Without René Descartes there would probably not be any modern sciences including advances in math, technology, and medicine.

The way we live today... I'm guessing this means, the way most people live today... and most people in America, because really all I can say I "know" is America, Mexico, and Canada...

I have to say... Jesus?

Karl Marx

"Capital is reckless of the health or length of life of the laborer, unless under compulsion from society."

No other Philosopher in history had seen his followers, for better or worse, take over nearly half of the world in his name. Before the end of the Cold War and the end of the Soviet Union, 1991, Karl Marx's name was in every school, university, and square from Berlin to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). For all intents and purposes Marx's writings laid the basis (or excuse) for government policies and political parties stretching across the entire globe.

His influence reverberates today; a recent BBC online poll named him as the millenium's greatest thinker: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/461545.stm

His critiques of business, capital, capitalism, and his sociological insights still form the core of leftist belief and rhetoric (even when they try to move away from the stigma of his name). His "spectre" is still haunting not only Europe but the whole world. Even as Communism is pronounced "dead" it resurfaces in European elections, Indian regional conflicts, Nepalese revolutions, and South American political movements.

Here at home, long after the fall of the Soviet Union and China's reforms; the conservatives, the right, the libertarians still warn of a coming Socialist dictatorship; every reform and measure is seen as a resurrection of Lenin. Moreso than Jesus, the Christian right cowers before the second coming of Karl Marx.

I haven't read much by Karl yet, but I've been meaning to pick up the Communist Manifesto.

"Moreso than Jesus, the Christian right cowers before the second coming of Karl Marx"

Ha, the second coming of Marx would probably kick off the end of times.

I favored you but for whatever reason, Safari likes to oppose everyone and I don't know how to fix that... :/

The Manifesto is one of the easier things to read of his; I would recommend it but not alone. You can't get a real picture of his basic theoretical and philosophical contributions unless you pick up Capital.

I'd recommend trying out a compilation book; there are many. I'd recommend the Portable Karl Marx and the Marx & Engels Reader:

http://www.amazon.com/ Portable-Karl-Marx-Viking-Library/dp/ 014015096X

http://www.amazon.com/ Marx-Engels-Reader-Second-Karl-Marx/dp/ 039309040X

They give you the bigger picture of his ideas; the Manifesto isn't meant to be all-encompassing; more of a heavily rhetorical introduction and rally-cry (for that particular moment in time).

If you want the Manifesto, which is actually a rather good work of literature in itself (even if it doesn't get across the complexity and fullness of Marx's concepts) Librivox has the manifesto for you to download in both text and audio format (they are working on Capital):

http://librivox.org/ the-communist-manifesto-by-karl-marx-an d-friendrich-engels/

Wage-Labor and Capital is also a good introduction to his though; sort of like the Manifesto without the rhetoric and with explanations for his beliefs:

http://librivox.org/ wage-labour-and-capital-by-marx-karl/

No problem; I understand. (also, sorry if you havn't been able to reach me on AIM, I am not often on the program lately).

How do you think without him we wouldn't have science??? Before Descartes there were a lot of people in scientific fields, one of which knew DesCartes, Galileo who we all know was condemned by the Church for teaching Copernicanism... which essentially is science.

Also, before 300b.c.e. there were philosophers thinking the universe was made of one single element, or one single "stuff", which back then was thought to be, by one, water... little did they know, this would turn out to be called an atom.

Descartes' work is priceless, but I wouldn't say that if it weren't for it we would not have science. That's silly.

Wow

Like I've said, I haven't read much about him, I mean, I hear a lot about him here and there, but I still have yet to study him or his work. Thanks for the heads up.

I think that what was meant was that Descartes was very influential in the development of the scientific method as we know it by combining algebra and geometry. Science and math as well would be very different without his contributions. However, I would not say that Descartes was the most influential philosopher, but he certainly was important.

The church was very tough on early scientists. It was not only unprofitable but often deadly to suggest reasons for anything other than the will of God. Descartes stepped forward and addressed a great many of the church's fears. None the less, he was very unpopular in his time and his works were banned by the Pope.

