Of course you would, you're an elitist. Education is something I support, but education has nothing to do with intelligence, nor rationality, virtue, or anything else of that ilk. Education is good in the same sense that technology is good, which is to say - it isn't good, it's actually neutral.

You say you are educated because you know the name of Trajan. But you do not know the names that the "uneducated" people know - those that matter to them. Who are you to say which of you is "educated" and which ignorant? They know who they need to know, just as you do. Of course you count yourself as more important - this is human nature. But it isn't right, or even accurate. Again I remind - Vox Populi, Vox Dei.

"Education is something I support, but education has nothing to do with intelligence, nor rationality, virtue, or anything else of that ilk."

So true. Most of the people in charge (in the USA anyway) have an abundance of education, but not a whit of virtue or wisdom.

"But you do not know the names that the "uneducated" people know - those that matter to them. Who are you to say which of you is "educated" and which ignorant?"

I don't really care who the sports hero, rap star, or reality show actor of the week is. Somethings are more valuable to know--more lasting. Being educated is a good thing, something pretty much every philosopher agreed upon until our democratic times. There is a value to knowing history, art, literature, and all the finer things that humans have created. I believe in truth and beauty. Mass culture caters to the lowest common denominator.

That said, I have great respect for any human being who masters any aspect of human knowledge or skill, be it history, chemistry, math, car repair, crochet, pie-making, violin playing, or whatever. We each have our own talents, our own way that we can be an elite.

When thinking about ancient history and what will be remembered, I like to think of the Ancient Egyptians in the old kingdom. They were older to the romans than Julius Caesar is to us. I think that some of the things that will be most well-remembered will be amazing feats of ingenuity or national achievements that still exist after a long period of time. The pyramids are awe-inspiring more than four thousand years after they were built because we marvel at how such a feat could have been accomplished- in a way they are remembered because things about them have been forgotten. Maybe in the future things from the 20th and 21st centuries won't have quite the same intrigiung aspect of ancient history because they're so well documented. Sure, historians might analyse them and write papers or whatever about this time period, but unless things are forgotten there won't be the same curiosity about it.

I wasn't really referring to pop music stars, I was thinking more the names of their children and partners and friends, and the names of their co-workers, mentors, etc. Assuming people are still human in 2000 years, we can expect this picture to change little. My mom's name matters more than Trajan's, whichever way you slice it.

Well I can't argue with that.

Well that's my point - it's a relevant point to answering the OP question accurate. Who will be remembered in 4015? One or two of us alive today, tops. That was my answer and my point above is the basis for it.

What if we're extinct in 4015?

@TR: If you read the article, one of the assumptions is that humanity is doing just fine in 4015.

Then I am the only answer. I will be everyone in 4015.

You weren't kidding when you said you had ambitious goals, TR.

Hehehe

1895 - Was when my grandfather was born.

In the time since> The Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk > Neil Armstrong and others walked on the Moon> Voyager left the Solar System

1936- My Dad was born and during that time radio and movies were pretty neat things > Television came into the home> proliferation of cable networks and channels

1967 - I was born

A phone was something on the wall (you didn't touch it if you knew what was good for you)> Cell phones > internet services > smart phones > tablets with wifi etc.


Before the 19th Century has there ever been a time where technology advanced as quickly as it has right now? I think that we are in such a prolific stage of creation that it is harder than ever to point out who will be famous in ten years yet along 2,000.