People who think deeply or engage in careful consideration and reflection. Often refers to philosophers, intellectuals, or anyone who approaches problems with analytical reasoning.
From Old English 'thincan' meaning 'to seem' or 'to appear', which evolved to mean 'to consider' or 'to reflect'. The agent suffix '-er' plus plural '-s' creates the form referring to people who engage in this mental activity.
The famous sculpture 'The Thinker' by Auguste Rodin was originally part of a larger work called 'The Gates of Hell' and was meant to represent the Italian poet Dante contemplating the circles of Hell from his Divine Comedy. The pose - hand to chin, elbow on knee - has become the universal symbol of deep contemplation.
'Great thinkers' historically centered men; women philosophers were systematized out of canons. Language still defaults to male as default.
Use 'thinkers,' but proactively cite women philosophers and intellectuals to counter historical erasure.
Women philosophers from Hypatia to Simone de Beauvoir were denied academic positions; many works were published under male names or lost.
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