Some say that Edison ushered in the modern age by: inventing the first practical incandescent, electric light bulb; setting up the first electrical power distribution company; inventing the phonogragh, stock ticker, and first electric vote recorder; improving the telegraph and telephone; developing motion picture technology; and creating the first modern research laboratory.
He is also the reason we say; "Hello" instead of "Ahoy" when answering the phone.
According to Wikipedia, Edison "was an American inventor and businessman who developed many devices which greatly influenced life worldwide into the 21 century. Dubbed "The Wizard of Menlo Park" by a newspaper reporter, he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production to the process of invention, and can therefore be credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.... Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,097 U.S. patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany."
Here is a list of his record 1,500 + patents worldwide.
His most famous quote is:
"Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."
Less famous are these:
"I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious theories of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God."
"Nature, is not merciful and loving, but wholly merciless, indifferent."
"To those seaching for truth -- not the truth of dogma and darkness but the truth brought by reason, search, examination, and inquiry, discipline is required. For faith, as well intentioned as it may be, must be built on facts, not fiction -- faith in fiction is a damnable false hope."
"Religion is bunk"
His opinion of Thomas Paine's "Age of Reason" was:
"It is the best book ever written on the subject. There is nothing like it!"
Edison could perhaps be best descibed as a freethinker (the viewpoint that holds that beliefs should be formed on the basis of science and logical principles and not be comprised by authority, tradition, or any other dogma) and naturalistic pantheist (a deist-like position where "Nature is seen as being God only in a non-traditional, impersonal sense"), while his position toward the supernatural and the Christian religion could be described as "truculent agnosticism."
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A REMINDER: Tomorrow is Darwin Day. Check out the celebrations planned HERE.
ALSO: Richard Dawkins will be the guest with Paula Zahn on Thursday, February 12th 2007 at 8pm EST on CNN.
