E. O. Wilson is one of those biologist naturalist scientist philosopher types who give such a wide ranging view of the evolution of not only plants and animals, but the evolution of how people view science and what we understand.

http://www.achievement.org/achievers/wil2/large/wil2-020.jpg

Twice a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction, he has been very prolific and continues to work in his 80s. Here is his web site: http://www.eowilson.org/

Among the areas of discourse is his view of "scientific humanism" and his views of nature versus nurture in human biology. As someone who has managed to offend both conservatives and liberals at various times during his lifetime. I think he has managed to come up with some very sound ideas regarding the human place in the animal kingdom.

For a summary of more of his ideas, visit here: http://www.bookrags.com/research/wilson-edward-o-1929-eoph/ Here is an excerpt:

->More and more, through the 1980s, Wilson turned to philosophical questions. With respect to the theory of knowledge (epistemology), Wilson stresses the interconnected nature of our understanding. He wants to show that everything can be explained in just a few basic principles. The Victorian polymath William Whewell, in his The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, spoke of the highest kind of knowledge as being that which connects together the most disparate areas of science. Whewell spoke of such connection as a "consilience of inductions," and this phrase prompted Wilson to call one of his books Consilience (1998), referring to its plea that we bind together all aspects of human knowledge. <-

->Along with epistemology, ethics has always been an interest of Wilson's. His hero in this field is Herbert Spencer, and although Wilson would not want to associate himself with the negative connotations of attempts to link evolution and morality—especially with so-called Social Darwinism—Wilson stands right in the tradition of those who argue that morality is and must be based in human nature as created and preserved by evolution. What is of great importance to Wilson is the need to be sensitive to the environment around us. He speaks of "biophilia," the human love of nature. He believes that we need nature not just to sustain us but also because, in a totally artificial world, we humans would wither and die. Our evolution has tied us to both physical and psychological needs of other organisms. This means that the Wilsonian categorical imperative focuses on biodiversity. In a world without many species, humans are condemned. Following his own prescriptions, for the past decade Wilson has been ardently committed to the preservation of the Brazilian rain forests. <-

E. O. Wilson is, by default, an important voice in the modern discussion of environmental ethics and is someone I would love to interview. I'd need a lot of time to prepare--to even just scan his works in print would take a while. And I'd like to pull a few scientists and science writers from younger generations into the interview, like Neil DeGrasse Tyson and David Quammen, to hear what all they would ask him, in addition to what I would ask.

Who inspires me the most in my life, Oprah Winfrey. She has been awarded most outstanding Media leader and philanthropist, most respected and very well liked by many people in the last two decades. She has interviewed so many "important", people all around the world and has touched topics that no others would have. She has inspired, intertained, upliffted and helped so many throughout her career. I love watching her show, learning as much as possible from her and the people that come to her shows.
What I love about her is her willingness to build schools in other countries for the very less fotunate children. Her astonishing personality, and her love for others. I would love to just talk to her. I would like to know her personal thoughts on many, many subjects. It would be like a "dream" for me. To spend the afternoon with Oprah Winfrey, it would be so awesome. I really like her, "make your car a no phone zone", and I go agree.
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Many people came to mind when I read your question Lon, but I took a deep breath and thought about things that have really moved me throughout my life. Things I've studied and been intrigued by... and the question became even harder to focus on.

While in college studying literature, I was always drawn towards Southern writers. Their backdrops and descriptions propelled me into a foreign culture filled with strange customs. Growing up in Northern California was a world away from the stories that were written during the Southern Renaissance, or even today. Eudora Welty and more currently Barbara Kingsolver are Southern writers that I savor, but one person who I would love to interview on her porch in Monroeville would be Lee Harper.

Since I am already temporarily transplanted in Alabama and thrust into the clash of culture and attitude, it would be a quick drive up to her house. I'd bring some sweet tea and we could sit out on her porch.

I'm sure she has been bombarded with questions over the years about her one and only published work To Kill a Mockingbird, but I would like to find out about the rest of her life. I know she has written many essays and is currently working on a non-fiction about a serial killer in Alabama. I would love to find out if she even plans on publishing it. I would also like to find out if she ever truly forgave Truman Capote for not acknowledging her work on his book In Cold Blood.

Since Harper Lee has not really been interviewed in many years and is living a somewhat secluded life, I would be very respectful of anything she did not wish to discuss, but I believe we would hit it off since I still am a tomboy at heart... and I am sure she is too.

well if i were given a chance to interview one person i will choose Bill Gates, because he is the person i admire and my dream job is to work in microsoft. so interviewing him is like a dream come true to me.

I would love to interview George W Bush and have him honestly answer why we went to war in Iraq!!

-- Quote

Who interests you the most? Who do you think you could learn the most from? Who has achieved your ultimate dream, or reached your ideal in terms of attitude, reputation, ambition or success? I'd like this pick to actually say something about YOU and not just your interviewee

-- /Quote

An answer to a question like this is always going to say at least as much about the person answering as it does about their choice of interviewee.

On this one I'm going to think aloud...

There are many living people I'd love to interview, or just get to meet for a short while. Some of them would be Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hawking and David Simon.

And yet, what would I learn from such an interview? These are people whose work I already know well. I've seen their work or read their books, I've seen plenty of interviews with them, and heard speeches and lectures they've given. Other than the pleasure of actually being in their company, am I really going to learn anything new?

Well, maybe, but only if they were going to be completely frank and tell me things that they can't say in the public domain. In real life of course they wouldn't do that, because as far as they know, I am the public domain, and they have no idea what I'd do with what they told me.

However let's assume that they would trust me completely, answer any question fully and truthfully, and know that our conversation would stay off the record in any area they said was to be kept private.

Well, much as I admire and would love to meet Nelson Mandela or Stephen Hawking, they don't have too much that they can't say on the record any more.

David Simon does, because of all his insider knowledge of the city of Baltimore, which was depicted in fictional form in The Wire. Barack Obama also does, for many reasons, from national security considerations to knowing that anything he says is likely to be jumped on and used against him in any way it can.

Between those two it's a tough call.

I'll go with David Simon.

In part because he's had access to worlds that I know nothing about. In part because I love The Wire and would love to discuss it in minute detail with him. In part because I'm interested in the craft of being a journalist and a dramatist. In part because of his insights into the workings of organizations, and their impact on the people who inhabit them and deal with them. And also because of his passion for improving the lives of people, and his vibrant personality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qulcqNMHVic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeNc5y7lpYA

If you didn't qualify this with "living" it would be an easy choice: George Carlin. Since you did, and since George expired, it's a tough choice. In lieu of a legendary comic I've been a lifelong fan of, I'd say that I'd love to interview Clint Eastwood.

stephen hawking.He is the greastest person i ever seen!