Your favorite philosopher?

[Barber Shop]

We have been discussing the value (or lack thereof) of philosophy. Some posters have noted that some philosophers are more useful and worthwhile than others.


So...who is your favorite philosopher(s)? Why?

Bertrand Russell is someone I certainly admire.

 

[Brainache]

Jerry Seinfeld.

 

[Loss Leader]

Machiavelli's Discourses is pretty much the foundation stone of political philosophy.

 

[MinnesotaBrant]

I like Aristotle. I was reading a book someone titled "what would aristotle do?" until the author mentioned the word pedophile about 5 times and 9/11 about 5 times in the first two chapters. I am not really sure what that has to do with Aristotle so I chucked the book.

 

[crimresearch]

Bertrand Russell, Samuel Clemens, Lao Tsu, Frank Zappa.

 

[Kid Eager]

In all honesty the need to have a philosopher, let alone a favorite one, has never arisen.

It's probably gathering dust on the same philosophical shelf as the pet rocks, Edward De Bono books, tartan trousers, paintings on black velvet, and Bose speakers.

 

[PixyMisa]

David Hume and Sofia Vergara.

Between them they define our modern world.

 

[Eddie Dane]

Call me old fashioned, but I really like Seneca.

It's all practical common sense stuff.

 

[Ron_Tomkins]

Daniel Dennett.

 

[rickps]

Mel Brooks, the stand up philosopher

 

[Gazpacho]

I like Aristotle. I was reading a book someone titled "what would aristotle do?" until the author mentioned the word pedophile about 5 times and 9/11 about 5 times in the first two chapters. I am not really sure what that has to do with Aristotle so I chucked the book.

That's what you get for reading Lyndon LaRouche

 

[MinnesotaBrant]

That's what you get for reading Lyndon LaRouche

It mentioned god a few times too. I guess thats ok though. What is is selling was philosotherapy. Thats where you pay a philosopher to fix your problems through logic. You have to be careful what you pick up at the library.

 

[LarianLeQuella]

I can never remember the tag for youtube... But I think this is the only valuable contribution of philosophy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJkO-EKRVd0

 

[Finster]

Winnie the Pooh

James Thurber

Mark Twain

 

[!Kaggen]

I am

Why?

Because there is no one else

 

[marplots]

William James. Pragmatism is the bomb.

 

[Philosaur]

David Hume, Kurt Vonnegut, Victor Frankl, the American Pragmatists (James, Pierce, Dewey)

 

[Philosaur]

William James. Pragmatism is the bomb.

Yup.

 

[Brown]

Thomas Paine, George Orwell, Bertrand Russell, Joseph Heller ... men who have offered insight but with whom I do not necessarily agree on every point.

Edited to add: some thoughts of Plato/Socrates (especially Plato's Gorgias) have been surprising influential. To this day I find myself asking whether something is a genuine art or a false art that pretends to be genuine.

 

[Resume]

David Hume

Joe Pesci