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Who is the best philosopher and why?

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Who is the best philosopher and why?

ManiacJack
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Posted 09/06/09 - 06:51 PM:	#101
mutemaler wrote: And in my second vote (after me), I will cast a cunning call for the pre-socratics, before the Great Minds came along and screwed it all up, and we are STILL reeling from the effects of their causes, absolutely caught in their determined grip, two thousand years, and thousands of great minds later. In a decidedly abstract sort of way. Yeah, some of the presocratics were good. Pythagoras, of course. But do we have anything to study of theirs?
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mutemaler
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Posted 09/06/09 - 10:15 PM:	#102
ManiacJack wrote: Yeah, some of the presocratics were good. Pythagoras, of course. But do we have anything to study of theirs? To be honest I am not really up on them (while remaining somehow fond of them, a good trick), but there are just these moments where try as you might, you just cannot resist... Was actually quite interested at one point though, and researching in the library ran across a book by Popper about them, it was my introduction to him. What interests me the most I think is a kind of paradigm shift which occurred, a very substantial one. Thought then "went" in a certain direction, like a fork in the road.

phraud
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Posted 09/08/09 - 06:52 AM:	#103
Right now, I am the best philosopher because I've discovered the next step in human evolution, the way and the light, a viable future for humankind within our reach. See 'the next step in human evolution' in the general philosophy section.

philosofear
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Posted 09/08/09 - 11:08 AM:	#104
My vote goes to Mr. Kant. Few reasons--> Critique of Pure reason changed modern philosophy for ever. Critique of Practical reason laid the foundation for free will and responsibility in moral concepts. His view of space-time influenced Einstein. The synthetic-analytic distinction and to top it off, the Nebular Hypothesis. If Kant cant do it, nobody Kan!
"Its turtles all the way down!" -some old lady

Erik
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Posted 09/08/09 - 11:38 AM:	#105
In my tentative opinion, I would say that the 20th century produced some very important philosophers, especially Heidegger and Wittgenstein. As I understand them, they both endeavor in their own unique ways to undercut the essentialist (Platonic) and dualist (Cartesian) assumptions that seem to have dicated the various moves and countermoves of (Western) philosophy for 2500 years, thus opening up radically new ways of thinking that have yet to be fully realized. Nietzsche was a precursor of this movement, so I guess he too deserves a mention. Kant should also be mentioned, along with Plato, Aristotle, and of course Descartes simply for the influence they exterted upon future generations of philosophers - even if many of their positions are no longer tenable. But I guess "best" and "most important" may be in a sense two different issues.
I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex. Oscar Wild

mutemaler
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Posted 09/08/09 - 12:14 PM:	#106
Erik wrote: ... As I understand them, they both endeavor in their own unique ways to undercut the essentialist (Platonic) and dualist (Cartesian) assumptions that seem to have dicated the various moves and countermoves of (Western) philosophy for 2500 years, thus opening up radically new ways of thinking that have yet to be fully realized... I agree. Whether then this, that, or the other person is most important in this I honestly can't say (or maybe its not all that critical), but just to say this and say it well as you do is more the point. It helps to see our entire tradition as one way among many, among ways which can be fundamentally different, something which is anything but intuitive for a tradition such as our own.

Warshed
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Posted 09/08/09 - 12:32 PM:	#107
I love Hume. He is funny, smart, understandable, and straight forward. His writing reminds me of John Locke but with more insights.

frank white
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Posted 09/08/09 - 12:37 PM:	#108
I think the greatest philosopher must have many different qualities. Their thought must be well constructed and use the evidence that generation possessed to the best of their ability. Their philosophy must leave a legacy, in this I mean that it must be timeless. If their ideas begin to date, they cannot be the greatest in my opinion. Their writing and thus thought must be lucid, it must be work that is able to understand. This doesn't mean it must be simple, but it means the philosopher must make an attempt to make his ideas accessible. Thus for me their are three great philosophers, one is Epicurus, this is because he was one of the first philosophers that was happy that the world was all there is. His philosophy did not need any divine intervention to get it out of a logistical hole. People that have fallen into this hole are writers such as Berkeley and Descartes. Epicurus also gave us the problem of evil, and argument that I feel still holds to this day. It is a beautiful argument that shows great compassion for humanity. He was also a philosopher to the end, and accepted his death in a very philosophical manner. So for me Epicurus is one of the leading contenders. Then there is Karl Popper, he will often be overlooked in these debates because he is relatively modern. The first reason for this is he attempted to solve a problem in philosophy that many felt was unsolvable. He took on Hume and his problem of Induction, and managed to secure the validity of the sciences. By doing this he strengthened philosophy and it had long been mocked for denying the truths and progress that science was making. He was also an extremely lucid and brave philosopher, his books are easy to read and also enjoyable. He was also a great believer in human freedom, and did not mind taking on the great names such as Plato and Hegel. He is also a negative utilitarian the greatest ethical system there is. Then there is Mill, possibly philosophy's greatest writer. Mill's writing is always passionate and creative. Yet it also has a great logical and rational in its pages. He has a great sympathy for humanity. He believed in the equality of man, and the right to privacy and liberty. On Liberty is a work that will never age, and is as relevant today as it was when Mill first worked on it. He also helped refine utilitarianism one of the great ethical systems. He also made great strides in the study of Logic. For me the winner is Mill, but many will disagree. Edited by unenlightened on 09/11/09 - 06:20 AM. Reason: a little light dusting.

Warshed
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Posted 09/08/09 - 12:46 PM:	#109
ManiacJack wrote: Yeah, some of the presocratics were good. Pythagoras, of course. But do we have anything to study of theirs? More and more fragments are being discovered all the time. There was a library that was covered and preserved when Pompey went apeshit during ancient times and it has a treasure trove of pre-socratic writings. I personally like Heraclitus more than anyone and then maybe Pythagoras.

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