Partial List of Potential ProLogue Contributors
Last Name | First Name | Birth Name | Years (Birth–Death) | Classification | Description | Brief Bio |
Acheson | Dean | 1893–1971 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | Cold War diplomacy, AI in global power competition. | Dean Acheson was a key architect of U.S. Cold War policy, serving as Secretary of State under President Truman. He played a pivotal role in crafting the Marshall Plan and founding NATO, strengthening Western alliances against Soviet expansion. His influence shaped American foreign policy for decades, advocating for strong international engagement. | |
| Adams | John | 1735–1826 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | Democracy, governance, and the balance of power in the AI era. | John Adams was a Founding Father and the second President of the United States, known for his role in securing American independence. He was a fierce advocate for a strong federal government and played a critical role in drafting the U.S. Constitution. His diplomatic efforts helped secure crucial alliances with France and the Netherlands during the American Revolution. | |
| Al-Farabi | 872–950 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, logic, and the relationship between knowledge and governance. | Al-Farabi was a medieval Islamic philosopher who contributed to logic, political theory, and music. Often called the 'Second Teacher' after Aristotle, he sought to harmonize Greek philosophy with Islamic thought. His ideas on the virtuous city influenced later Islamic and Western political philosophy. | ||
| Anthony | Susan B. | 1820–1906 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI’s impact on gender equity and labor rights. | Susan B. Anthony was a pioneering American women's rights activist who played a crucial role in the suffrage movement. She co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association and tirelessly campaigned for women's voting rights. Her efforts contributed to the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote. | |
| Archimedes | c. 287–212 BC | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, mathematics, and the foundation of engineering. | Archimedes was an ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, and engineer whose discoveries laid the groundwork for modern mechanics. He is known for the principle of buoyancy (Archimedes' Principle) and his work on levers and pulleys. His innovations in geometry and calculus influenced centuries of scientific progress. | ||
| Arendt | Hannah | 1906–1975 | Skeptics & Critics | Totalitarianism, AI-driven post-truth society, and decentralized propaganda. | Coming Soon | |
Aristotle | 384–322 BC | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI and the nature of knowledge, ethics, and logic. | Coming Soon | ||
Attlee | Clement | 1883–1967 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | Social democracy, AI in welfare and governance. | Coming Soon | |
Aurelius | Marcus | 121–180 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI and Stoicism—resilience in a world of automation. | Coming Soon | |
Avicenna | 980–1037 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, medical ethics, and the evolution of knowledge systems. | Coming Soon | ||
Bach | Johann Sebastian | 1685–1750 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and the future of creativity and musical composition. | Coming Soon | |
Beethoven | Ludwig van | 1770–1827 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and the evolution of artistic genius. | Coming Soon | |
Bell | Alexander Graham | 1847–1922 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI and the transformation of human communication. | Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born inventor and scientist, best known for inventing the telephone. His work in acoustics and communication technology revolutionized global connectivity. Beyond telephony, he contributed to advancements in aeronautics, hydrofoils, and speech therapy. | |
| Bismarck | Otto von | 1815–1898 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI, power consolidation, and realpolitik. | Coming Soon | |
Bonaparte | Napoleon | 1769–1821 | Strategists & Realists | Strategic dominance, centralized control vs. AI-driven chaos. | Coming Soon | |
Brahe | Tycho | 1546–1601 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, astronomy, and the power of empirical data. | Coming Soon | |
Buckley | William F. | 1925–2008 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | Conservatism, media, and the future of intellectual discourse in an AI age. | Coming Soon | |
Bush | Vannevar | 1890–1974 | Innovators & Visionaries | How AI transforms human information processing. | Coming Soon | |
Caesar | Julius | 100–44 BC | Strategists & Realists | Technocratic governance vs. democratic erosion. | Coming Soon | |
Carnegie | Andrew | 1835–1919 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, wealth accumulation, and philanthropy in the digital age. | Coming Soon | |
