The 20 “Most Important” Philosophers of the Modern Era | Meandering with Intent. In response to a similar list posted on a blog by Brian Leiter which I found to be disturbingly skewed from the perspective of the analytic tradition in philosophy, I have decided to make my own list of the top 20 most important philosophers of the modern era. I’ll give a brief reason as to why they’re included and ranked as-is after their listing: 1. Immanuel Kant: My listing here doesn’t deviate at all with the list posted by Leiter. I don’t think there’s any reason to debate Kant’s place at #1 on any list. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. The first things to clarify are the names not included on this list, but which were included on Leiter’s list: Frege, Mill, Leibniz, Russell, Berkeley, Quine, Kripke and Rawls. First of all, Frege ranked #6 on Leiter’s list. I like Mill, but a top 30 list would be better fitting for him.
That leaves an explanation for leaving off Russell: Let’s face it, Russell was more of a popularizer of philosophy than anything. The 20 "Most Important" Philosophers of All Time. 5 Self-Help Books Everyone Should Own. #3 Is Life-Changing. 9 Books on Reading and Writing. By Maria Popova Dancing with the absurdity of life, or what symbolism has to do with the osmosis of trash and treasure. Hardly anything does one’s mental, spiritual, and creative health more good than resolving to read more and write better. Today’s reading list addresses these parallel aspirations. And since the number of books written about reading and writing likely far exceeds the reading capacity of a single human lifetime, this omnibus couldn’t be — shouldn’t be — an exhaustive list.
It is, instead, a collection of timeless texts bound to radically improve your relationship with the written word, from whichever side of the equation you approach it. If anyone can make grammar fun, it’s Maira Kalman — The Elements of Style Illustrated marries Kalman’s signature whimsy with Strunk and White’s indispensable style guide to create an instant classic. On a related unmissable note, let the Elements of Style Rap make your day.
On the itch of writing, Lamott banters: On why we read and write: 7 Essential Books on the Art and Science of Happiness. By Maria Popova From Plato to Buddha, or what imperfection has to do with the neuroscience of the good life. If you, like me, are fascinated by the human quest to understand the underpinnings of happiness but break out in hives at the mere mention of self-help books, you’re in luck: I’ve sifted through my personal library, a decade’s worth of obsessive reading, to surface seven essential books on the art and science of happiness, rooted in solid science, contemporary philosophy and cross-disciplinary insight. From psychology and neuroscience to sociology and cultural anthropology to behavioral economics, these essential reads illuminate the most fundamental aspiration of all human existence: How to avoid suffering and foster lasting well-being.
The question of what makes us happy is likely as old as human cognition itself and has occupied the minds of philosophers, prophets and scientists for millennia. Human rationality depends critically on sophisticated emotionality. Donating = Loving. Top 40 Useful Sites To Learn New Skills | This and That...
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