From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from
Pre-eminent)
Monument of Alexander The Great in Štip, Republic of Macedonia
Greatness is a concept heavily dependent on a person's perspective and biases. Whether someone or something is great or not depends from subjective judgements of the value of one person or thing as compared to another.[1]
The concept can be used to emphasise perceived superiority of a person or thing. In Europe, lauded rulers were given the attribute "the Great" (as in Alfred the Great and Peter the Great); during the Roman era and Middle Ages, meanwhile, the Latin equivalent "Magnus" was used (as in Albertus Magnus and Alexander Magnus). The greatest art and literary works, similarly, have entered the English language as magna opera, literally "great works" in Latin.
[edit] Naming greatness
Naming examples of greatness or great people, things, and places is by its nature subjective. Lists or labels are often formulated by panels of experts, polls or, individuals. These attempts are never definitive as they are subject to opinion. Some examples are:
[edit] References
- ^ Jerry L. Walls (2007). "The Wizard versus The General". in Jerry L. Walls, Gregory Bassham, and Dick Vitale. Basketball and philosophy. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 129. ISBN 0813124352.
[edit] Further reading
- Hans J. Morgenthau (1995). "The Nature of Greatness". in Kenneth W. Thompson. Great American presidents. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. ISBN 0819198854.
- Voltaire (1838). "Grand, Grandeur". Dictionnaire philosophique. Paris: Imprimerie de Cosse et Gaultier-Laguionie. pp. 563–564. — available in translation as:
- Voltaire (1843). "Great — Greatness". A Philosophical Dictionary from the French of M. Voltaire. I. London: W. Dugdale. pp. 596–598.
[edit] See also