Take a look at the fools today who are still unconvinced by the scientific method. Now expand that back in time a half-millenia and you have something of an idea as to how the literate Western world responded to his assertions.

You could always switch to Linux ;).

Im using a PPC mac, I know my options and OS X is the best for my situation. Thanks for your concern.

(Safari over Firefox is a preference)

Aristotle. He single-handedly founded the sciences of Logic, Biology and Psychology. His influence on Western philosophy and way of life has been profound, and, I think, unmatched.

I would have to agree with this. People may not want to admit it but of all the philosophers Karl Marx has certainly had the most influence on the greatest number of people. His understanding of human nature was also very accurate and while his vision did not truly emerge to the scale he envisioned it still managed to affect at least half the world.

"Moreso than Jesus, the Christian right cowers before the second coming of Karl Marx" I never thought about it like that but it's so true. It is a shame that many(western peoples) would feel that the second coming of Karl Marx would be the end of the world.

The Marquis de Sade was way ahead of his time in perversion, and if many moral watchdogs are to be believed, we (especially those who use the internet) are neck-deep in it, except the ones who leapt in head-first and are thus covered from head to ankles.

So, in an era where the greatest technological tool mankind has ever envisioned is also the largest distributor of pornography, which thinker-outside-boxes lead the crowd?

I had a politics and history teacher who was, and I use these words carefully, a born-again communist. My school had an outside speaker every week to give a lecture, followed by questions, to the sixth form. This teacher often leapt on any political comment made by these speakers to interrogate them, in front of the entire sixth form, about why they didn't accept communism as the be-all and end-all of politics.

We had a Tory MP come to speak to us once. He was asked his views on Utopia by this teacher, and what he said reminded me of Andrew Ryan. Poor man got quite the earful because of that.

Along those lines, do you think Satan was a philosopher? He may have been the first. Think about it -- he questioned his existence and his belief system while all the other angels just accepted God's sovereignty and rules. When he sought to share his ponderings with humans, they were all punished by the original Authority Figure. Without Satan, we'd all be running around naked in paradise Eden, not eating apples. "No apples?!" you say? Beats Jesus for "most influential" by 10 million.

You are a brilliant genius, that is why I love you.

Adam Smith taught the world about capitalism, utility and international trade. His influence is still felt (and taught) throughout the free world. His ideology affects everyday life more than any other.

I'll just go with the philosopher who is currently influencing my life today:

Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Black Swan thinking is revolutionary and true, and his lust for knowledge is amazing.

Runner up: Eliezer Yudowsky. Someone who will never stop searching for the truth. Catch his posts at www.overcomingbias.com

(I am biased toward skepticism; there are too many things that have gone wrong by blindly following a school of thought while neglecting what happens in reality.)

Jesus was claimed as a prophet, not a philosopher. So the words he spoke were none of his own.

Aristotle and his teacher Plato (ironically original name of plato was Aristotle) i believe for many reason that i care not to list as they have been listed, contributed most to Western society Democracy Liberty and science.

Let he who is without Sin Cast the First Stone.

i am a Agnostic however i have read the Bible and it's words although the catholic church through out history have failed to live up to them, are indeed philosophical enough to merit a mention.

Gandhi said an “Eye for an eye leaves us all blind.” how is this a different message (not looking to metaphorically into it) different to the word that are written in that book. (well the one Constantine put together)

so i disagree, the bible's poetry and messages are very influential and moving, also the Koran's poetry and imagery are deeply moving. just because man is to human to in-act the messages does not diminish there power, the ideas set fourth in the bible although not original are powerful and although they are only word they will always retain there meaning. Ideas bulletproof Lol.

But I agree that the bible is not the most prominent

Aristotle and his teacher Plato (ironically original name of plato was Aristotle) i believe for many reason that i care not to list as they have been listed, contributed most to Western society Democracy Liberty and science.