Catherine the Great | 1729–1796 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and enlightened despotism—can automation serve the people? | Coming Soon | ||
Chamberlain | Neville | 1869–1940 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | Appeasement and AI decision-making risks. | Coming Soon | |
Chanakya | c. 375–283 BC | Strategists & Realists | AI, strategy, and the nature of governance. | Coming Soon | ||
Chaplin | Charlie | 1889–1977 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and its implications for film, humor, and human expression. | Coming Soon | |
Churchill | Winston | 1874–1965 | Strategists & Realists | AI’s role in government, warfare, and democracy’s survival. | Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during WWII. A master orator and strategist, he played a critical role in resisting Nazi Germany and shaping post-war Europe. | |
| Cicero | Marcus Tullius | 106–43 BC | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and the nature of rhetoric, democracy, and governance. | Coming Soon | |
Confucius | 551–479 BC | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI and social harmony vs. disorder. | Confucius was a Chinese philosopher whose teachings on ethics, governance, and social harmony shaped East Asian thought for centuries. | ||
| Copernicus | Nicolaus | 1473–1543 | Innovators & Visionaries | Revolutionary paradigm shifts, from astronomy to AI. | Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated the heliocentric model of the universe. His theory, published in 'De revolutionibus orbium coelestium,' challenged centuries of geocentric belief. His work laid the foundation for the Scientific Revolution and modern astronomy. | |
| Curie | Pierre | 1859–1906 | Innovators & Visionaries | Scientific discovery, responsibility, and unintended consequences. | Coming Soon | |
Curie | Marie | 1867–1934 | Innovators & Visionaries | Scientific discovery, responsibility, and unintended consequences. | Coming Soon | |
Darwin | Charles | 1809–1882 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI and the evolution of intelligence and adaptation. | Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection, revolutionizing biological sciences with his work 'On the Origin of Species.' | |
| De Gaulle | Charles | 1890–1970 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | National sovereignty vs. AI’s global impact. | Coming Soon | |
Democritus | c. 460–370 BC | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, materialism, and the building blocks of intelligence. | Coming Soon | ||
Descartes | René | 1596–1650 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | The nature of AI’s cognition. | Coming Soon | |
Diderot | Denis | 1713–1784 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI, the encyclopedia of knowledge, and the spread of information. | Coming Soon | |
Douglass | Frederick | 1818–1895 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and civil rights—potential empowerment or oppression? | Frederick Douglass was a former slave who became one of the most influential abolitionists and orators of the 19th century. His autobiography, 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,' exposed the brutality of slavery. He advocated for civil rights, women's suffrage, and equality throughout his life. | |
| Dunbar | Paul Laurence | 1872–1906 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and the intersection of literature, identity, and social justice. | Coming Soon | |
Edison | Thomas | 1847–1931 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI and the legacy of technological entrepreneurship. | Coming Soon | |
Eisenhower | Dwight | 1890–1969 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | Military-industrial complex, AI-driven warfare. | Coming Soon | |
Eliot | George (Mary Ann Evans) | Mary Ann Evans | 1819–1880 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and human identity—exploring morality, intellect, and the self. | Mary Ann Evans, writing under the pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist. Her works, including 'Middlemarch' and 'Silas Marner,' delve into themes of morality, social reform, and personal identity. |
| Ellul | Jacques | 1912–1994 | Skeptics & Critics | The autonomous development of technology and the illusion of control. | Coming Soon | |
Euler | Leonhard | 1707–1783 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, mathematical modeling, and the power of algorithms. | Coming Soon | |
Euripides | c. 480–406 BC | Skeptics & Critics | Tragic consequences of human overreach and hubris. | Coming Soon | ||
Faraday | Michael | 1791–1867 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, electromagnetism, and scientific discovery. | Michael Faraday was an English scientist whose discoveries in electromagnetism and electrochemistry transformed physics. His work on electromagnetic induction led to the development of electric motors and generators. Despite lacking formal education, his contributions to science remain fundamental in modern technology. | |
