Who Was The Greatest Thinker?

[Plotinus]

1) "Invented" the subconscious?

Well, all right, I was being a bit flip. He was the first person to come up with the idea of unconscious thoughts and perceptions, as far as I know. So he "discovered" the subconscious. Although his arguments for it aren't very good, in my opinion, so he was more lucky than brilliant in that regard, I'd say.

2) What was Enkidu all about in the Epic of Gilgamesh?

I'm not sure what you mean there. Doesn't he represent, if anything, the dichotomy between civilised and uncivilised man (or something)?

 

[Rambuchan]

Well, all right, I was being a bit flip. He was the first person to come up with the idea of unconscious thoughts and perceptions, as far as I know. So he "discovered" the subconscious. Although his arguments for it aren't very good, in my opinion, so he was more lucky than brilliant in that regard, I'd say.

Call me a pedant, but I'd probably say something like "codified", "described", "named" or even "explored" the unconscious. I just think that mankind has been aware of his unconscious for a very long time (I know that sounds a bit strange phrased like that). He may not have called it as such, in terms that we would recognise today, but there are references and acknowledgments galore before Leibniz spoke of it. Such as the character of Enkidu...

I'm not sure what you mean there. Doesn't he represent, if anything, the dichotomy between civilised and uncivilised man (or something)?

Well, that's one way of putting it. Another might be the dichotomy between the Ego and the Id. Granted, by the very nature of the work, it is somewhat open to interpretation. However, at least in my mind, this is a pretty good depiction of man being accompanied by his unconscious and indeed having something of a dialogue with it.

Sorry to go off-topic a bit, but such a statement had to be prodded a bit.

 

[CartesianFart]

Hi. My name is CartesianFart. For those who about to enter this thread for the first time, let me graciously give you a warning: What you are about to see is many posters in here will "name-drop" a particular obscure or esoteric thinker and fill in the blank to satisfy their own self-gratifying ego by mentioning them publically as they are somewhat in the same league as them.

 

[Gudinsdiv]

Hi. My name is CartesianFart. For those who about to enter this thread for the first time, let me graciously give you a warning: What you are about to see is many posters in here will "name-drop" a particular obscure or esoteric thinker and fill in the blank to satisfy their own self-gratifying ego by mentioning them publically as they are somewhat in the same league as them.

Did I mention Clark Griswald?
He's my number one.

 

[Stylesjl]

Three in the modern era who have shaped our world--much to our detriment, I fear, would be:

Darwin: his theory, though debunked and discredited by any rational scientist, has been the sword by which Christianity is constantly whacked, and it's adherents called ignorant and degenerate, this while there is still far more substantial evidence for the truths in the Bible than there is for the theory of evolution.

There is no actual controversy over the theory of evolution in the biology community. It is a scientific consensus based on a metaphorical mountain of evidence. Learn your facts before you spout off complete and utter falsehoods

 

[cubsfan6506]

Did I mention Clark Griswald?
He's my number one.

Agreed for once.

 

[Jack the Ripper]

nietzsche because he knows he's a great thinker

 

[Gudinsdiv]

There is no actual controversy over the theory of evolution in the biology community. It is a scientific consensus based on a metaphorical mountain of evidence. Learn your facts before you spout off complete and utter falsehoods

Yeah, that's gotten me into some trouble. But opinons are like earlobs, everybody has them. Sorry you disagree.

 

[Plotinus]

Well, whether evolution is a matter of scientific consensus or not is not a matter of opinion - there simply is a scientific consensus, no matter whether one agrees with that consensus or not, or even in the unlikely event that the consensus turns out to be mistaken.

 

[Gudinsdiv]

Well, whether evolution is a matter of scientific consensus or not is not a matter of opinion - there simply is a scientific consensus, no matter whether one agrees with that consensus or not, or even in the unlikely event that the consensus turns out to be mistaken.

"opinions are like earlobs, everybody has them" was a reference to my own comments, as quoted in the post.
I was attempting to politely defuse, not encourage further debate.
"Sorry you disagree" was also in reference to my comments as quoted in lieu of the obvious disagreement with them.

You will notice that in the original post, where this began, I have edited the bulk of my comments concerning all three persons down to simple, uncontraversial descriptions so as to avoid further excursions away from the topic of "great thinkers".

Which, ironically, I was considering Darwin to be in the first place.