I've seen lists like 'desert island books', 'desert island music' and so on. But in Friday's What are you reading? rock the ground talked about a wonderful version I had not seen before: Desert Island People!
More below the fold
The rules are simple: Pick five people from history whom you would like to have on your desert island. For added fun, you can create another island, on which to confine people you hate. Please don't list people who no one else would have heard of... e.g not "my dad, my mom, my Uncle Ed"
I'm gonna add one rule: Give reasons! They can be short or long, but give a reason.
Also, I'm ignoring petty details like languages, food supply and such. This is fantasy. We needn't bother with that sort of thing!
So, my five
Benjamin Franklin - because he could invent a lot of stuff that would be convenient to have, and be a hell of a lot of fun to talk to.
John Locke - One of my favorite philosophers. I don't know much about him as a person
Johann Sebastian Bach (with a harpsichord, piano, or organ). Music! We need music!
Gottfried Leibniz - The two pre-eminent geniuses of the 17th century are Newton and Liebniz. Newton was a cantankerous, solitary misanthrope. Leibniz was a lawyer, a philosopher, and a lot more. Plus, he seems like fun.
Albert Einstein- the most humane genius of the 20th century
The Anti- version I am not so sure of. I can't figure out a good list. But if you would like to add your own, feel free.