r/PhilosophyBookClub • • 5h ago

Greatest Philosopher OAT

9 Upvotes

Narrowing it down to a single greatest philosopher is basically impossible but if you had to choose one who would it be? Whether greatness is defined by their influence, originality, or by raw genius, who do yu reckon is the greatest and why? Obviously a few immediately come into mind: Aristotle Plato, Kant, Hume, Ibn Sina, Wittgenstein, etc. Drop your most based pick and state the reason you chose them.


r/PhilosophyBookClub • • 12h ago

How do I get started with philosophy?

11 Upvotes

I've been thinking about philosophy for a long time, and I really want to start getting SERIOUSLY into it. Can you recommend anything where to start, any books or movies, something interesting and not boring? I want to start learning about it.
Thanks!


r/PhilosophyBookClub • • 16h ago

Nietzsche’s eternal recurrence thought experiment: would you say yes to living your life again, exactly the same?

2 Upvotes

I have been reading the gay science and one idea keeps stuck in my head.

nietzsche asks you to imagine a demon sneaking up on you in your loneliest moment and telling you that you have to live this exact life again and again, forever. Every joy, every mistake, every boring Tuesday, in the same order, with nothing changed.

His question is whether you would collapse and curse the demon, or whether you’d call it the best thing you ever heard.

What I find interesting is that he’s not really talking about reincarnation. It works more like a test. If the thought of repeating your life fills you with dread, maybe something in how you’re living needs to change. If you could say “yes, again,” you’ve found a way to truly affirm your life, flaws and all.

A few things I’d love to hear from you:

  • What’s your honest first reaction? Yes, no, or “depends which year”?
  • Is it more about accepting the past or about changing how you live now?
  • Does it still hit the same way if you don’t take it literally?

Has anyone read this alongside Thus Spoke Zarathustra, where he revisits the idea? I’m curious whether it gets clearer or more confusing.