Greatest Western Philosophers

[Fido]

Confucius at the top is brave I'll say. I agree with Buddha being debatable, imo Buddhism is closer to a religion than to a philososophy, but that's a problem with many Eastern philosophers.

[Tim]

Think his millenia of influence on Chinese as well as broader East Asian culture plus him being arguably #1 most revered philosopher with possible exception of Buddha makes him fairly justified #1.

[Fido]

But his philosophy is almost exclusively abouth ethics, morals, and the like, there's no epistemology or theory of reality, which are important when talking about the history of philosophy and knowledge, and which shape society and the world in less obvious but no less important ways. Some argue that's the REAL philosophy, as "how to live" is also something covered by religion. Not saying any of this disqualifies him as there's MANY others on the list who didn't write about everything, but hey, since it's the top of the list I thought all ideas should be presented.

Regardless, the bigger issue in the list imo would be the "no written/surviving works" thing. I guess you could make two lists, as having such important thinkers in the HMs kinda looks bad.

[ManPerson]

. I guess you could make two lists, as having such important thinkers in the HMs kinda looks bad.

Agreed.

[Tim]

Greatest pre-socratics (Greece)

1. Pythagoras (c. 570 - c. 495 BC) - Pythagoreanism, mysticism
2. Thales (c. 624 - c. 546 BC) - considered the first Western philosopher; natural philosophy; "Everything is water"
3. Parmenides (born c. 515 BC) - Monism; truth/opinion distinction
4. Heraclitus (fl. c. 500 BC) - Fire is the arche; Logos; Flux; Unity of opposites
5. Zeno of Elea (c. 490 - 430 BC) - Monism; Zeno's paradoxes
6. Xenophanes (c. 570 - c. 470 BC) - Polytheistic religious views as human projections; Earth is the arche; The distinction between knowledge and mere true belief
7. Anaxagoras (c. 500 - c. 428 BC) - Nous
8. Democritus (c. 460 - c. 370 BC) - Atomism
9. Leucippus (fl. c. 5th century BC) - Atomism
10. Empedocles (c. 494 - c. 434 BC) - four classical elements; Love and Strife

[Tim]

On the main list, Žižek looked a little high, Fanon too low so moved them next to each other (at Ayn Rand's expense).

[ManPerson]

DDD's gone woke

[Tim]

Btw Rand at #100 might be an overcorrection on my part as she does well in popularity, cultural & political influence.

[ManPerson]

Curious about Aristotle vs Plato.

[Tim]

I'd say influence Plato slightly acclaim Aristotle slightly, body of work dunno.

[Tim]

You reckon Aristotle would be a better #1?

[ManPerson]

I feel like I usually see him ranked 1st, but I guess that goes with him winning acclaim slightly.

[Fido]

Btw Rand at #100 might be an overcorrection on my part as she does well in popularity, cultural & political influence.

C'mon, why would you use popularity as a criterion on this list?

[Tim]

Well, it's not a standalone criterion but part of body work criterion for me but I don't think it should be ignored altogether.