Who among western philosophers appeals to you most?

Question

Who among western philosophers appeals to you most?

Answer 1

I have 4.  Marx (Groucho), Lennon (John), Adams (Douglas), and Carlin (George)

They all listened to a different drummer.  If fact I think they played something other than the drums and made their own tune.

As Groucho said "Don't take life too seriously, you don't get out of it alive."

And always bring a towel.

Answer 2

I sometimes think that John Stewart Mill was on to something with his proposed Utilitarian Government --  Only those who are experts should decide what is good for the masses, etc...

Answer 3

Descartes & Jean Jacques Rousseau

Answer 4

By western do you mean European or American?

European: Karl Marx

American: Leo Strauss

Answer 5

Well, I suppose I'm a sucker for William James and his pragmatism, as its probably the most well-received philosophy in the western world. I don't steal because I could get in trouble for it.

Answer 6

Aristotle

Answer 7

Darwin.  By revealing man, and the human mind, as a product of biological evolution, he opened up a way to consider human thought from a firm foundation.  Mainstream philosophers all start with their ideas suspended from a skyhook, with the "mind" floating in a referenceless void.  Modern anthropologists, behaviorists, evolutionary psychologists are better philosophers than you'll find in a philosophy department.

More practically,  you may want to check out Daniel Dennet.  He is a philosopher and historian of science.  (I think he coined the term skyhook.)