Influences

Here is a list of various thinkers, writers, or people in general who have influenced me over the years. I will add to this list whenever I find someone whom I believe has influenced me. I will also provide a short explanation as to how that person influenced me. This list is not exhaustive, and if I think of someone, or read someone’s works whom I enjoy, I will add it here.

Philosophers:

1. Aristotle: Aristotle is the basis of many philosophies, and I’d argue that virtually any philosophy worth its salt is either inspired by Aristotle directly or indirectly, or related by arriving at similar conclusions. As with most ancient philosophers, especially of the Greek/Roman tradition, Aristotle wrote about a great variety of subjects. His practical philosophies, such as ethics, are his most important works, specifically Nicomachean Ethics, and virtue ethics as a whole, which I would further argue was the inspiration for stoicism, and stoic related religions such as Christianity. Saint Thomas Aquinas, one of the most important Church theologians of medieval era, called Aristotle “The Philosopher”, to directly imply that there were no other philosophers other than Aristotle, which I more or less agree with. As I stated at the beginning, any good philosophy or belief is based on Aristotle in some way.

2. Cato the Younger: As a young teenager, I studied ancient Roman history, and learned quite a bit about Cato. From my studies, Cato is a Roman senator who did his best to live by his principles. As a stoic, he recognized that the world was not perfect, but that should not stop him from trying to make it better. He came at odds with Julius Caesar’s populist/reform faction, and joined the Pompeiian faction when the Roman Civil War broke out. He fled to Africa with many Pompeiians, and held out in Utica. When he learned of the defeat at Pharsalus, he evacuated Romans out of the city, and committed suicide, believing that it is better to die a free man rather than live as a slave. Cato’s death hurt Julius Caesar’s legitimacy, as Caesar had planned to pardon Cato as a show of good will towards his enemies. Cato’s death prevented Caesar from ever attaining true legitimacy, and forever tarnished his reputation as a tyrant. Cato demonstrated through his actions that one person, who holds to their convictions, can cause great changes.

3. Marcus Aurelius: Aurelius is likely the only stoic philosopher that most people would recognize. As a Roman Emperor, he had a substantial ability to influence people through his works, which were preserved by the Roman state. Aurelius was another one of the few people in history who did his best to live by his principles. His Meditations are the best example of stoic philosophy both as in writing and in practice. Anyone who wants to learn how to live a stoic lifestyle should prioritize reading Meditations.

4. Thomas Hobbes: Hobbes’ description of what mob anarchy is in his work The Leviathan I believe is the best description. I believe that anyone who wants to understand the bare bones description of what life was like before the social contract, and how the social contract functions, should read The Leviathan. While I disagree with his monarchist views, I believe Hobbes’ life experience during the English Civil War, and what mob terror was truly, allowed Hobbes to be one of the best descriptors of the true nature of man, especially in chaos.

5. John Locke: I would consider Locke the prime Liberal in school of Liberal Philosophy. Being an English Empiricist, Locke also is a great voice against Continental Rational thought, and took Continental philosophers such as Descartes to task. Anyone who values liberty and freedom (two related, but distinct philosphies), rational thought, should read John Locke. All Americans should be required to read Locke, as without him and Thomas Paine, there would be no America.

6. Thomas Aquinas: I do not have much of an interest in theology, however I believe that anyone interested in theology should read Aquinas, as he is the only theologian that I have read that does not wade into the weeds of deep religion. I will fully admit my bias against religion, and I find that Aquinas’ thought as a philosopher, rather than a theologian, is more useful and important. I would argue that Aquinas Theory of Knowledge is more or less an evolutionary step in Western Thought, specifically in Liberalism. Aquinas believed that man existed independent of God, and thus had agency unto himself. Aquinas was also instrumental in creating the epistemology of Christian ethics, which is why i believe any Christian worth their salt should set their Bible down, and read Aquinas.

7. John Rawls: I was recommended Rawls from an unlikely source: A friend from Norway whom I played Arma 3 with. I would highly recommend that everyone read A Theory of Justice, alongside Starship Troopers, as I did. I believe both will complement each other, and create a great synergy. I also agree with Bill Clinton, something that does not happen often, in the thought that Rawls revitalized Western Liberal Thought.

8. Thomas Paine: Along with Locke, anyone who considers themselves American must read Thomas Paine. As state with Locke, Paine is a critical source of inspiration for the American Revolution. Furthermore, Paine was alive during the Revolution, and eventually even moved to America. Paine is the final interation of the English Empiricists, a strong Secular Humanist, and also a major influence for Republicanists during the French Revolution.

9. Theodore Kaczynski: The negative view of Kacyznski due to his actions as the Unabomber obscure his writings, specifically Industrial Society and its Consequences, from a wider understanding. Kacynzski had an objective on how society is falling further and further down a path of self inflicted tyranny. I believe that his assessments hold more water today than when Kaczynski first wrote his manifesto. Most people do not even know that the reason Kaczynski began his bombing campaign was because he essentially said to society “If you are going to continue down this path, I do not want to partake”. And even after he left society, society came to him, and began ruining the wilderness area around where he lived. The incident that caused him to start the bombing campaign was the destruction of a stream where he would hike to and sit by in meditative thought, for a logging road.

10. Eric Hoffer: Hoffer’s book, The True Believer, is a great assessment as to why mass movements rise, and what drives people to join a mass movement. Hoffer also did not attend any higher academic institutions, and worked as a longshoreman as his career, and wrote in his free time. Hoffer not only created great insights into human nature, but he also demonstrated that one does not need a fancy piece of paper from a prestigious university in order to write great works.

11. John Stuart Mill: I will freely admit that I am not a Utilitarian. I believe the ultimate conclusion of Utilitarianism is evil, however, Mill’s conception of Utilitarianism is a philosophy I could live under if it progressed no further. Mill was also one of the strongest proponents of Liberty, arguing that Liberty must be a concern of the individual, and not granted by an overall collective. Overall I believe that Mill’s philosophy’s are important in order to understand Liberalism.

12. Henry David Thoreau: Thoreau is one of the strongest proponents of consent, and the requirement of consent in order for a state, or even a larger majority of people, to be considered legitimate. On Civil Disobedience is possibly the most important ethical realism works of the past 200 years. His works directly inspired Ghandi, and Martin Luther King jr in their pursuits of independence and civil rights respectively.

13. Saul Alinsky: Despite existing on the opposite side of the political spectrum from me, Rules for Radicals was a fascinating read, and a text that anyone should study if they’re at all interested in fighting against large, bureaucratic machines. I forget who said it, but someone far wiser than me once said that “If Machiavelli is about holding onto power, Alinsky is about taking power”.

14. St Augustine of Hippo: As with Thomas Aquinas, Augustine was important to Christianity because he brought classical Greco-Roman philosophy into the theology of Christianity. Augustine was a Platonist, however Plato’s philosophy works with metaphysics, rather than understanding the real world. Augustine’s Confessions is one of most important works in the western canon, and anyone with any interest in Christianity, or in general, western philosophy, should dedicate some time to reading it.

15. Hesiod: I would consider Hesiod on the level of Homer in terms of defining what “the west” is in literary terms, rather than blunt philosophy. Hesiod’s Theogony is an exceptionally important work, and is important to understanding the cycles that western civilization is built on, specifically the Succession Myth. There is much discussion as to the actual meaning behind this myth, and I feel that you cannot be a true westerner if you do not have this context. For reference, I would say this is at the same level as understanding a Trojan Horse, or Siren’s Song (Both from the Homeric Illiad and Odyssey respectively). I named my website the lost muse in reference to Hesiod, and a node to the idea that we haven’t heard everything from the Muse’s.

16. Thomas Sowell: The reason I studied Economics, History, and Philosophy at college was directly and specifically because of Thomas Sowell. Sowell is the single greatest philosopher, economist, and scholar of history. Sowell demonstrated, to me, the power of crossing disciplines together for a greater overall understanding of the three subjects. Sowell was professionally trained as an economist, however his interest in history, and philosophy lead him to write comprehensively about all three subjects. Sowell is also just overall an exceptionally intellectual individual, and his life story embodies the archetypical American story.