Have you ever met anyone who actually claimed to be a philosopher ?

Question: Have you ever met anyone who actually claimed to be a philosopher !?

and were you like, "yeah, right"!? Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Yeah and they were the most pretentious know it alls I've ever met!.
You usually find them in the bottom of society's barrel or in the echelons of academia!.
Rarely in between those two states of society!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, just as this one has met persons who have claimed to have been enlightened beings (smile)!.

When one meets such, one must treat them with kindness, compassion and great patience just one would wish him or herself to be treated were he or she acting foolishly and speaking form his or her ego!.

It is or maybe interesting to note that His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, whom this one believes is an enlightened being and truly a Bodhisattva, never claims to be either but chooses to refer to himself as a "simple monk"!.

May it be well with you!.

ADDITION:

Not every professor in the field of philosophy is a philosopher!. Usually, such are only advanced students who attempt to interpret the philosophy of a philosopher of some repute!.

Although one may well learn from all others, such as a young child or even ones "enemy' (if one has an enemy), the knowledge gained from these does not make them philosopher!.

The asker requested thoughts about "philosphers", not about the or any possible "philosophy" of the same!.

Philosophers may be poets but not all poets are philosophers!.

Knowing the path is not the same as walking it!.

Be well, be wise, think deeply and then let the same go!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, and he jolly well looks like Socrates' love-child, too He specialised in Logic, and he's a total pain in the @%#& in that he's IMPOSSIBLE to argue with!. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!.!.!. (but I still like him!)

PS!.
I can't see why some people think it's "pretentious" to call oneself a philosopher - especially if one has studied the discipline and is working professionally in the field - though I think that a dedicated amateur philosopher is also entitled to bestowing the appellation upon him/herself!.
In fact, I think that any human engaged in understanding "Life, the Universe and Everything" is entitled to refer to him/herself as a philosopher!. And why not!?

Hafwen xWww@QuestionHome@Com

You always ask straight to the gut questions BB!.

The best answer is "what does it matter!?"

I said this because there were a lot of human beings not just now but most in the past who live in other countries who have never studied philosophy or taken a class!. Being educated around the world is a privilege that so few are able to get but that we in the West take for granted or spurn!.

This is why a personal philosophy for life is the best they can have!. And no more!. And that is the way they live life!.

So the way that you asked the question is the best way!. And in the no philosopher can live the life of their follower!. Only a follower must choose and live his own path!. But then there are those who have never heard the message!. And yet they may be living the philosophy and not even know it!.

Later miss gator!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Alan may be right in a sense!. But I don't agree with his definition of philosopher!. I really don't think that anyone can be one!. I tend to like the pretentious idea of it!. Not the lax one!.

So to answer you, I've never met anyone in real life who has claimed that, besides my professors, who really ARE philosophers!. but, many many people in this forum I've seen claim that!. And like your question says, i say "Yeah right"!.

Jim is correct!. Its much more accurate in my opinion to call oneself a student of philosophy rather than a philosopher!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Not myself!.

I read that Ayer was at a party and Mike Tyson who was also there was involved in some sort of altercation and so Ayer had occasion to say to Mike Tyson "Unhand that woman" and Tyson said "Who are you" and Ayer said something like "The foremost philosopher of the 20th century"!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You are giving a very pretentious meaning to the term "philosopher"!. Anyone who is interested in trying to unravel the nonsense that parades in our society as sense is a philosopher!. I am a philosopher!. If you want to you can be one too!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

no, my Idols(philosophers) are all dead, the most recent was in 1997, I was born in 1990, so I would have had to have met before I was 7, also i would have to have been in California to meet LaVey, and I was never in California, nor do I want to go there!Www@QuestionHome@Com

anyone who inspires your thoughts and conscience is a philosopher!.!.!.

you learn from every child, every expression!.!.!. even from your strongest foe!.

Www@QuestionHome@Com

G Yes!. There are professors of philosophy at many universities!. I have spoken to some and they are neither ashamed, nor ignorant!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It might be more modest to say you are a 'student of philosophy'--yes!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes, they just use another name, "Poets!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

yes he drove me crazy Www@QuestionHome@Com