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I fear that the line of exquisitely brilliant thought has reached its end.

2007-11-02 08:12:29 · 14 answers · asked by M O R P H E U S 7 in Arts & Humanities Philosophy

I listed the members of this elite club a few questions back.

2007-11-02 08:13:52 · update #1

And they're all long since dead.

2007-11-02 08:14:16 · update #2

A1) Knowing all the great facts and history behind western philosophy makes someone at least an encyclopedia of philosophy. This is the most I can say for most of those who've been educated in the discipline formally. Can you transcend that? Yes, but it's not because others decide to anoint you...it's because you'll anoint them with an expanded since of understanding beyond that which they can glean by simply going to the library.

2007-11-02 08:33:16 · update #3

A2) The hope is that the line of greatness will continue. I meant merely to imply that it may not continue, to our misfortune. As such, no one is their own best teacher when it comes to expanding the horizons of philosophy.

2007-11-02 08:38:32 · update #4

A3) Perhaps you have promise to someday reignite the flame of knowledge? At face value, you seem to have a precocious inclination which may someday blossom onto true greatness. In the meantime, you should work on your spelling and grammar.

2007-11-02 08:42:49 · update #5

A4) People by-and-large gaining knowledge as they navigate the travails of life is a far cry from what I'm opining.

2007-11-02 08:47:05 · update #6

A6) You may be right. God only knows that I hope you are. Yet, it's been several decades since the last among the greats has died.

2007-11-02 08:57:37 · update #7

A7) If only it were as simple as this simple analogy. Extending forth from here will require a Hurculean effort (Randian reference).

2007-11-02 08:59:33 · update #8

A8) Philosophy is the "LOVE OF WISDOM" not the love of knowledge. There is a huge difference. One would possibly regret such an answer when one can understand the difference.

2007-11-02 09:01:52 · update #9

A9) Those who may disagree are not to be seriously considered. The list IS the list because it is a compilation of the greatest minds to have INFLUENCED the course of our understandings. They are important primarily for that reason, not because they may've had a unique perspective to talk about in a philosophy classroom, LOL.
Yet, I hope that you are correct. Although the one toiling in anonimity must have the brilliance and discipline of Spinoza to be some day recorded among the greats.

2007-11-02 09:10:41 · update #10

A10) Derrida, yes! He is a future hall of famer. The others...probably not...

2007-11-02 09:22:56 · update #11

A11) This is my hope, and I'll look up Singer.

2007-11-02 09:23:56 · update #12

Enter vonhiggins! Come now. my good man...you know that I swoon merely upon the arrival of your harbinger. As such, you should also know that I fashion myself not as the panther. Rather, I'm probably more like the mouse...even the rat who scurrys about in search of the scraps. You, of all who cometh, should've known that I meant not myself as the flashpoint of this asking.

2007-11-02 16:00:22 · update #13

It was suggested to me that questions should be asked along the lines of the areas which hold interest. This is not my usual inclination, but merely "a try" along the lines of what was suggested. Sorry to have offended you, vonhiggins.

2007-11-02 21:04:01 · update #14

With that, v/h, I must tell you, in order to end your state of dellusion, that there is no panther. Hearing that must be somewhat akin to when you were told that there was no Santa. Especially since you seem intent on defeating this mythical beast.

2007-11-03 14:10:48 · update #15

A10) Perhaps you're right. I responded to your addition too quickly. See the A9) response above for what I'm driving at. Surely most of the others you mention require consideration for inclusion.

2007-11-04 15:29:18 · update #16

14 answers

I'm not sure to what degree this will answer your question, but...

As far as a living philosopher, there are a FEW still alive. Jurgen Habermas is still teaching at Northwestern University, and Gilles Deleuze is still living. In addition, the Lacanian Slovej Zizek is only, what I would consider, a half step from a philosopher. All of these, of course, lean on the Continental side of philosophy rather than the Analytical.

To comment on your last statement, Derrida would content that it is the very nature of meaning that it CANNOT reach an end--due to differance (note the a in the spelling intentionally), which is both the differing and defering of meaning.

Addendum: I finally found your list of Great Philosophers. It is a good start but it seems incomplete. The following is list of others who should be added (unfortunately all of them are dead too):
Leibniz (who independent of Newton created Calculus)
Husserl (who is the Father of phenomenology)
J.S. Mill (who along with Bentham devised the ethics of utilitarianism)
Foucault (who addressed a wide array of topic left somewhat untouched by previous philosophers)
Derrida (who, while convoluted, blended Husserlian phenomenology with Sausurrean structuralism)\

Addendum2: I'm surprised that of this list you select Derrida and only Derrida. It seems that to elect to let Derrida into your "club" you would necessarily need Husserl since not only did he influence Derrida but he also taught Heidegger (who is on your original list). In addition, it seems that Mill should not be excluded since any intro to ethics course will use Mill's utilitarianism as an example of a ethical system opposed to Kant's deontological system. Though it may be modernistic, it may help to compile a list of attributes necessary for inclusion as (great) philosopher as to determine what you indeed seek.

