The Most Influential Philosopher

[Led Zeppelin]

Yes, I know the poll isn't really complete, but who cares, it's in Chit-Chat.

I voted Aristotle myself.

[Free Left]

OMG! You left out Cicero, Zoaraster and Plato!

[Led Zeppelin]

Yeah, I added a lot of others but there's a limit to the option amount in the poll, that's why there's a "Other (specify)" option.

[which doctor]

Adorno.

ummm....

and Debord

and Vaneigem

[Jazzratt]

Many fo thsoe philosophers aren't in the same circles really, and some have no impact on certian areas of philosophy that the others have made huge impacts on.

[chimx]

plato is most definately more important of a philosopher than lenin. and what about Socrates? oh well, my vote goes to aristotle too.

[Led Zeppelin]

Being on that list doesn't make you "more important".

If you want someone else use the "Other (specify)" option and name the person.

[Eleutherios]

I would have to say Jesus. There is a big difference between who the most influential philosophers are, and who the most influential philosophers ought to be.

[C_Rasmussen]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2006, 09:19 PM
I would have to say Jesus. There is a big difference between who the most influential philosophers are, and who the most influential philosophers ought to be.
I'd have to agree with ya there though you're going to get heat from other members on here because a good portion of this board don't believe in Jesus.

[somebodywhowantedtoleaveandnotcomeback]

Mmh... even if that jesus dude ever existed, I'm not sure if you can call him a philosopher.
And adding Lenin to that list is simply pathetic.

I vote Socrates/Plato.

[Led Zeppelin]

Lenin's works on philosophy influenced the Marxist movement profoundly.

[Postteen]

I say Aristotle.Plato & Kant were important as well.

[kaaos_af]

somehow my vote goes to Karl. I still love the old bastard.

[kaaos_af]

Originally posted by Fist of [email protected] 22 2006, 10:34 PM

and Debord

As in Guy Debord?

[Forward Union]

Oh it was clearly Thales :P

[somebodywhowantedtoleaveandnotcomeback]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2006, 11:09 AM
Lenin's works on philosophy influenced the Marxist movement profoundly.
:rolleyes:
Part of it ,yes. But that still doesn't make him quite an influential philosopher, now does it?

[which doctor]

Originally posted by kaaos_af+Jul 23 2006, 06:10 AM--> (kaaos_af @ Jul 23 2006, 06:10 AM)
Fist of [email protected] 22 2006, 10:34 PM

and Debord

As in Guy Debord? [/b]
Yes.

[Fidelbrand]

Rousseau is kind of the Father of the Left, he indirectly/directly inspired Marx.

So he's my pick.

[Connolly]

OMG :o

Lenin is in there?

(how did I guess) :rolleyes:

-----------------------------------------

I voted for Marx.

[hoopla]

I voted Russia, because for some reason I dodn't think that USSR would have happened without him :huh: I do think, that philosophy or Greece or whatever that was, would have happened without Aristotle/Plato etc.

[More Fire for the People]

Who is the most influential philosopher within society? Kant. Kant's concepts inspired Hegel who in turn inspired Marx, Nietzche, Kierkegaard, etc. Who is the most influential philosopher on me? Marx. Followed by Lenin, Zizek, and the Frankfurt School.

[Lamanov]

Originally posted by Fist of [email protected] 22 2006, 10:34 PM
...and Debord...

Debord simply expressed Marx and Hegel's work in the language of the 60's. Not that it wasn't briliant though. :D

Hm, I can't believe I was the only one who voted 'Hegel'.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by s3rna+Jul 23 2006, 02:11 PM--> (s3rna @ Jul 23 2006, 02:11 PM)
[email protected] 23 2006, 11:09 AM
Lenin's works on philosophy influenced the Marxist movement profoundly.
:rolleyes:
Part of it ,yes. But that still doesn't make him quite an influential philosopher, now does it? [/b]
Actually yes, it does.

If you don't know when the appropriate time is to use the rolleyes emoticon don't use it, ok? It makes you look like a fool.

