Who is the greatest philosopher?

Question: Who is the greatest philosopher!?

If you are Yaoi-Shonen AI, and you plan to say: 'Ayn Rand', keep in mind that she isn't a philosopher!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I think it is futile to attempt to name "the greatest philosopher!." All of them, in one way or another, are full of crap!.

Harleigh Kyson Jr!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Whether you like it or not this is the beginning of the Ayn Rand age!. You can not stop her by saying she is not a philosopher (a nice way of evading reality; you are breaking the law of identity)!. You will have to deal with her ideas!. The same way she dealt with the ideas of the rest of the philosophers!. There's no escape from that!.

"We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality!."
(Ayn Rand)Www@QuestionHome@Com

The great philosopher of 20Th century is Vethathiri Maharishi of Tamil Nadu (India)!. He is a common man philosopher and he only brought out the God concept in a scientific manner and provided simple path of meditation & introspection in a nonreligious way to realize the God!. His contribution to the whole world is not understood by others at present but after seeing the growth of Tamil Nadu in all respects the India will be engulfed in anoter 20 years!. Then the world will come to under stand the truth!.
http://www!.vethathiri!.org/WCSC/Www@QuestionHome@Com

The problem with the word 'greatest' is it implies a purpose and you haven't provided one!. What's the greatest tool!? That depends on whether you need to drive a nail or tighten a screw!.

If you want my opinion on who was the greatest for the practice of philosophy as a whole, I would have to say Plato!. And not for anything he said, but for his establishment of an actual SCHOOL for philosophy!.!.!. a place where philosophers could gather and exchange ideas!. It was an idea that proved so popular that not only did his school last for centuries, it gave us the word 'academy' and prompted his star pupil Aristotle to do the same!.

On a side note, I personally WOULD regard Ayn Rand as a philosopher (even though I'm not Yaoi!)!. Maybe not one I agree with, but certainly one coherent enough to have established a school of thought of her own that has (so far) remained fairly distinct!. I would call that no small achievement, myself!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well, for theists, it must be God, since none is greater than God, so God must necessarily be the greatest at everything!. This would include square dancing, bike riding, and everything else, including philosophizing!.

Although I can't imagine what God would need to philosophize about, since being the greatest, God doesn't need anything!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

HA HA!. No!. I was going to say that there are only two camps, Plato and Aristotle, and all other western philosophies are derivative!.

So you have only two choices, and I'm not going to tell you which to believe is the better!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

When Philosphy is "A system of values by which one lives" and values for everybody is different and the word "greatest" being subjective, we cannot arrive at particular one!.

Everyone can have their own greatest philospher!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

This survey says it's Karl Marx, but my pick is David Hume!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Daniel Quinn!.
Best modern philosopher!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Gilles Deleuze - although he would have hated being identified as a great anything!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Plato is the King, and still so relevant todayWww@QuestionHome@Com