Among these ten "shapers of history," which one do you believe has the greatest influence today, and which one has seen their influence wane?

Hey, that's a fascinating question! The metaphor of the "bulldozer" is spot on – it describes people who, through sheer force of will, managed to steer history onto a completely different path.

Since you didn't provide a specific list of ten people, I'll take the liberty of listing my own candidates to serve as a baseline for discussion. This isn't intended to be the definitive list, but they're all significant figures:

My Candidate List of "History's Bulldozers":

Confucius: Shaped the ethical values and social systems of East Asia for over two millennia.
The Buddha / Jesus / Muhammad: Founders of three major world religions, shaping the spiritual lives and daily practices of billions globally. (Grouped as "Founders of Major Religions")
Qin Shi Huang: Established the model of unified imperial rule profoundly influencing all subsequent Chinese dynasties.
Johannes Gutenberg: Invented the movable-type printing press. Enabled mass reproduction and dissemination of knowledge, igniting the Renaissance and the Reformation.
Isaac Newton: Provided the foundational framework for modern science with physics and mathematics. Almost all modern engineering and technology rests on his "foundation."
James Watt: Significantly improved the steam engine, directly kicking off the Industrial Revolution and profoundly altering human production and lifestyle.
Karl Marx: His ideas catalyzed the communist movement, profoundly reshaping the global political landscape of the 20th century.
Albert Einstein: His theory of relativity revolutionized our understanding of time, space, and the universe, also contributing indirectly to the advent of nuclear energy.
Alan Turing: Father of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. He laid the theoretical groundwork for today's entire digital world.
A Modern Representative (e.g., Tim Berners-Lee): Inventor of the World Wide Web. He transformed Turing's theoretical ideas into the internet we use every day.

Alright, based on this list, let's talk about your two questions.

Looking back today, whose influence is the greatest?

In my view, the most significant influence undoubtedly belongs to Alan Turing (and the pioneers of the digital revolution he represents).

The reason is simple: his influence is as pervasive as the air we breathe, permeating every pore of modern life, often so completely that we hardly notice it anymore.

Just consider:

How are you reading this right now? Through a phone or computer, both reliant on Turing's computing theories.
How do you usually contact friends? WeChat, WhatsApp – these run on the internet and smart devices.
How do you pay when you go out? Mobile payment apps.
How do you navigate? Electronic maps/GPS.
How do you work or study? Remote work, online courses.

Newton's physics is monumental, but you don't need to understand F=ma to drive a car. Marx's ideas are crucial, but not everyone is studying Das Kapital.

But the digital revolution sparked by Turing and others is inescapable. Regardless of nationality, belief, or profession, it's nearly impossible to function in modern society without engaging with the digital world. His impact isn't just "profound"; it's ubiquitous. He didn't just change a single field; he reshaped the fundamental ways human societies connect, how information flows, and how business operates.

So, when it comes to "current" influence, this foundational figure of the digital world unquestionably ranks first.

Whose influence has notably diminished?

I believe the figure whose influence shows the most obvious "diminishment" is Johannes Gutenberg.

Saying this might sound a bit harsh, but hear me out.

"Diminished" doesn't mean "unimportant." Gutenberg's printing press was truly revolutionary, among the most crucial inventions in human history. It shattered the elite's monopoly on knowledge and was a major engine of intellectual liberation.

But let's compare his impact to the present day:

The core of Gutenberg's revolution: Enabling the low-cost, large-scale replication of physical information (books).
The core of today's revolution: Enabling digital information to spread instantly, globally, at effectively zero cost and with zero limits.

See, Gutenberg's "bulldozer" paved the essential track for his era, but today we're flying in "jet planes" (the internet). We still use the track he built (we still read books), but this track is no longer the fastest, widest, or primary conduit for information dissemination.

His invention has, in a sense, been superseded by our current era. His historical contribution remains everlasting and monumental. Yet, in terms of direct influence on current daily life, when placed beside the pioneers of the digital revolution, his impact has undoubtedly diminished. Our dependence on printed material is far less than our dependence on screens.

In summary, Turing's influence feels vibrantly present, while Gutenberg's has largely solidified into a remarkable chapter in history.