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

If we take Jesus to be a representation of the religious roots that modern faiths have, rather than an individual person (which he may or may not have been), we can easily put him on a pedestal. However, I think the question becomes more interesting when we put such nonsense aside.

In my opinion, Plato and Aristotle represent different strands of philosophical progression. On one hand, Plato represents tha rationalism continued with Kant, and, on the other, Aristotle represents the roots of scientific method and logic used by individuals like Marx.

I'm definately a fan of picking Aristotle for the most influential philosopher. However, it is taking time for us to break the link modern philosophy has with Plato. Yes, he contributed some good ideas, but rationalism needs to go.

[which doctor]

Originally posted by Massoud+Jul 23 2006, 06:18 PM--> (Massoud @ Jul 23 2006, 06:18 PM)
Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2006, 02:11 PM

[email protected] 23 2006, 11:09 AM
Lenin's works on philosophy influenced the Marxist movement profoundly.
:rolleyes:
Part of it ,yes. But that still doesn't make him quite an influential philosopher, now does it?
Actually yes, it does.

If you don't know when the appropriate time is to use the rolleyes emoticon don't use it, ok? It makes you look like a fool. [/b]
:rolleyes:
Lenin may have made many contributions to political and economic theories, but I wouldn't consider him a "philosopher" per se. Unless of course he wrote on the meaning and importance of life (which he very may well have, I've just never come across it).

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by Fist of Blood
:rolleyes:
Lenin may have made many contributions to political and economic theories, but I wouldn't consider him a "philosopher" per se. Unless of course he wrote on the meaning and importance of life (which he very may well have, I've just never come across it).

Dear Marx, you don't even know what philosophy means: Lenin works on philosophy (http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/subject/philosophy/index.htm)

And I'll give you the same advice I gave that other kid; "If you don't know when the appropriate time is to use the rolleyes emoticon don't use it, ok? It makes you look like a fool."

[Le People]

I voted other. Descartes.

[BurnTheOliveTree]

If you can count Lenin in your list, then why not Hitler, with his influential ethnic cleansing ideas? He's probably at least AS influential as Lenin, even if he was an evil lunatic. Seems a bit of a biased list really.

-Alex

[Led Zeppelin]

Are you 11 or just plain stupid?

[Socialistpenguin]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2006, 10:42 AM
Are you 11 or just plain stupid?
Perhaps a mixture of the two, comrade.
Anyway, I voted Aristotle.

[che's long lost daughter]

I voted Aristotle. Marx is also influential but not in the general sense but for the leftists most probably.

[somebodywhowantedtoleaveandnotcomeback]

Originally posted by Massoud+Jul 24 2006, 12:18 AM--> (Massoud @ Jul 24 2006, 12:18 AM)
Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2006, 02:11 PM

[email protected] 23 2006, 11:09 AM
Lenin's works on philosophy influenced the Marxist movement profoundly.
:rolleyes:
Part of it ,yes. But that still doesn't make him quite an influential philosopher, now does it?
Actually yes, it does.

If you don't know when the appropriate time is to use the rolleyes emoticon don't use it, ok? It makes you look like a fool. [/b]
:rolleyes:

[Hit The North]

The list seems to confirm my suspicion that the only good philosopher is a dead philosopher.

[hoopla]

Originally posted by Citizen [email protected] 24 2006, 03:04 PM
The list seems to confirm my suspicion that the only good philosopher is a dead philosopher.
That doesn't sound like a very thoughful view, you've got there :lol:

:angry: :)

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by s3rna+Jul 24 2006, 02:59 PM--> (s3rna @ Jul 24 2006, 02:59 PM)
Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2006, 12:18 AM

Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2006, 02:11 PM

[email protected] 23 2006, 11:09 AM
Lenin's works on philosophy influenced the Marxist movement profoundly.
:rolleyes:
Part of it ,yes. But that still doesn't make him quite an influential philosopher, now does it?
Actually yes, it does.

