Philosophical writers?

Eckhart Aurelius Hughes · Post by **Scott** » 05 Jan 2007, 14:37

What philosophy writers do you like?

I agree most with David Hume, but I also like Friedrich Nietzsche and Immanuel Kant very much. All of them are dead now of course.

DanteAzrael · Post by **DanteAzrael** » 05 Jan 2007, 17:42

I'll begin here since it suits me more.

My favorite philosophy writer that I've read so far has been Ayn Rand. Grant it that she is only one out of four I've read so far: Rand, Aristotle, Plato, and Nietzsche. Well, I've also read bit of Nathaniel Branden's takes on Ayn Rand and agree with them as well. So far, I think Rand is the one I agree with most on a lot of topics.

Eckhart Aurelius Hughes · Post by **Scott** » 05 Jan 2007, 21:15

I mostly disagree with Rand's philosophy, but I agree with her politics - libertarianism - by happenstance. Anyway, I like her book Atlas Shrugged, namely the way it demonstrates the utilitarian way in which the free-market best increases development and such, and the way in which governmental interference only makes the problems worse.

John Galt is the man!

NickNorris · Post by **NickNorris** » 19 Jan 2007, 16:53

Im not a Rand Fan
Nor do I really like glorification of either Socialism or Captialism
both failures in their purest form, its a mix of the two that has shown its self most excellent

I enjoy Nietzsche, Husserl, and Camus

Hume's Ideas on perception are interesting

Im generally turned off by naturalists

DanteAzrael · Post by **DanteAzrael** » 20 Jan 2007, 17:50

A mix of Socialism and Capitalism cannot work either because they are a contradiction in every single way. Mixing them hasn't been excellent. In the U.S., socialistic ideals in the government has caused a massive lost of freedom because of the idea that we should work towards the "public good". Yet all that has done is led us to a place of regulations, limitiations, and a lack of freedom and has given the government even more legalized force. The same goes in the United Kingdom.

I do not believe in the mixing of contradictory systems because One: They cannot co-exist because each exist separately with completely separate principles and philosophies. Two: Contradictions tend to lead toward self-destruction.

ClickForth · Post by **ClickForth** » 08 Mar 2007, 15:48

DanteAzrael wrote:A mix of Socialism and Capitalism cannot work either because they are a contradiction in every single way. Mixing them hasn't been excellent.

Social Security is an entirely socialist program that America, as a capitalist country, has used to some benefit. There's truly no government that has pure "Socialism" or "Capitalism," even post-October Revolution Russia had capitalist elements to sate entrepreneur's needs for economical advancement.

adagb · Post by **adagb** » 18 Mar 2007, 21:05

My favorite philosophy writer is Foucault because of his language, the way he analyses social structures and his notion of space in literature. Other writers that I like are Nietzsche, Heidegger and Blanchot, even if he's not considerated as a philosopher.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » 18 Mar 2007, 21:12

what i really want to kno is how does one make any money being a philosophy major? i mean are there really jobs that having an extensive background in philosophy is necessary?

ClickForth · Post by **ClickForth** » 18 Mar 2007, 21:45

Linda wrote:what i really want to kno is how does one make any money being a philosophy major? i mean are there really jobs that having an extensive background in philosophy is necessary?

A professor or a writer, and that's about it.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » 18 Mar 2007, 21:49

eh doesnt sound like much of a career.

Niphredil · Post by **Niphredil** » 20 Mar 2007, 15:05

Career-wise, I suppose philosopher? Though its all about "transferrable skills" isn't it, those magical things employers are apparently desperate for. Either that or its what they say so that previous philosophy majors have someone to teach!

Rather a bitter note for my first post here...anyway!

I do enjoy philosophical writers that use literature as a way of getting their ideas across above those that compete for the most complicated way of putting things across to sound clever. Sartre would be my favourite, but also Camus and the like.

Dori · Post by **Dori** » 24 Jul 2007, 16:58

Linda wrote:what i really want to kno is how does one make any money being a philosophy major? i mean are there really jobs that having an extensive background in philosophy is necessary?

Many lawyers have at least a minimal background in philosophy. Look at how much money they make.

Although I haven't read through a lot of philosophical works, I do read a bit into the history of philosophy. I like Descartes writing-style. I've tried reading Aristotle and, as the poet Thomas Gray wrote, it was like eating dried hay. I loved reading Candide by Voltaire. The Prince (Machiavelli) was good too.

Currently I'm reading Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev which introduced me to nihilism. Something I whole-heartedly disagree with. But it is interesting, nonetheless.

I own many of Nietzsche's works (The Birth of Tragedy, The Will to Power, On the Genealogy of Morals, The Antichrist, and Thus Spoke Zarathustra) but I haven't had the chance to read them yet. I'm looking forward to it though.

complimentarymatters · Post by **complimentarymatters** » 09 Dec 2007, 18:18

I think Nietzsche's works are some of the best philosophy books for people to read because he writes in aphorisms. He makes his points in just a paragraph, whereas other philosophers elaborate each point into long chapters and essays that you can't get much out of unless you read the whole thing.

Eric · Post by **Eric** » 16 Apr 2008, 11:00

DanteAzrael wrote:A mix of Socialism and Capitalism cannot work either because they are a contradiction in every single way. Mixing them hasn't been excellent. In the U.S., socialistic ideals in the government has caused a massive lost of freedom because of the idea that we should work towards the "public good". Yet all that has done is led us to a place of regulations, limitiations, and a lack of freedom and has given the government even more legalized force. The same goes in the United Kingdom.

I do not believe in the mixing of contradictory systems because One: They cannot co-exist because each exist separately with completely separate principles and philosophies. Two: Contradictions tend to lead toward self-destruction.

Contradictions don't lead to self-destruction; contradiction is necessary for any form of progress. All advancements occur through a dialectical process. Mixed economies work very well...just look at northern Europe. When has absolute laissez-faire capitalism ever been successful in human history? The closest attempts were the "robber baron" age of capitalism, which was a disaster, or Pinochet's brutal regime (Milton Freidman's theory in action). And don't forget that the whole reason for the social safety net provided by FDR's New Deal wasn't that FDR was a "socialist", but rather that only a social safety net could have prevented the collapse of capitalism during the Great Depression era. FDR saved capitalism by introducing elements of a mixed economy. If you enjoy child labor laws, the eight-hour day, weekends, etc. then you don't support a laissez-faire economy. How many Americans would give up these advances in the name of "the free market"? Didn't think so.

As far as my favorite philosophers go, I am very interested in Slavoj Zizek, Voltaire, Spinoza, Diderot, Lacan, Agamben, Deleuze, Negri, DeBord, etc.

Inkling · Post by **Inkling** » 03 May 2008, 02:29

David Hume certainly; A Treatise on Human Nature and An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding are two books I have enjoyed as reading and resource material whilst studying Philosophy.

PF Strawson; His book Individuals is a must read.