Is Bach the greatest achiever of all time?
Whether Johann Sebastian Bach can be called the greatest achiever of all time sparks wide-ranging debate over how to measure “greatness” across art, science, and history. Commenters contrast Bach’s prolific, technically profound output and later rediscovery with figures like Euler, Newton, Da Vinci, Alexander, and even modern pop artists, arguing that cross-domain rankings are inherently subjective and culturally biased. Many instead favor viewing such figures as members of a shared “hall of fame,” while also trading recommendations for Bach recordings and courses that illustrate the sheer scale of his work.
Reactions to the “greatest achiever” premise
- Several commenters treat the question skeptically, invoking “Betteridge’s law” and calling the metric-driven approach arbitrary or shallow.
- Others are broadly sympathetic to Bach’s exceptional status, especially in music, with some explicitly calling him the greatest musical achiever.
- A number of posts emphasize that such rankings are inherently subjective and better framed as a “hall of fame” than as an ordered list.
Debate over evaluation criteria
- The article’s listed metrics (quality, quantity, peaks, consistency, superiority to contemporaries, obstacles, etc.) are criticized as underspecified and unmeasurable in any rigorous sense.
- The “never experiencing true defeat or setback” criterion is widely attacked: commenters list Bach’s many personal losses (parents, first wife, half his children), career disappointments (failed Brandenburg job), and even imprisonment.
- Some argue that failure is intrinsic to achievement and should not count against greatness.
Alternative candidates and cross-domain comparisons
- Numerous other “achievers” are proposed: mathematicians (Euler, Gauss), scientists (Newton, Einstein), polymaths (Leonardo), writers (Hugo, Asimov), military leaders (Alexander, Napoleon), lexicographers, even religious figures and pop musicians.
- Several argue that comparing artistic, scientific, and political achievement is “apples vs oranges” and mostly a source of entertainment rather than serious evaluation.
Bach’s output, recordings, and reception
- Commenters highlight the vast scale of Bach’s surviving work and modern recording projects: massive CD/USB box sets, the “All of Bach” online project, and curated complete editions.
- There is enthusiasm for educational resources (e.g., lecture series) and subscription services that make Bach’s work accessible.
- Historical discussion notes that Bach was respected mainly as an organist/teacher in his lifetime, later eclipsed by his sons, and substantially “rediscovered” in the 19th century, though claims about how obscure he really was are contested.
History, bias, and cultural endurance
- One subthread debates “history is written by the victors”: some say this overstates bias; others cite document destruction and propaganda.
- A counterpoint argues that culture is largely defined by what endures; while selection is biased, it’s unlikely that completely unknown figures would meaningfully overturn today’s pantheons.
- Others use Bach’s own shifting reputation as evidence that cultural judgment can and does change over centuries.