If you don't know when the appropriate time is to use the rolleyes emoticon don't use it, ok? It makes you look like a fool.
:rolleyes: [/b]
Nuff said.

[Jesus Christ!]

Plato/Socrates duo ftw.

[Eleutherios]

Originally posted by C_Rasmussen+Jul 23 2006, 03:24 AM--> (C_Rasmussen @ Jul 23 2006, 03:24 AM)
[email protected] 22 2006, 09:19 PM
I would have to say Jesus. There is a big difference between who the most influential philosophers are, and who the most influential philosophers ought to be.
I'd have to agree with ya there though you're going to get heat from other members on here because a good portion of this board don't believe in Jesus. [/b]
Huh? I was merely saying that Jesus is the most influential philosopher in all of history, but that that is not necessarily a good thing. Because personally, his philosophy of "I am God" and "my ideas are all perfect" and "I will burn you if you don't behave exactly as I instruct you to" doesn't really impress me much. That is, if he existed to begin with, and I have my doubts there too.

[Monty Cantsin]

Originally posted by Additives [email protected] 23 2006, 11:14 AM
Oh it was clearly Thales :P
No it was Solon!!!

[Janus]

Definitely Aristotle.

[BurnTheOliveTree]

I'm neither stupid or 11. Perhaps I didn't think the Hitler comment through.

However, it' still a biased list. If you're basing it purely on influence. I mean, I don't profess any knowledge on this, but how many Leninists actually are there? And how many compared to fascists? I always assume there are more fascists. Am I way off base? I don't know.

To me, the list looks like this:


Influential philosopher
Influential philosopher
Person who agrees with me
Influential Philosopher
Person who agrees with me

-Alex

[hoopla]

I would like to think, that the second "person who agrees with me" is Satre, and not Marx! ;) :)

Tbf, I think that Marx was influential in-a-way-to communism, in which Mill was not-to Liberalism :huh:

:lol:

[Leo]

I'll vote for Wittgenstein.

Marx is so much more than a philosopher that voting for him would be unfair.


and Debord

and Vaneigem

Eh, those two are also much more than philosophers too.

[Physco Bitch]

There is so many to choose from! Though i voted for Aristotle - it would have to be between him Plato and Socrates. I remember reading somewhere once (don't now if it's true) That Socrates once stood in the same spot for a whole day and night contumplating on the same subject- now that is dedication. But if it wasn't for these men (and women) we wouldn't have had philosophy the way we do today- all i can do is imagine what we would now this day if the Alexandra libary hadn't have been burnt down.

[Sadena Meti]

Jesus clearly wins on numbers alone. 2+ billion people claim to follow something based on his alleged philosophy (easily a third of the world for the past 1000 years). I say alleged because no one knows exactly what philosophy the historical Y'shua might have taught, versus the third hand religious teachings we have. Still, in vague strokes, not bad.

So you've got 2+ billion living adherents, plus how many others have had their lives affected by the fallout from that religion? Wars, invasions, and is there anywhere Christian missionaries haven't gone?

So as far as influence, there is no contest. He wins on pure numbers. That being said, if he were to see the fallout and mutation, he'd probably be spinning in his empty grave.

[LoneRed]

I voted Marx, but i still likes my Heraclitus

[sri]

Karl Marx brought about a revolution in philosophy as a result of which humankind acquired new eyes, through which it's able to scientifically understand the past,present and visualise the future of society and nature.That's why,whoever wants to work for the benifit of humankind are realising Karl Marx as the greatest philosopher of the modern era and turning to the legacy of Marxian philosophy as a weapon in their struggle.

That's why, I voted for KARL MARX.

Sri

[More Fire for the People]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30 2006, 05:26 PM
I voted Marx, but i still likes my Heraclitus
Quick! Duck before Rosa throughs a copy of Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus at you!

[BurnTheOliveTree]

Indeed. :lol:

Still, be fair, she argues well.

-Alex

[KC]

Oh it was clearly Thales :P

:blush:


:rolleyes:
Lenin may have made many contributions to political and economic theories, but I wouldn't consider him a "philosopher" per se. Unless of course he wrote on the meaning and importance of life (which he very may well have, I've just never come across it).


