- #1
jduster
- 2
- 0
My top favorite is David Hume.
Who are your favorite philosophers?
Who are your favorite philosophers?
Who Are Your Favorite Philosophers?
- Thread starter jduster
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Discussion Overview
The thread explores participants' favorite philosophers, encompassing a wide range of historical and contemporary figures. The discussion includes personal preferences, reflections on philosophical ideas, and informal commentary on the nature of philosophy itself.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Meta-discussion
Main Points Raised
- Some participants express a preference for David Hume, while others favor Kierkegaard, Immanuel Kant, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.
- A participant notes a distinction between the early and later works of Wittgenstein, suggesting a shift in his philosophical approach.
- Several participants mention a variety of philosophers, including Confucius, Lao Tzu, Marcus Aurelius, Nietzsche, and Voltaire, indicating a broad interest in different philosophical traditions.
- One participant humorously states a lack of strong preference for philosophy, indicating a willingness to adopt good ideas regardless of their source.
- Discussion includes references to the bravery of philosophers like Socrates and Seneca, with some participants debating the implications of their choices to face death.
- Bertrand Russell is highlighted by multiple participants for his clarity and communicative style, with some expressing admiration for his ability to engage readers.
- There is a mention of Noam Chomsky, with some participants questioning whether he fits the traditional definition of a philosopher.
- Participants share personal anecdotes and reflections on the influence of various philosophers on their thinking.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express a wide range of preferences without a clear consensus on a single favorite philosopher. Multiple competing views remain, with some participants engaging in light-hearted debate about the merits of different figures.
Contextual Notes
Some participants reference specific works or ideas from philosophers, but there is no detailed exploration of these concepts. The discussion remains informal and personal, lacking rigorous philosophical analysis.
Who May Find This Useful
Readers interested in personal reflections on philosophy, the diversity of philosophical thought, and informal discussions about influential figures in philosophy may find this thread engaging.
- #2
turbo
Gold Member
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Kierkegaard is tops, IMO.
- #3
Andre
- 4,296
- 73
I try to select the best philosopher in my autograph
- #4
disregardthat
Science Advisor
- 1,864
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Immanuel Kant and Ludwig Wittgenstein are the greatest philosophers of all time!
- #5
SW VandeCarr
- 2,199
- 77
The young Wittgenstein (Tractatus), but I think he went "off the rails" late in life (On Certainty). I also like CS Peirce.
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- #6
Proton Soup
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i'm not big on philosophy. but if someone has a good idea, i'll steal it, no matter who they are.
- #7
flyingpig
- 2,574
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Confucius and Lao Tzu
/thread
/thread
- #8
- 19,907
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Gautama Buddha
- #9
flyingpig
- 2,574
- 1
- #10
Math Is Hard
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
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Jeff Bridges. The Dude abides.
- #11
turbo
Gold Member
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Can I have his rug? I'll even blow-dry the bimbo's toenails...Math Is Hard said:
- #12
Jasongreat
Its hard to pick a favorite. I like Marcus Aurelious, Poor Richard :), Nietzche, Epiceticus, Locke, Voltaire among others. Due to turbos prodding Kierkegaard will be the next one I read.
- #13
Jimmy Snyder
- 1,137
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My favorite philosopher is a dead philosopher too. I've been looking for someone who knows a thing or two about Hume. In A Treatise of Human Nature, what was meant when he or she said, "Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them"?jduster said:
- #14
nismaratwork
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I'm a great fan of the Greeks.. Atrisotle, Plato, Diogenes, above all Socrates... and of cours the noble Testikles. 
Oh, and: Eisenhowser, Kissinger, Rabbi Hillel, Sun Tzu, Voltaire, Kurt Vonnegut, Hunter S. Thompson, H.G. Wells, Phillip K. Dick... and many more.
I hate favorites...
edit: I'd add: Basho, and a number of other Haiku masters long dead.
"Sick on my journey,
Only my dreams will wander,
These desolate moors." (Basho's jisei no ku 'Death Poem')
So many more... often authors, generals, people like Ghandi... not professional 'philosophers'. Leonardo DaVinci for instance...
Oh, and: Eisenhowser, Kissinger, Rabbi Hillel, Sun Tzu, Voltaire, Kurt Vonnegut, Hunter S. Thompson, H.G. Wells, Phillip K. Dick... and many more.
I hate favorites...
edit: I'd add: Basho, and a number of other Haiku masters long dead.
"Sick on my journey,
Only my dreams will wander,
These desolate moors." (Basho's jisei no ku 'Death Poem')
So many more... often authors, generals, people like Ghandi... not professional 'philosophers'. Leonardo DaVinci for instance...
- #15
Kevin_Axion
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Immanuel Kant, Socrates, Plato, Spinoza, and Seneca.
- #16
nismaratwork
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Spinoza... that is a great one.
I think I'd add: Einstein, and Richard Feynman.
I think I'd add: Einstein, and Richard Feynman.
- #17
Kevin_Axion
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You should read Seneca: Letter's from a Stoic, although most of his letters were lost he was extremely influential in Nero's rise to power in the Roman Empire and for a lot of the policies he created. Inevitably he was forced to commit suicide. He's very interesting.
- #18
nismaratwork
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Kevin_Axion said:
I'm familiar with Seneca, but I haven't read him for... too long. I'll do that, and refresh that... philosophy is basically a "re-read" subject IMO.
Socrates and Seneca... brave men.
- #19
Kevin_Axion
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Yep, they were brave but Socrates could have escaped but chose to die, I'm not sure about Seneca.
- #20
nismaratwork
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Kevin_Axion said:
True... still... oh hell, I forget the names and the event... a number of Japanese warriors were essentially forced to commit suicide. Still... to do that takes a measure of bravery to not just break and run.
Socrates... was unique.
- #21
Kevin_Axion
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Yes, but the Romans... he would have died anyways :P.
- #22
nismaratwork
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Kevin_Axion said:
Heh... the Romans were very... effective; well, for a time at least.
- #23
Proton Soup
- 223
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machiavelli, temujin, samuel clemens, virginia reed, magua, my old h.s. band director, vonnegut, heyzeus the nazarene.
- #24
Kevin_Axion
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Clemens eh? If Einstein and Clemens had a lovechild it would be Edvard Grieg.
- #25
Proton Soup
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i had to google it, but that's hilarious!
- #26
Lacy33
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Noam Chomsky, nismaratwork, Leo Buscaglia.
- #27
mugaliens
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My son. He raises questions and issue about which I doubt few philosophers ever have.
- #28
waht
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Plato, and Socrates in Plato's 'Apology' , Camus, Sartre, Nietzsche
I haven't read much of Hume and Spinoza, but I'll include them as well.
I haven't read much of Hume and Spinoza, but I'll include them as well.
- #29
Math Is Hard
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Jimmy Snyder said:
I am going to take this as a request to re-open the thread in the Philosophy forum that you asked to have closed.
- #30
Jimmy Snyder
- 1,137
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Have at it. However, I think you will find that the older thread, which is in the philosophy forum, violates the spirit if not the letter of the new rules for posting. That thread was intended as a joke as was my post in this thread. This thread is not in the philosophy forum and isn't subject to its rules.Math Is Hard said: