I tend toward Hobbes ... though Calvin occasionaly offers a flash of true insight, its The Tiger who is the real philosopher in the long run. I've studied the pair for years.
Seriously, a "Favorite Philosopher" would be difficult for me to single out. I don't exactly take a "buffet" approach, but I find philosophers as a rule draw from and reinforce one another, yet each has unique attractions and obstacles for me. I am more a fan of the game than of any one player.
timber
Gandhi:
"It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err."
"In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in an clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth."
"As long as you derive inner help and comfort from anything, keep it."
"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."
Just a small sampling!
BillW wrote:Gandhi:
"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."
Just a small sampling!
BillW, I really like the last quote of Gandhi. It's been my life's goal for many years, but I still find myself struggling with it. My philosophy of life is "love all peoples, and discriminate against none." My impatience wins often, and that it's difficult not to swear at people who cut you off on the roads.
c.i.
I aim for total enlightenment and achieve penlight accuracy. Ha!
BillW, Does that mean you are myopic in your view of the world? ha, ha, ha.... c.i.
My view of the world has a wide lens, my understanding is liberal, my enlightment achieved is myopic but with a big heart!
Actually, all the philosophy ya really need can be learned from a dog:
If ya cain't fight it, chase it, chew it or screw it, lift your leg to it.
timber
BillW, I also strive for that, but I'm not sure how successful I am.... c.i.
timber, don't forget about the licking part. I think that's what separates the dog from the human!
c.i., that's where I come up with the pinpoint of light, but I keep trying!
This is a trick question; ...right?
My favourite philosopher is "me"!
If you're not your own favourite, then how do you stand listening to all that BS!
Jesus Christ:
Love one another as you love yourselves.
Let his who without guilt cast the first stone.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
I have come to be a servant...
Visit prisoners, feed the hungry, clothe the naked...
David Hume and Bertrand Russell.
Lash, The only problem with those phrases is that very few actually follow them. Good teaching? Yes, no doubt. But why is it that many of the major problems of this world are associated with religion? c.i.
You know, I was thinking, C.I. and it occurred
to me, that if Lash's words were in no way at all
associated with ANY religion... people would have
no trouble with them at all. They are just a set
of sensible ideas to attempt to insert into your own
life if at all possible. Another interesting tidbit ..
I read a very short, but interesting book recently
called The Four Agreements.
The 4 agreements are as follows:
1. Always be impeccable with your word.
2. Never take anything anyone says personally.
3. Never assume anything.
4. Always do your best.
Now, granted that there is more to the book than
just this. But just this - could be, if one chooses
it to be - a recipe for how to get through life with
peace sanity serenity, even while all around you
people have lost their heads, lost their minds, are
killing, destroying, maiming, hating, and on and on
and on.
There are in the spiritual world, usually only very
simple concepts.
But for we of today - the complicated mind of 2003
"SIMPLE" is the most difficult thing of all.
My vote went to Kant among the listed.
But..
Please do not forget Plato. Almost everything that western philosophers have said is in Plato already (I do not feel a necessecity of citing Wittgenstein L. for this, which could be too offensive to other philosophers).
My milder point is this:
Plato is the philosopher, the philosopher is Plato.
Writings of philosophers are noble but apt to be boring to be cited.
The mentation of Plato was extremely noble.
Here you can read texts of Plato translated into English.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/plato/index.htm
I will always wonder how people can live in a subjective mind set. That would be like a leave fluttering in the wind, going with the tide and not with any regular pattern or sign of reason. I am a dreaded objectivist, follower of Ayn Rand. I am sure of my mindset, because it is the only mind set possible. All of our minds are very similar. Our views also follow this trend. Anyone who does not judge things objectively is fooling themselves, and leaving their wonderfully able mind open to chaos.
