, and executed. For the crime of speaking his mind.
- #10
Gokul43201
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Galois didn't really give society enough time to be able to appreciate him.Jimmy Snyder said:
Similar, but different: Turing.
- #11
waht
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Charles Darwin
- #12
rewebster
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Tesla
- #13
f95toli
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What about most of the women who did important work in science during the first part of the 20th century?E.g. the women in 'Pickering's Harem' (as they were known).
(Although some of the them DID get recognized towards the end of their lives)
(Although some of the them DID get recognized towards the end of their lives)
- #14
Loren Booda
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Then there were the multitude of prehistoric people unsung for many of the great inventions.
- #15
rootX
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Loren Booda said:
Second condition in the OP:
- #16
Char. Limit
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Also, don't forget all of the men and women who became famous because of their deaths... they weren't appreciated in their lifetime either.
Guy Fawkes, for example.
Guy Fawkes, for example.
- #17
glueball8
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Me. 
- #18
Char. Limit
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Wow, you're dead?
Considering the emoticon you put up, what's it like in heaven?
Considering the emoticon you put up, what's it like in heaven?
- #19
glueball8
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Char. Limit said:
Its not bad, you get unlimited chocolate. But its kinda cold.