Thank you all for the suggestions. I am collecting all, along with other input here: http://www.mayaelhalal.co m/2008/07/19/how-should-a -persons-impact-on-humani ty-be-measured/
I suggest that men and womens' impact on humanity be measured by empiric tools that relate to the end result of their contribution to humanity.For example : the category that relates to publication of a medical article should not be the number of citations of quotes but an estimated number of people in the world it affects.( a mathematical equasion of the articles' result: let's say an article about the ultimate cure for lung cancer on its own means nothing , but if its findings are applied and results in a cure, the impact would be the numeric value of number of people in the world divided by number of people likely to suffer from lung cancer.( statistics have a major role here). another example: in relation to technological advances. the category should not benumber of publications/quotes /users of the technology, but impact as it translates to modern change in our routines and significance of the added value to our lives. Also, a measure of impact by a category of the advantage they hold.( the category is : things we could not do before and we now can. how many people benefit from the technology). application : the impact of the person who invented the cellular phone ( is huge) and can be measured by the advantage: freedom conduct business outside the office. the numeric value of the impact would be sum of world population divided by estimated number of people using this advantage. In the case of cell phones the impact is so substantial that many categories apply: for example the advantage of knowing were your children are at all times, impacts every parent.
I think the real question is do we, as mortals, really have the ability to make an impact on humanity, or are we lucky if we can make an impact on just a few people (% wise). If we can, how could we possibly measure it? As each individual perceives the world through a different lense, any type of metric would have to take into consideration indivualities and thus ultimately cancels out any measurable impacts.
By the number of lives he or she has impacted in a positive way, like helping an elderly neighbor or saying something that will make someone feel good about themselves.
Thank you all for the suggestions. I am collecting all, along with other input here: http://www.mayaelhalal.co m/2008/07/19/how-should-a -persons-impact-on-humani ty-be-measured/
I suggest that men and womens' impact on humanity be measured by empiric tools that relate to the end result of their contribution to humanity.For example : the category that relates to publication of a medical article should not be the number of citations of quotes but an estimated number of people in the world it affects.( a mathematical equasion of the articles' result: let's say an article about the ultimate cure for lung cancer on its own means nothing , but if its findings are applied and results in a cure, the impact would be the numeric value of number of people in the world divided by number of people likely to suffer from lung cancer.( statistics have a major role here). another example: in relation to technological advances. the category should not benumber of publications/quotes /users of the technology, but impact as it translates to modern change in our routines and significance of the added value to our lives. Also, a measure of impact by a category of the advantage they hold.( the category is : things we could not do before and we now can. how many people benefit from the technology). application : the impact of the person who invented the cellular phone ( is huge) and can be measured by the advantage: freedom conduct business outside the office. the numeric value of the impact would be sum of world population divided by estimated number of people using this advantage. In the case of cell phones the impact is so substantial that many categories apply: for example the advantage of knowing were your children are at all times, impacts every parent.
I think the real question is do we, as mortals, really have the ability to make an impact on humanity, or are we lucky if we can make an impact on just a few people (% wise). If we can, how could we possibly measure it? As each individual perceives the world through a different lense, any type of metric would have to take into consideration indivualities and thus ultimately cancels out any measurable impacts.
I would create a combined index of your suggested criteria in addition to a vote by people about whether someone affected their lives.
the amount of results you get when you google his/her name...
By the leadership he acted in his and other people's lifes. Leadership in this context means how did he help other people to achieve their goals.
By the way they conduct their own life. It matters not the quantity and publication, but more the quality which is immeasurable.
By the number of lives he or she has impacted in a positive way, like helping an elderly neighbor or saying something that will make someone feel good about themselves.