Podcast Summary: The Michael Knowles Show - "Michael Knowles RANKS The Greatest Philosophers"

Release Date: April 5, 2025

Introduction to the Ranking System

In this engaging episode of The Michael Knowles Show, host Michael Knowles embarks on an intellectual journey to rank some of history's most influential philosophers. Utilizing a tiered system, Knowles categorizes philosophers based on their intellectual prowess and relevance to contemporary discourse. The tiers are defined as follows:

• S Tier: Galaxy Brain – Exceptional thinkers whose ideas are foundational and profoundly impactful.
• A Tier: Just Below S Tier – Philosophers deserving of dedicated academic courses.
• B Tier: Good Airplane Reading – Suitable for casual learning and productive use of time.
• C Tier: Reddit Tier Gurus – Popular among online intellectual communities but lacking depth.
• F Tier: Bong Rippers – Considered the least serious or impactful thinkers.

S Tier Philosophers: The Titans of Thought

1. Socrates (00:00 - 02:30) Michael Knowles begins by honoring Socrates, placing him firmly in the S Tier. Despite the absence of his own writings, Socrates is celebrated as the cornerstone of Western philosophy, primarily known through Plato’s dialogues. Knowles remarks, "Socrates is the beginning of Western philosophy. He gets it" (00:45).

2. Plato and Aristotle (45:00 - 50:00) Aristotle receives high praise, also securing an S Tier position. Knowles lauds Aristotle's comprehensive body of work, emphasizing his contributions to ethics, politics, and even physics. "Aristotle is just right about almost everything," he asserts (49:30). Plato, often intertwined with Socratic thought, is similarly honored, ensuring his place alongside Socrates and Aristotle in the highest tier.

3. Thomas Aquinas (1:15:00 - 1:20:00) Continuing the elite list, Thomas Aquinas is commended for his theological and philosophical integrations. Knowles states, "Thomas Aquinas is right about everything," underscoring his lasting influence on both philosophy and Catholic theology.

A Tier Philosophers: Significant but Not Topmost

1. Alistair McIntyre (1:05:00 - 1:10:00) Alistair McIntyre is elevated to A Tier for his revival of virtue ethics, particularly through his seminal work After Virtue. Knowles acknowledges McIntyre's pivotal role in contemporary philosophy, noting his enduring relevance and intellectual rigor.

B Tier Philosophers: Valuable yet Flawed

1. John Stuart Mill (15:30 - 18:00) Placed in B Tier, John Stuart Mill is recognized for his promotion of utilitarianism and his influential work On Liberty. Knowles appreciates Mill's intellectual contributions but cautions against fully embracing his ideas, saying, "He's wrong in a really instructive way because he starts to show you where our whole civilization really started to go off the rails intellectually" (17:00).

2. John Locke (18:00 - 20:00) Locke receives a B Tier ranking. Despite criticism from Edmund Burke regarding his political works, Knowles acknowledges Locke's significant influence on liberalism and Catholic social teaching, particularly referencing Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum.

3. Zeno and Stoicism (1:08:00 - 1:10:00) Zeno, founder of Stoicism, is categorized as B Tier. Knowles highlights the practical appeal of Stoicism, especially its resurgence in Silicon Valley and Wall Street circles, yet notes it doesn't ascend to the higher tiers of philosophical impact.

4. Epicurus (1:25:00 - 1:30:00) Epicurus is assigned B Tier for his hedonistic philosophy, which Knowles critiques for its potential to devolve into simple pleasure-seeking behaviors. He distinguishes between lower-grade hedonism and higher-minded Epicureanism, suggesting that while Epicurus offers valuable insights, his philosophy has inherent flaws.

5. Descartes (1:40:00 - 1:45:00) René Descartes is placed in B Tier due to his advocacy of mind-body dualism. Knowles contends that Descartes' separation of mind and body is a fundamental mistake, favoring Aristotle's hylomorphic view instead.

6. Carl Schmitt (1:50:00 - 1:55:00) Carl Schmitt, despite his Nazi affiliations and controversial political theology, is ranked B Tier. Knowles acknowledges Schmitt's contributions to political philosophy but remains critical of his ideological underpinnings.

C Tier Philosophers: Moderately Valued

1. Friedrich Nietzsche (05:00 - 08:30) Nietzsche is positioned in C Tier. Knowles critiques Nietzsche for his flawed ideas, including the infamous declaration that "God is dead," and acknowledges the problematic association of Nietzschean philosophy with Nazism. Nevertheless, he concedes that Nietzsche serves as a valuable cautionary figure in philosophical studies.

2. Karl Marx (08:30 - 11:00) Similarly, Karl Marx is categorized as C Tier. While Marx's critiques of capitalism are recognized, Knowles dismisses his overall philosophy as fundamentally flawed, placing him alongside other less esteemed thinkers.

F Tier Philosophers: Least Esteemed

1. Ayn Rand (23:00 - 25:00) Ayn Rand is unequivocally placed in F Tier. Knowles criticizes Rand’s philosophy for lacking depth and being superficial, labeling her a "bong ripper" and dismissing her as a serious thinker. He expresses disdain for her literary works, particularly Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.

2. Voltaire (20:00 - 23:00) Voltaire also receives an F Tier ranking. Knowles challenges the authenticity of Voltaire’s famous quote on free speech, arguing that it either never existed or is misattributed, and criticizes Voltaire's philosophical contributions as fundamentally flawed.

3. Andrew Tate and Martin Luther (1:10:00 - 1:20:00) Contemporary figures like Andrew Tate and Martin Luther are also placed in F Tier. Knowles dismisses Tate’s philosophical credentials and criticizes Luther for his political motivations rather than systematic philosophical thought, relegating both to the lowest tier.

Conclusion: Winners and Losers in Philosophical Rankings

Michael Knowles concludes the episode by summarizing the victors and the less deserving figures within his ranking system. S Tier philosophers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Thomas Aquinas are upheld as the pillars of philosophical thought. In contrast, modern influencers and figures such as Ayn Rand and Andrew Tate are dismissed as lacking substantive philosophical merit.

Knowles emphasizes the importance of engaging with profound and systematic thinkers to cultivate genuine intellectual growth, rather than succumbing to superficial or flawed philosophies popular in certain online or cultural circles.

Notable Quotes

• "Socrates is the beginning of Western philosophy. He gets it." (00:45)
• "Aristotle is just right about almost everything." (49:30)
• "He's wrong in a really instructive way because he starts to show you where our whole civilization really started to go off the rails intellectually." (17:00)
• "Ayn Rand is a bong ripper. She's F tier." (24:00)

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a provocative and critical assessment of various philosophers, challenging listeners to reconsider the value and impact of their favored thinkers. By categorizing philosophers into distinct tiers, Michael Knowles provides a framework for evaluating philosophical contributions, encouraging a deeper and more discerning engagement with philosophical literature.