| Fermat | Pierre | 1607–1665 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, number theory, and the role of intuition in discovery. | Coming Soon | |
Franklin | Benjamin | 1706–1790 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI, entrepreneurship, and the public good. | Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath, scientist, and diplomat. A Founding Father, he contributed to electricity research, authored Poor Richard’s Almanack, and helped draft the U.S. Constitution. | |
| Freud | Sigmund | 1856–1939 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI and the unconscious—can machines dream? | Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. He introduced theories about the unconscious mind, repression, and the Oedipus complex. His work shaped modern psychology, though many of his ideas remain debated today. | |
| Fuller | Buckminster | 1895–1983 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI-driven civilization optimization and global sustainability. | Coming Soon | |
Galileo | Galilei | 1564–1642 | Innovators & Visionaries | Scientific revolution and AI-driven exploration. | Coming Soon | |
Gandhi | Mahatma | 1869–1948 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and its potential for nonviolent resistance or control. | Coming Soon | |
Gini | Corrado | 1884–1965 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI-driven population trends, inequality forecasting. | Coming Soon | |
Golda | Meir | 1898–1978 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI as a geopolitical tool. | Coming Soon | |
Gutenberg | Johannes | c. 1400–1468 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI and the printing press of the digital age. | Coming Soon | |
Hawking | Stephen | 1942–2018 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, the future of humanity, and existential risks. | Coming Soon | |
Hemingway | Ernest | 1899–1961 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and the future of storytelling. | Coming Soon | |
Hobbes | Thomas | 1588–1679 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, the Leviathan, and the need for a central authority. | Thomas Hobbes was an English political philosopher best known for his book 'Leviathan.' He argued that humans require a strong central authority to avoid chaos and war. His social contract theory laid the foundation for modern political thought on governance and power. | |
| Hugo | Victor | 1802–1885 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and the nature of justice, fate, and free will. | Coming Soon | |
Huntington | Samuel P. | 1927–2008 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI, civilization, and global political order. | Samuel P. Huntington was an American political scientist best known for his theory of the ‘Clash of Civilizations.’ He argued that future conflicts would be shaped by cultural and religious identities rather than ideological differences. His work on political order, military policy, and global geopolitics remains highly influential in international relations. | |
| Ibn Khaldun | 1332–1406 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI, cyclical history, and the evolution of civilizations. | Coming Soon | ||
James | William | 1842–1910 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI and pragmatism—does machine intelligence have meaning? | William James was an American psychologist and philosopher, known for his work on pragmatism and the philosophy of mind. He explored the nature of consciousness and religious experience, influencing early psychology. His ideas continue to shape discussions on free will and the human experience. | |
| Jay | John | 1745–1829 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and the stability of nation-states. | Coming Soon | |
Jefferson | Thomas | 1743–1826 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and the balance between innovation and liberty. | Coming Soon | |
Jefferson | Davis | 1808–1889 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI, political division, and leadership in turbulent times. | Coming Soon | |
Kant | Immanuel | 1724–1804 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, autonomy, and the categorical imperative. | Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher whose work in metaphysics and ethics remains foundational in Western philosophy. He proposed the 'categorical imperative,' arguing that moral actions must be universalizable. His philosophy profoundly influenced concepts of reason, morality, and autonomy. | |
| Kierkegaard | Søren | 1813–1855 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI’s impact on human meaning. | Coming Soon | |
Kissinger | Henry | 1923–2023 | Strategists & Realists | Realpolitik, AI in international affairs and security. | Coming Soon | |
Kropotkin | Peter | 1842–1921 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and decentralized governance—utopian or dystopian? | Coming Soon | |
Lamarck | Jean-Baptiste | 1744–1829 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI and evolutionary adaptation—can intelligence be inherited? | Coming Soon | |
