In addition to selecting the top five intellectuals from the published list, voters can also nominate a write-in candidate who they felt was snubbed by the list.
“With any list, there are obviously going to be names that are left off that people feel should be on, and we’re totally up front with that,” Marn said. “We want this list to be a conversation starter—half of the fun of who gets nominated for the Oscars is arguing over who gets snubbed.”
Gardner said he can think of at least one Harvard faculty member who was passed over—Louis Menand, who is Bass Professor of English and American Literature and Language.
In the event of a tie, two situations could occur, Marn said. If two people tie for fifth place, both would be declared fifth. If two people tie for any other placement, they would both be listed in that place and there would be no subsequent place.
The other Harvard intellectuals on the list are Cabot Professor of Aesthetics and the General Theory of Value Elaine Scarry and biologist E. O. Wilson, who is Pellegrino University Professor, Emeritus.
—Staff writer Lulu Zhou can be reached at luluzhou@fas.harvard.edu.