Which Philosophers Have Influenced You the Most?

Everyone who is into philosophy, has one or a few philosophers that have influenced them and their own philosophical views. Mine happen to be Friedrich Nietzsche, Ayn Rand, and John Adams.

Who is this for you?

 

Heraclitus and Aristotle

 

I appreciate your post, and I am curious why is it that these philosophers influenced you so much, and what part of their philosophy influenced you?

 

Socrates, because he rarely gives answers but just encourages you to question.

 

I'm a canoeist and have found Heraclitus to be correct about never stepping into the same river twice. You can't ride a bicycle on the same route twice, either.

Aristotle is correct with his four causes.

 

Hmmm...Interesting. If you don't mind me being a devils advocate for a second, don't you think that their philosophy is incredibly outdated, since their ideas are about over 2,000 years old or whatever. Granted, just because something is old doesn't make it false, but don't you think with other thinkers coming and going since their time, that their ideas have become outdated.

 

It's just philosophy. It's not something to take seriously. My personal philosophy is if you like a particular philosophy, use it. If you don't like it ignore it.

 

I appreciate your input.

 

I guess mine would be Nietzsche, Camus and Rawls, but the way they have influenced me is very different. Camus resonates with me, whereas Nietzsche engages me by challenging me.

 

The buddha

 

I cannot think of any. I can tell you my favorite quotes that I find most inspiring and true.

"If you want anything done right, you have to do it yourself"

"A man who fears nothing is a man who loves nothing. And if you truly love nothing, what joy is there in living?" That quote is from a King Arthur movie. Yet I find it very true.

 

Jesus of Nazereth (Though, like Thomas Jefferson, I am referring to his moral and ethical teachings only) I do not view him as a god.


Ghatama Buddha


Thomas Jefferson had many views that I very much agree with, thought they are not necessarily a philosophy.....
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. It does me no harm for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." (He meant that the government has no authority to regulate actions and behaviors that don't harm others, and used religious freedom as an example)

"I predict happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people on the pretense of taking care of them" (This is how I view the wall)

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom."

“We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” (In order words, if you don't vote, sit down and shut up)

“Our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions any more than our opinions in physics or geometry...” (When it comes to civil rights, it doesn't matter what the bible says)

 

I wonder, how many of us actually give ourselves the luxury of time for contemplation? Is simply adopting the contemplations of others sufficient, or should we all find our peace and truths? I think the endeavor is vastly more rewarding that the consumption of others.

 

I agree that we as human beings, have to try and come up with our views, however, I think that contemplating and thinking about what we as individuals think and believe can be boosted and helped by the thoughts and beliefs of others.

 

Karl Popper
Frank Jackson
Laurence Bonjour

 

Plato

 

Hollywoodism
Americans are good, just, charitable, honest, trustworthy, etc.

and

W.C. Fields
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it.
If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull
Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.
Never try to impress a woman, because if you do she'll expect you to keep up the standard for the rest of your life
https://www.brainyquote.com/lists/authors/top_10_w_c_fields_quotes
https://quotes.thefamouspeople.com/w-c-fields-3138.php

 

Here are a couple of paragraphs that helped greatly to set my own belief pattern off in a very different direction than it had been going......


http://www.allaboutchristian.com/spirituality/

Socrates got into some of this type of information after talking to the soldier who had a similar experience to that of Christian Andreason's near death experience.

 

Does he?

 

Yes, it is called the Socratic method.

 

Did you build your own car from scratch?

 

Is it?

 

Do you have a point or are you just trolling?

 

Am I?

 

The socratic method usually assumes the other person has a bit of intelligence. Good bye.