2007-11-02 09:12:36 · answer #1 · answered by Think 5 · 1 2

So what's the point of seeking a teacher if all the great thinkers are dead? Besides, you're your own best teacher, and life itself, if viewed with proper awareness, is a better teacher than most people give it credit for.

Edit: Oh, did I mention that the pursuit of knowledge is an addiction like any other? Try a different aisle in the library. I used to canvas a large repository library at random, and I found the most wonderful things that way. There is value in allowing chaos to inform one's learning processes. Or, I could be full of bull...but if I am, I am ok with that.

Response to directed A2 answer: I did not mean to say that you are your only teacher, but by definition, all knowledge you gain is filtered through your mind. It is helpful to be conversant with its effect on your thoughts concerning other philosophies. Thanks for the question! Also your thoughts indicate a touch of lapsarian mindset...personally I think life just gets more interesting--change where you're standing and maybe you'll find those great ones you seek.

2007-11-02 08:18:12 · answer #2 · answered by Black Dog 6 · 4 1

I actual have been right here for a number of it slow now, 40 3 of your years to be surprising. I look no diverse to anybody. I talk with you at present. in spite of the undeniable fact that, i do no longer evaluate myself to be an alien interior the way that many think of extraterrestrial beings to be. in case you have been to look upon me you could comprehend me as being certainly one of you. confident, there's a possibility that there are greater like myself who're additionally like your self...the sole distinction being while and the place we've been created.

2016-11-10 01:57:47 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

You're not daft? Really, you think you are worth the effort that does tame the hungry panther in the dark room we enter voluntarily? And...mistaking yourself for the panther. Awful. Poor taste.

Addendum. Alright, WOW, then go TAME the panther.

Second addendum. The deed often accomplished through parabolic expression.

Third addendum. No effort required to tame a lamb. Thus we will make lambs into super-panthers, to face panthers.

2007-11-02 14:35:05 · answer #4 · answered by Baron VonHiggins 7 · 0 1

I would lay claim to such a title. However in your question you did not say a GREAT philosopher.

All of the people that you mentioned are dead, yes, and they are also being viewed in retrospect. To say they are Great Philosophers now is easy. Even though some of them were considered great when they were alive, I'm sure there were others who would have disagreed. As we speak, there are some today who would disagree with some of the people you mentioned. The fact that we study them is not necessarily indicative of their perceived greatness, I believe that it is more about those who have had a unique perspective that helps to flesh out the study of philosophy. Perhaps in the future, there will be a philosopher who now toils in anonymity, but will one day be recognized as one of the 'greats'.

2007-11-02 08:44:19 · answer #5 · answered by Gee Whizdom™ 5 · 2 3

I don't think philosophy can be taught, I have original ideas streaming through my head everyday, some weird ones too. I think its the way you think... The way your brain functions. Im 16 years old, and have been told I am very mature and am "deep" which i believe means that I think alot deeper then most adolecents these days. I have a friend who is extremely brilliant, I don't think your sentence about all great minds are dead is true at all. Theres a hell of alot of great minds out there, people just don't theirs.

2007-11-02 08:22:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 2

What can anyone teach anyone about 'the love of knowledge'? You can only teach the theory of 'the love of knowledge' and how those before you conducted their pursuit.
There is nothing to philosophy but drab conjecture and vague symbolism about things that can not be known.
Just a bunch of blind men poking sticks in the air claiming to have touched the untouchable.

Theory of 'how to think' is all you have here. No answers.

2007-11-02 08:35:38 · answer #7 · answered by @@@@@@@@ 5 · 2 2

Scenario:

You're 6ft tall and you want to go swimming. The Pool is 5ft deep. However, you don't know how to swim. Even though you can't swim, does that mean you jump in anyway, since you are capable of touching bottom?

The concept of a philosopher is superficial and useless to th realm of truth. You don't need a label to be able to accomplish something. Just try.

The problem is, people are afraid of the water. It's too cold for them. They looked to much on the notions that they have going into the situation. They KNOW they can't swim, so they let that engulf them. Thus they are unable to truly touch bottom. You must dispell those notions of untruth, and recognize that we as individuals are indeed capable of reaching that ultimate truth, here and now.

So, just jump in and swim.

2007-11-02 08:30:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2 3

I'm not a philosopher, just a thinker. The difference is I'm not going to create some kind of theory of thought and write it down. But I disagree that all philosophers are dead. There are always philosophers but they will only be called by that name later on, probably after they die.

2007-11-02 08:28:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4 3

all the great philosiphers are dead...

look around you.we are the philosiphers of the future.

and i know we cant spell and our teachings are in megabyts of data rather than books or papers not to mention most of us will probably never actually teach our philosophy purposfully.

but we are the philosophisers of the future and who knows maybe someone someday will study philosophy and chose centorium (real name not known) as his case study

plus try peter singer he's alive and if u ask me one of the best

2007-11-02 09:16:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2 3

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