Who are the great minds and philosophers of Golarion?

[Ryan Richter]

I've been watching the Cosmos series again recently, and I am struck with the overwhelming desire to create a character based off Carl Sagan. I notice in the series that he repeatedly makes mention of the great thinkers who struggled with and made progress on whatever topic is at hand.

It got me thinking who or what minds have brought Golarion to the current roughly renaissance period? And what prominent figures shape the intellectual future? And how have they affected their fields of study?

There seems to be a large number of political, military, and religiuos figures, but mathematicians, philosophers, and scientist are more scarce. I understand that paizo would want to leave us, the consumers, room on the canvas. Especially with magic since everyone has their own idea on how it works.

Let me know what I've missed, or what stories have you come up with to fill in the blanks?
Or am I the only one who cares about fake philosphers in this fanciful game of make believe?

You don't have to answer the last question.

[Broken]

Ryan Richter wrote:

Let me know what I've missed, or what stories have you come up with to fill in the blanks?

Guesses:

Philosophers::

The avoral Talmandor is the spiritual patron of Andoran, established Common Rule

The Glorious Endeavor is the gold dragon Mengkare’s attempt to perfect the human race.

The Laws of Man are a list of edicts created in 2555 AR in response to the devastation caused by the religious Oath Wars in northwest Garund. The Laws' authors include the philosopher Kalim Onaku and the militia of Azir.

The Prophecies of Kalistrade are a series of dream-records written by an eccentric mystic(Kalistrade) during the early days of the Age of Enthronement.

Razmir is the ruler of Razmiran and a self-proclaimed living deity.

Math and Science aka MAGIC:

Artokus Kirran (probably the greatest living example)
Nex
Geb
Tar-Baphon
Aroden
Any Runelord
looking for someone in Alkenstar but can not find a name that stands out

Just guesses to help fill in the blanks.

[Evil Midnight Lurker]

There's the great democratic revolutionaries, of course: "The poet Darl Jubannich issued the broadsheet series On Government, which used Thrune practices as the foundation from which to undermine the basic principle of the divine right of kings. The half-elf philosopher Hosetter took things even further: his Imperial Betrayal urged the common folk to take up arms to defend their shared ideals."

[Icyshadow]

Leaving a dot here.

[Dreaming Psion]

Here's a few I can find
Alpon Caromarc (alchemist who created the Beast of Lepistadt
Artorkus Kirran- developed the sun orchid elixir
Citizen Margaery San Trayne- developed Galt's infamous final blades
Eando Kline (famed pathfinder/explorer)
Koriah Azmeren (famed Pathfinder explorer, Darklands expert)
Jatembe (pioneer of many magical techniques)
Laurel (herbalist/owner of Roots and Remedies in Falcon's Hollow, develops a cure for the fungus plague in a few of the Darkmoon Vale adventures)
Merivesta Olinchi (halfling satirist that wrote The Conception Exemption and got assassinated for it by the Red Mantis [their first victim])
Tar Barphon (popularized the Whispering Way)

As you can see, most of these guys are associated with the Pathfinder Society (a fairly unique group as far as the Inner Seas go in that many of its goals are intellectual) or are also magic users of some kind. Magic seems to be the dominant "science" as far as Golarion is concerned (with the possible exception of Alkenstar).

[Ryan Richter]

I like what I'm seeing so far. I found the Laws of Man especially interesting.

It just makes me a little sad that there is no agreed upon origininator of something like geometry. I know it seems like small patatoes when compared to magic and the gods, but not every grand construction is held up by magic. You use applied geometry.

Keep it coming if you can. This is great.

[Broken]

Ryan Richter wrote:

I like what I'm seeing so far. I found the Laws of Man especially interesting.

It just makes me a little sad that there is no agreed upon origininator of something like geometry. I know it seems like small patatoes when compared to magic and the gods, but not every grand construction is held up by magic. You use applied geometry.

Keep it coming if you can. This is great.

*smack

I can not believe I forgot Jatembe, I have only been talking about him for two weeks... good call Dreaming Psion.

I hate to say it but, considering everything, the Aboleth are most likely the reason Humans have that knowledge. Dwarves and Elves? Divine gifts? Gnomes come from the first world and likely knew the knowledge before they came. Halflings probably learned from the Humans, and Orcs...well they may still be learning it.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

If we're going to include mages who happened to be great philosophers, then the discussion is definitely incomplete without First King Xin, whose exile from Azlant that led to his creation of Thassilon was partly due to his rejection of Azlant superiority and that the other races, dwarves and elves, had things they could offer humans, and that if they combined these strengths they could build an even greater nation than Azlant. Also, his Seven Virtues of Rule were the bedrock of Thassilon's culture, even if they were later perverted by his students into the sins we know them as today.

On the science front, the Saoc Brethren of Lirgen were prominent astronomers, even if they did utilize astrology in a sense as well. But the stars dictated EVERYTHING in Lirgen's society. City streets were planned to align with the movements of the heavens. It's also mentioned that they were great mathematicians and philosophers too.

[littlehewy]

Nice thread folks, loving it :)

[Espagnoll]

I wouldn't do a division between "philosophers and science" like Broken did, mostly because that is a very contemporary thing.
I think in Golarion the perspective on philosophy would be the same as in our world during the ancient era, the middle ages and the modern era.

Also, you did forget the ones who started the revolution in Galt and the father of the Beast of Lepidstadt.

[William Ronald]

There are also more recent examples as can be found on this entry on Galt: the half elf philosopher Hosetter and the poet Darl Jubannich. According to this article, Hosetter was killed by the Gray Gardeners and Jubannich fled to Andoran.