And this coming from someone that says that Guy Debord is the most influential philosopher? :lol:

This thread wasn't about your favorite philosopher. It was about the most influential. Debord shouldn't even be brought up in this thread.

I picked Marx, with my runner-up being Kant.

[LoneRed]

she argues well for the gullible

shes a daft ol vulgar marxist, and has nothing original to say. shes just jumped on the ol' redstar bandwagon, trying to kill marxism off, with little success.

[which doctor]

And this coming from someone that says that Guy Debord is the most influential philosopher? laugh.gif

This thread wasn't about your favorite philosopher. It was about the most influential. Debord shouldn't even be brought up in this thread.
Yeah, I realized that later. Debord wasn't that influential, but he is one of my favorites.

As for influential on mankind as a whole I would choose Aristotle from this list.

[Luís Henrique]

I voted for Aristotle... but on second thought, the most influential phylosopher probably is not in the list: Confucius...

Luís Henrique

[Leo]

Debord wasn't that influential

He actually was, and he was influential as a thinker, not as a succesful revolutionary (lik Lenin). Ten million workers going on strike just by themselves were influenced by Debord. However as I said before, he was much more than a philosopher. So was Marx as a matter of fact.

By the way, I think Democritos should have been in the list too. The man did discover the atom in Ancient Greece!

[KC]

He actually was

Not as a philosopher.

[Leo]

Not as a philosopher.

Yeah, in that way he was very similar to Marx.

[Herman]

Lenin wasn't a philosopher. Where did you get that idea? He was a theorist, yes, but not a philosopher. His works and theories came from Marxist Philosophy.

[Hit The North]

Originally posted by [email protected] 4 2006, 12:48 PM
Lenin wasn't a philosopher. Where did you get that idea? He was a theorist, yes, but not a philosopher. His works and theories came from Marxist Philosophy.
Marx is also better seen as a theorist, given his rejection of philosophy and his subsequent attachment to political economy as providing a more thorough understanding of social reality.

Marx is easily the most influential figure in the list and mainly because he wasn't a mere philosopher.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by [email protected] 4 2006, 11:48 AM
Lenin wasn't a philosopher. Where did you get that idea? He was a theorist, yes, but not a philosopher.
See his works on philosophy: V.I. Lenin On Philosophy (http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/subject/philosophy/index.htm)

[Communism And Freedom]

You left out Kroptokin. :(

For Western a philsopher, I'd say that I like Peter Kropotkin, For an African philosopher, I'd say that I like Menelik II, Frantz Fanon or Lorenzo Komboa Erwin.

[Kuma]

Alan Watts anyone? Granted, not the most important philosopher ever, but I find his studies of Easter religion very enlightening, and his views on life in general very insightful.

However, I would have to vote Aristotle.

[Poum_1936]

BBC did this poll awhile back. Guess who won =P

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourt...te_result.shtml (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/greatest_philosopher_vote_result.shtml)

[Lamanov]

Originally posted by Marxism-Leninism+Aug 4 2006, 03:52 PM--> (Marxism-Leninism @ Aug 4 2006, 03:52 PM)
[email protected] 4 2006, 11:48 AM
Lenin wasn't a philosopher. Where did you get that idea? He was a theorist, yes, but not a philosopher.
See his works on philosophy: V.I. Lenin On Philosophy (http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/subject/philosophy/index.htm) [/b]

First of all, you're in love with that man so much your deification of his persona is even worse than his canonization by the Stalinists.

Second, this is what it takes for you to call someone a philosopher? So why don't we say Monty Cantsin is a philosopher?? He wrote some essays! Why the hell not!?

But lets take a look at this:

Materialism and Empirio-Criticism - this essay was responsible for post mortem projection of "dialectical materialism" upon Marx and Engels, while it was not able to give any refference for such an act. Foundation of basic thoughts in this essay are a simple copy of Plekhanov's work in the field of philosophy and his critique of Empirio-Monism.

