Sunday, June 12, 2005

Greeks vs German

In what can only be an American Idolinspired ratings stunt, the BBC's In Our Time is running a contest to select the Greatest Philospher Ever. Out of the 20 they selected, that is. No Rambam. No Rav. And no, even W's favorite didn't make the shortlist. But the authors of three of the Ten Most Harmful Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries are under consideration.

(Note: I'm not seriously suggesting the Rambam and the Rav rank among the "greatest philosophers ever." Not any more than the long-haired guy in the sandals the president put forward.)