In college, you're bound to run into a wealth of knowledge that you wouldn't have otherwise known was out there. You'll find that most of the classes you take in college, while they may be on varied topics (if you're a liberal arts major at least), tend to have the same iconic symbols pop-up now and again. In my own experience, I've found that there have been four main role players in pretty much all the course work that I've been involved in. They come up so frequently, because all of these people were influential, and their works are far reaching dealing with just about any topic. You'll also happen to notice that each one of these scholars is dead, thus their work has lived on. I can't go into why society and the collegiate experience places such a great emphasis on these people, but what I can comment on is that they will come up over your four years (or however long it might take) at college. So, The College Answers is proud to present, The Big Four.

William Shakespeare
Shakespeare is a revered poet and playwright. His works are first read typically from one's Freshman year in high school and extends through college. The other week I read his play, Richard II. He is considered one of the greatest writers ever for his ability to convey ideas and stories that are timeless. One of his most notable works, Romeo and Juliet, is a perfect example of this. He describes a feud amongst two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, that has been recreated into modern day film and the message still rings true today. Shakespeare wrote his works in a style called iambic pentameter. Today, there is great controversy over whether or not Shakespeare was the true author of the works that are accredited to him. In academia, the idea that Shakespeare is in fact not the real author has been dismissed for the most part. Shakespeare wrote many different styles of plays and poems. He wrote comedies, histories, tragedies, and apocrypha (which is the name given to the titles that are most questionable as to whether Shakespeare wrote them or not). I have had Shakespeare either referenced or had to read from one of his plays or poems in almost every class I have taken. Be sure to get to know this guy.



Sigmund Freud
Freud is held in high praise in psychological circles today. Sigmund Freud was an Austrian born neurologist and psychiatrist who founded the school of psychoanlytics and thus formed the foundation for much of our common views of psychological thought. Freud suggested the idea of the unconscious mind, as well as concepts of repression and sexual desire. Some key terms that are associated with Freud are the id, ego, and superego. Freud believed in the Oedipus Complex and is famous for Freudian slips, which are errors in speech that Freud believed to be caused by the wants of the unconscious mind. Freud also explored the concept of defense mechanisms, which are formulations of one's personality that are the result of repressions. You'll hear Sigmund Freud coming up in just about any psychology class you take and perhaps even in classes not related to psychology. Freud spearheaded a revolution in thought and therefore he is one of the big four.



Adam Smith
For those of you who are in the economic or business realm, Adam Smith will come up over and over again. Smith was a Scottish philosopher who pioneered the understanding of the economy. His famous treatise, "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" written in 1776 has stood the test of time and is still discussed in economics and business administration classes. Adam Smith deals with concepts of mercantilism, free trade, capitalism, and libertarianism. He is famous for coining the idea of the "invisible hand" which directs the market economy. Adam Smith's influence can also be found in one of the wealthiest situations that has ever occurred. On June 25, 2006, Warren Buffet announced that he would donate his earnings to The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. As a result, Bill Gates presented Buffet with a copy of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. When it comes to anything economically, Adam Smith is the man who started it all and thus his influence is still felt today.

Sir Isaac Newton
Newton was an English physicist who stunned the world with his ideas of universal gravitation and laws of motion. Newton is learned about as early as middle-school, but by the time one gets to college, the ideas become a little more abstract and complicated. Newton's famous three laws, which he presented in his work, "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica" explain that objects remain in motion, force equals mass times acceleration, and for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Newton was a key player in the scientific revolution and its advancement. Based on a poll in 2005 by the Royal Society, Newton has had an even greater effect on the history of science than Albert Einstein. Newton didn't only deal with physics, but was also a notable mathematician, astronomer, and alchemist. Newton established a law of cooling and studied the speed of sound. When it comes to anything science, Sir Isaac Newton is clearly the man. He did it all, and college wouldn't be the same without him.

Take note of these Big Four players. Shakespeare for English, Freud for psychology, Smith for economics and business, and Newton for sciences. These four will come up more than you think, and familiarizing yourself with them the first time will pay huge dividends down the line. Be smart. Be aware. Be the solution.

This post was originally written by Tyrone Schiff
University of Michigan · Organizational Studies · 18 Sep 2007