Three Sources & Three Component parts of Marxism - if this is "philosophy" than we should all commit a mass suicide!

Conspectus of Hegel’s Science of Logic - this work was the result of Lenin's "philosophical epiphany" when he actually discovered a connection between Hegel and Marx - this time on his own! As a result, this work came into contradiction with basic positions he held in his Materialism and Empirio-Criticism six years earlier. This is simply a Conspectus, where he tries to clarify his new ideas and thoughts, and he manages to do that up to some point. It's not something I would call "groundbraking philosophical work".

On the Significance of Militant Materialism - "Lenin's appeal for a 'united front' between communists and natural scientists against teh influence of religion and in defence of philosophical materialism" [MIA]. Oh? I think Lenin would say: "M-L, please don't call me a philosopher over this!"

[deadk]

Plato and Heidegger

well... "influential" isn't the best word for the last one but he's still one of my favorites.

[rouchambeau]

Thales, hands down. Without him we wouldn't even have philosophy.

[emokid08]

I voted other.

I think the greatest philosopher would have to be Peter Kropotkin, Molly Stimer, Emma Goldman, Bookchin, or Proudhon.

All are friggin' awesome though! :D :blush:

:banner: :star: :AO: :A: :redstar:

[getoutofhere]

i still voted for Marx. i really have high regard to that old bastard man. :D

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 29 2006, 10:58 AM
Thales, hands down. Without him we wouldn't even have philosophy.
He was the first known philosopher. It is not neccessarily true that he was the first, and philosophy would have emerged without him anyway. He was influential, though.

[BreadBros]

I voted for Marx, although if Plato/Socrates had been on the list I would have likely voted for that. I am also personally influenced by the Epicurians, Existentialists and skeptics to a great regard.

While Aristotle is definitely one of the most influential in terms of putting his theories into practice (since he did influence Western education and societal values for centuries), I'm not too big of a fan. I feel that a lot of these philosophers, especially Aristotle and Kant, don't really escape the confines of their own society. They may elaborate on changes, outlooks, virtues etc. but they seem to for the most part re-affirm the predominant cultural values of their time.

To me the importance of Marx is not only his political-economic theories, but also his contributions and practice of materialism, which in my view has been monumentally influential on science and social theories and can be applicapable to any time/place. I'm also a big fan of Plato/Socrates because of his schema of knowledge. The "allegory of the Cave" is in my opinion still monumentally important in understanding reality and the nature of knowledge. He also seems to be the most influential philosopher in terms of trying to get "beyond" the guiding structures of society, which tend to be wealth, power relations etc. and attempting to create a society that strives for true knowledge, understanding, etc. Of course, the problem is that in Plato's view the only way of implementing this in his time was through a nearly-impossible to establish oligarchy/aristocracy, however I see his overall project as bearing many similarities to the way Marx talked about exchange value vs use value.

[Dyst]

I voted Marx.

But I'd probably choose Pythagoras had he been there (not that he has been influentual to society at all).

[Pirate Utopian]

you forgot my homie epicurus

[red_che]

I still voted Marx. I would have voted Lenin but the title of the survey says: The Most Influential Philosopher. Lenin was also influenced by Marx, so Marx is the most influential.

I also should have voted Plato if he is on the list. But, in my last analysis, Marx is still the most influential.

So, Marx it is. :D

[Hegemonicretribution]

I don't think I can really vote in this...

To assess the impact a given philosopher has had would require imagining the discipline without them. The problem with this is that cretain divides arose 2000+ years ago, and therefore it may seem that we have to imagine philosophy as less than half the disclipline that it is today. However the problem with this is that people have always philosophised, and still do, and have come to various conclusions about the world independent of any awareness of those that had previously reached similar conclusions.

I know that I have pre-supposed philosophical debates through 3 or 4 stages without having read any of the "formal" texts before, and this is not uncommon especially amongst philosophy students. What this means is that without some of the groundbreakers, we would almost certainly of had a contribution similar to them at some point.