Lavoisier | Antoine | 1743–1794 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI in scientific advancement and experimentation. | Coming Soon | |
Locke | John | 1632–1704 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, personal identity, and the nature of consciousness. | John Locke was an English philosopher and a key figure in the Enlightenment. His theories on natural rights and government influenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence. He argued for the protection of life, liberty, and property as fundamental human rights. | |
| Lovelace | Ada | 1815–1852 | Innovators & Visionaries | The first computer algorithm and the potential of AI. | Coming Soon | |
Ludd | Ned | Early 19th century | Skeptics & Critics | AI as a labor-destroying force. | Coming Soon | |
Machiavelli | Niccolò | 1469–1527 | Strategists & Realists | AI as a tool for statecraft, manipulation, and power consolidation. | Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian diplomat and philosopher, best known for 'The Prince,' which explores political realism, power, and governance. | |
| Madison | James | 1751–1836 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI’s impact on factionalism and governance. | Coming Soon | |
Malthus | Thomas Robert | 1766–1834 | Skeptics & Critics | Population growth, resource scarcity, and AI’s role in sustainability. | Coming Soon | |
Mandela | Nelson | 1918–2013 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI, justice, and societal change. | Coming Soon | |
Marcuse | Herbert | 1898–1979 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, automation, and the potential for human liberation. | Herbert Marcuse was a German-American philosopher associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory. His book 'One-Dimensional Man' critiques consumer culture and the suppression of radical thought. He influenced 20th-century political activism and debates on freedom and social justice. | |
| Marx | Karl | 1818–1883 | Skeptics & Critics | AI’s role in capitalism’s evolution and potential class struggles. | Coming Soon | |
Maxwell | James Clerk | 1831–1879 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI and the unification of information theories. | Coming Soon | |
McLuhan | Marshall | 1911–1980 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI’s effect on media, human thought, and society. | Coming Soon | |
Mencken | H.L. | 1880–1956 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and the critique of modern society. | Coming Soon | |
Mill | John Stuart | 1806–1873 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI, utilitarianism, and maximizing societal happiness. | Coming Soon | |
Ming | Hongwu Emperor | 1328–1398 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and centralized governance—balancing control and innovation. | Coming Soon | |
Morgan | J.P. | 1837–1913 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI and finance—will automation rule Wall Street? | Coming Soon | |
Newton | Isaac | 1643–1727 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI and physics—can machines discover the next great laws? | Coming Soon | |
Nietzsche | Friedrich | 1844–1900 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI as the Übermensch or existential catastrophe. | Coming Soon | |
Orwell | George | 1903–1950 | Skeptics & Critics | AI surveillance, deepfakes, and thought manipulation. | Eric Arthur Blair, known as George Orwell, was an English writer and journalist. His novels '1984' and 'Animal Farm' critique totalitarianism, propaganda, and political oppression. | |
| Paine | Thomas | 1737–1809 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI, revolution, and the rights of man in a digital world. | Coming Soon | |
Pascal | Blaise | 1623–1662 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI and probability—risk assessment at machine speed. | Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, and theologian. He contributed to probability theory, fluid mechanics, and invented an early mechanical calculator. His 'Pascal's Wager' argument explored the rational basis for belief in God. | |
| Pasteur | Louis | 1822–1895 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI and its role in medical breakthroughs and disease prevention. | Coming Soon | |
Planck | Max | 1858–1947 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, quantum mechanics, and the structure of reality. | Coming Soon | |
Plato | c. 428–348 BC | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, knowledge, and the nature of reality. | Plato was a Greek philosopher and student of Socrates. His works on justice, government, and metaphysics, including 'The Republic,' remain foundational in Western philosophy. | ||
| Popper | Karl | 1902–1994 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, falsifiability, and scientific progress. | Coming Soon | |
Ptolemy | c. 100–170 AD | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, astronomy, and modeling complex systems. | Ptolemy was an ancient Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, and geographer. His geocentric model of the universe dominated scientific thought for over a millennium. Despite being later disproven, his work influenced both Islamic and European astronomers. | ||
