The Battle of the Philosophers - Plato vs Socrates vs Aristotle

[Dydl]

Hehe, we studied those three in Year 6 (to everyone's amazement) and the text we read (the Gifted and Talented group including me) found it to be solely about Socrates (with really brief mention to Plato, and none to Aristotle) so the text was biased in that. Don't really have an opinion myself though... It's probably locked up somewhere behind a closed door which I don't have the key to unlock yet.

[Son Of Coco]

Originally Posted by Langeveldt

Plato was the guy who got killed when a bird saw his head, thought it was a rock, and dropped an egg on it to let the kids out..

I'm with you on this one - Karl Pilkington is the greatest philosopher that has ever lived.

[Son Of Coco]

Originally Posted by Dydl

Hehe, we studied those three in Year 6 (to everyone's amazement) and the text we read (the Gifted and Talented group including me) found it to be solely about Socrates (with really brief mention to Plato, and none to Aristotle) so the text was biased in that. Don't really have an opinion myself though... It's probably locked up somewhere behind a closed door which I don't have the key to unlock yet.

Which book did you read about Socrates in year 6...Socrates the Gaul?

[nibbs]

i'm disappointed that people aren't battling the philosophers that this battle was supposed to be about. ffs guys

[Steulen]

Originally Posted by nibbs

i'm disappointed that people aren't battling the philosophers that this battle was supposed to be about. ffs guys

"Philosophers are people who talk the talk in order to get laid. This shows that, deep down, they are just lousy guitarists."

(c) Steulenates, 2006

[Dydl]

Originally Posted by Son Of Coco

Which book did you read about Socrates in year 6...Socrates the Gaul?

We didn't even read a book, it was just an extract from a chapter of a work book or something, supposedly about the "Greek Philosophers - Plato, Socrates and Aristotle" when it only talked about Socrates, which is where it was biased.

[Son Of Coco]

Originally Posted by Dydl

We didn't even read a book, it was just an extract from a chapter of a work book or something, supposedly about the "Greek Philosophers - Plato, Socrates and Aristotle" when it only talked about Socrates, which is where it was biased.

Thank you...information noted.

[thierry henry]

Sartre, Camus, Schopenhauer, Heidegger- all ok tbh, although I feel that I personally have surpassed them all and hence can't be bothered with their work anymore.

[8ankitj]

Discovering that there isn't any topic that's not discussed on CW Interest in Philosophy is something that happened suddenly to me about 5-6 years back.

Thing with choosing a great philosopher is that they have to be put in their historical context. Someone like Aristotle, while unquestionably one of the greatest intellectual influences, may not be appreciated by a modern mind as much. I liked Kant's philosophy on innateness of space and time. Also liked rather pessimistic and melancholy philosophy of Shaupenhauer.

As I read more though I ended up admiring Karl Popper most (mostly here). Loved both his idea of Falsification and the critique of Historicism. Amazing clarity of thought. To come up with something so original and also not overly abstract as late as in the 20st century is quite an accomplishment.

Apologies for a random bump

[smalishah84]

Originally Posted by C_C

In terms of western philosophers, i rate the impact of individuals in the following order:

1. Neitzche
2. Descartes
3. Plato/Aristotle
4. Kant
5. Machiavelli
6. Thales

Would put Descartes and Aristotle above Nietzche tbh. I think Aristotle is being under rated here ...............but seriously Aristotle completely changed the way almost all fields progressed for the next two thousand years. His formalization of the principles of logic is probably the greatest intellectual achievements of antiquity (if that is what that period is called)

Originally Posted by 8ankitj

Thing with choosing a great philosopher is that they have to be put in their historical context. Someone like Aristotle, while unquestionably one of the greatest intellectual influences, may not be appreciated by a modern mind as much. I liked Kant's philosophy on innateness of space and time. Also liked rather pessimistic and melancholy philosophy of Shaupenhauer.

Apologies for a random bump

Indeed was surprised nobody had mentioned Kant as yet. Was a gun philosopher. That is the only thing I remember now though

[nick-o]

Originally Posted by nibbs

although boybrumby's buffoonerry threatens to ruin this battle, i think i'll rate this one 5 stars

Did this earn an infraction, btw?

[cover drive man]

Reading Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra atm along with stuff about or by Nietzsche. When you read some of his nihilistic passages along with his obvious passion it's easy to see why he went insane...

Nah, great writer and champion of existentialism and in attacking age old, mostly religious, doctrines. Was rather sad that Dawkins didn't mention him in The God Delusion.

Wrote some nice music too

Listening to his music's like reading one of his books. It's full of emotion but not over excessive. Many composers could have made the albumblatt a twenty minute movement of a piano concerto. Nietzsche might not have been able to do this but he also probably didn't want to imo, preferring his short and to the point style.

[cover drive man]

Kant was a genius in metaphysics and meta-ethics but I think his ethical 'Categorical Imperative' seems a bit silly tbh. As well as having obvious flaws, how did he think he could just tell people the absolute rules of right wrong? Rather despotic to say the least...

[8ankitj]

Originally Posted by cover drive man

Kant was a genius in metaphysics and meta-ethics but I think his ethical 'Categorical Imperative' seems a bit silly tbh. As well as having obvious flaws, how did he think he could just tell people the absolute rules of right wrong? Rather despotic to say the least...

Haha. Totally agree. Kant's metaphysics rocks but his thoughts on ethics were quite inane. Happened with a lot of philosophers of early modern period. Descartes is another example. Does a great job with his "I think therefore I am" but totally spoils it with his silly argument for God's existence.

[cover drive man]

Yeah, plus Descartes' ontological argument is mostly plagiarism from theologians of the middle ages.