It is for this reason I tend to be attracted towards those that have revolutionised thought, and especially in modern times, as the more "influential." At the moment post-modernism and bourgeois acceptance are fairly influential in our culture, but in the grand scheme of things it is hard to see what would win out.

I guess null vote.

[pastradamus]

Marx-I believe so anyway....Thats why im here! lol

[Guerrilla22]

Nietzsche isn't a choice, but Lenin is wtf?

[DISTURBEDrbl911]

I would have to agree that some names should be removed from the list while others added. I would vote for Socrates from the standpoint that he taught Plato, who in turn became one of the most influential philosophers. Socrates is also viewed as the paragon for facing death, even though that should be changed, as it stands now, Socrates was the most influential philosopher.

[Patchd]

Originally posted by [email protected] 26, 2006 11:05 pm
I would have to agree that some names should be removed from the list while others added. I would vote for Socrates from the standpoint that he taught Plato, who in turn became one of the most influential philosophers. Socrates is also viewed as the paragon for facing death, even though that should be changed, as it stands now, Socrates was the most influential philosopher.
Yes, I voted for "other" because Socrates wasn't up there.

[cmdrdeathguts]

influence is an historical category. in our age, Marx.

[VenceremosRed]

I think most significant radical leftist ideologies are in some way influenced by Marx. I thnk there's been many terrific and brilliant proletarian philosphers - but most certainly Marx takes the cake.

:marx: :marx: :marx: :marx: :marx: :marx: :marx:

[gilhyle]

I wish the answer to this question were Marx - I wish we lived in an era where philosophhy had been killed off by progress; but we dont.

If the question was who 'has been' the most influential philosopher, I would probably agree with Aristotle. His influence has been tremedous and the fact that he influenced the political-economic formation which generated the dominant form of production in the world would place him ahead of Confucius, Buddha or Mohammed.

His closest competitor is surely Plato who really consolidated the definition of philosophy as a practice independent of cosmology. Granted Plato relied on Socrates, but without Plato Socrates would be long lost to history and Plato's Socrates is really Plato's invention.

However, that was not the question. The question was who 'is' the most influential philosopher. And the answer to this question is Kant. Heidegger, Wittgenstein, Husserl, Nietzsche, Davidson, Adorno, Lukacs, Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, Dummett, Popper, Bergson, Sartre, Althusser....they are all fundamentally Kantians. Not in the sense that they accept the details of his view, but that they accept a) the centrality of the constitutive unity of apperception and b) the method of coherent elaboration rather than proof.

In modern philosophy only David Hume comes close.

[repeater138]

What do you mean by "constitutive unity of apperception"?

My vote: Plato.

[Cryotank Screams]

My vote goes to Nietzsche.

[RevolutionaryMarxist]

Marx because he sprouted all this mass socialist movement ideology - the previous philosophers had large influences in the realm of philosophy but VERY LITTLE on the masses or other classes besides the ruling ones.

Marx also won BBC's poll as the world's favorite philosopher.

[Anarcho-Stalinist]

Conspectus of Hegel’s Science of Logic - this work was the result of Lenin's "philosophical epiphany" when he actually discovered a connection between Hegel and Marx - this time on his own! As a result, this work came into contradiction with basic positions he held in his Materialism and Empirio-Criticism six years earlier. This is simply a Conspectus, where he tries to clarify his new ideas and thoughts, and he manages to do that up to some point. It's not something I would call "groundbraking philosophical work".

:lol: fucking hilarious

[bolshevik butcher]

I'll vote marx. I have to say I don't have a lot of knowledge of Lenin writing on philosophy buthe may well of.

[Pow R. Toc H.]

Plato was easily the most influential philosopher. Republic is basically what modern society is built on.

[gilhyle]

Originally posted by [email protected] 05, 2006 10:01 am
What do you mean by "constitutive unity of apperception"?

My vote: Plato.
Unity of apperception (sort of logical version of individual subjectivity) 'constitutes' reality as we grasp it, rather than reality being given to us by our perceptions.