| Reagan | Ronald | 1911–2004 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI in economic policy and defense innovation. | Coming Soon | |
Ricardo | David | 1772–1823 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI, comparative advantage, and global labor shifts. | Coming Soon | |
Roosevelt | Franklin D. | 1882–1945 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and government-led technological transformation. | Coming Soon | |
Roosevelt | Eleanor | 1884–1962 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and ethical governance. | Coming Soon | |
Rousseau | Jean-Jacques | 1712–1778 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, the social contract, and the future of governance. | Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a French philosopher whose ideas on political equality and education influenced the French Revolution. He argued in 'The Social Contract' that legitimate government derives from the general will of the people. His thoughts on freedom, democracy, and natural human goodness continue to be studied today. | |
| Russell | Bertrand | 1872–1970 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, logic, and the paradoxes of machine reasoning. | Coming Soon | |
Sagan | Carl | 1934–1996 | Innovators & Visionaries | AI, extraterrestrial life, and humanity’s place in the universe. | Coming Soon | |
Schopenhauer | Arthur | 1788–1860 | Skeptics & Critics | AI and the irrationality of human will, intelligence vs. wisdom. | Coming Soon | |
Shakespeare | William | 1564–1616 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and the timeless nature of human storytelling. | William Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet. His works, including 'Hamlet,' 'Macbeth,' and 'Romeo and Juliet,' are celebrated for their deep exploration of human nature. | |
| Smith | Adam | 1723–1790 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and the invisible hand—automation’s role in free markets. | Coming Soon | |
Smith | Joseph | 1805–1844 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI and religious movements—prophecy in a digital age. | Coming Soon | |
Socrates | c. 470–399 BC | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI and the Socratic method—can machines truly question? | Socrates was a Greek philosopher known for the Socratic method—a technique of questioning to achieve deeper understanding. His ideas, conveyed through Plato’s writings, shaped Western philosophy. | ||
| Sun | Tzu | 544–496 BC | Strategists & Realists | AI in cyberwarfare, deception, and strategic intelligence. | Coming Soon | |
Tesla | Nikola | 1856–1943 | Innovators & Visionaries | Technological decentralization and energy-information revolutions. | Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer. He pioneered alternating current (AC) technology and envisioned wireless energy transmission. | |
| Tesla | Nikola | 1856–1943 | Innovators & Visionaries | Technological decentralization and energy-information revolutions. | Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer. He pioneered alternating current (AC) technology and envisioned wireless energy transmission. | |
| Toynbee | Arnold | 1889–1975 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and historical cycles—does technology dictate civilization? | Coming Soon | |
Trotsky | Leon | Lev Davidovich Bronstein | 1879–1940 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and revolutionary movements—can intelligence be a weapon? | Coming Soon |
Turing | Alan | 1912–1954 | Innovators & Visionaries | Computing, intelligence, and ethical dilemmas. | Coming Soon | |
Twain | Mark | Samuel Clemens | 1835–1910 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI and satire, technology’s unintended consequences. | Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was an American writer and humorist. He is best known for 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,' exploring themes of race, morality, and American identity. |
| von Bingen | Hildegard | 1098–1179 | Storytellers & Mythmakers | AI, music, and the relationship between mysticism and intelligence. | Coming Soon | |
Washington | Booker T. | 1856–1915 | Political Thinkers & Statesmen | AI and education—does technology liberate or divide? | George Washington was the first President of the United States and commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He played a crucial role in securing American independence and establishing the framework of the U.S. government. His leadership set enduring precedents, including the peaceful transfer of power and the importance of a strong yet restrained executive branch. | |
| Weber | Max | 1864–1920 | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI, bureaucracy, and the iron cage of rationalization. | Coming Soon | |
Zarathustra | c. 1200–900 BC | Philosophers & Ethical Theorists | AI as a force of balance or disruption. | Coming Soon | ||