Who is the Greatest Philospoher?

I have read a bit of Ghandi's and it struck me, so him perhaps. Otherwise Plato is sometimes revered as the most influential of philosophers.

Jesus, however, I disagree with. He changed the world with his illusions. Jesus was the worlds earliest recorded David Blaine. Plus he isn't credited for actually writing the bible, no one knows who should be.

 

I have a book called the Quest to Enlightenment by Prabhupada. It compares his enlightened knowledge to some ideas proposed by great philosophers of different eras including Carl Jung, Socrates, and John Paul Sartre.

It was very interesting to read, there "great" philosophies were simple knowledge a enlightened man knew.

Here is a video worth checking out. Osho - my way of life is not a philosophy -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK4...AE7E9CED&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11

This is the difference between knowing and believing.

 

I'd say that this is a large part of the equation, but it is not completely correct.

If we act as unbiased observers that have come across the human race for the first time and have no understanding of good and evil

We would examine the actions of humans throughout time and measure them by two things

1. The reactions people have to them
2. The effects the actions have on people

No action would be good or bad. No action would have any intrinsic value to us.

However, what we could do, is measure the amount of happiness or unhappiness that each action causes and draw conclusions about what alignment such an action was based on that.

So while planting land mines in a daycare playground is to the universe, neutral, it is intrinsicly evil based on the type of emotions that it elicits. However, if there was a culture where a child stepping on a land mind was a cause for celebration and pain was reveled in, then to an outside observer it would be instrinsically good.

Everything is subjective, according to our society.

The belief that whatever philosophy you identify with is the best philosophy is, just like every other belief, subjective.

Isn't the world of philosophy wonderful?

 

i am.

 

People with their minds in the right place will always be insightful.

 

Walter, benjamin

 

lol that had me laughing for some reason

 

and so wouldn't that mean that philosophy is also subjective?

so with the endless loops of subjective thought what are we left with really? the objectivity of subjectivity. there is an objective standard which governs everything. the empty subjectiveness which pervades everything. i don't think that many people have really made much progress on it though.

although carl jung did have some pretty interesting works. henry david thoreau was also pretty close. hell, even some of the contemporary musicians and thinkers are bringing us closer than ever.

hey, maybe you'll be picking up a book by me on the subject one day.

 

no other like it

 

im a Nietzsche fan!

"A poet could say that God had stationed forgetfulness as a guardian at the door to the temple of human dignity"-Nietzsche

 

foolishness.
theirs no such the as greatest.
everyone always contributes there own to the world
no one is ever better then anyone eles.
for we are all equal.

 

that all depends on your philosophy.

 

how can u prioritization someones thoughts or believes over someone eleses when they are all just thoughts of believes?

If someone believes bill Cosby god
and someone thinks chuck Norris is god

both thoughts are equal. because they are just points of views. nothing makes anything more significant then anything else. hence no greater thought.

 

As far as non-religious philosophers, i would go with Leih-tzu.

 

This is what I love about philosophy. It's one gigantic loop and each time round you discover something new.

 

Are you going to get the Red Book? It's coming out soon.

 

For me, it changes a lot. I use what I need and try not to get attached to it.

There's some Buddhist (I think) story about a canoe. Something about carrying a canoe on land.... The point is: Use the canoe when you need it in water, but don't carry it around with you on land just because it helped you on the water....something like that.... A metaphor for philosophy and religion.

I do think that you can learn a lot from looking at historically significant philosophers' ideas rather than trying to figure it out on your own. The study of philosophy probably helps people organize various philosophical ideas that have entered their minds but never solidified.
At least, I wish I would take the time to learn more. This isn't to oppose the idea of you being your own favorite, but a clarification that that doesn't necessarily mean doing it all in a bubble.

I really can't wait for Jung's Red Book to finally get published....I think that will be a very cool thing to look at and read. (There was a great NYT article about it and how it came to be published finally.) So....right now I like dreams....

 

Fuck yes. Although I only live on $200 a month after rent so it'll be hard to come up with the money for it

 

Yogi Berra

 

Heraclitus, there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever.