Your Favorite Philosopher

A quick story I’d like to share if I may.  When I was studying Western philosophy at Georgetown University in the late 1970s, I had a discussion with a fellow graduate student whose understanding of the subject was far superior to my own, during which he asked me to name my own personal philosopher.  I responded with the name Alan Watts, to which he replied, “That’s like saying (then female ice skating great) Peggy Fleming is your favorite ice hockey team.”

I confess that I was slighted.  In my mind, thinkers who inspire have more meaning than those who confuse.  As it turns out, the only good answers in this guy’s mind were Hegel and Heidegger.  Have you ever tried to make your way through even a few paragraphs of either?

Here’s a talk by Alan Watts.  Try to listen to this and come away unmoved.