While I'm on the topic, I'm going to include a link I've been meaning to for a while. It's in "Philosophy & Ideas," and is of a similar kind to the "Marine Corps Doctrine" link. It's a link to the collected philosophy of G. K. Chesterton, possibly the most important philosopher of the 20th century.
That is a bold enough claim, you say? Fair enough--it is bold, but valid. Written in the first decade of the 20th century, Chesterton's critique of modernism ("The Suicide of Thought") not only saw through to the flaw in Modern thinking, but anticipated Postmodernism and proceeded to critique that as well. Alas, few listened, and philosophy descended into an irrelevance from which it is only now emerging.
On top of that, Chesterton was quite a good poet. His Ballad of the White Horse is said to have been Tolkien's favorite poem, and is one of the best long poems in English--Old, Middle, or Modern. If you read it, read it aloud.
To have been both a poet and a philosopher of quality is surely glory enough for any man. Yet Chesterton was also kind, beloved of children, always ready to challenge his ideological enemies with humor and wit, and happy. It's hard to think of too many who've done better.
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