[ansel12]

Now I get it, but the only philosopher that has ever triggered an interest in me, was when I came across Thomas Reid in my 1903 set of Americana encyclopedias.

I think philosophy would have been different for me if the professors had introduced me to Reid, instead of trying to explain why a dumb ass like Nietzsche was so brilliant.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Rousseau is one that actually turned me off of philosophy for a long time. What a jerk! However his work is the foundation for much that came later so I think that plowing through his stuff is necessary. Many theories on modern education come from his works and so does Marxism.

For philosophers I enjoy Locke, Smith and Hume, to list the top three. But one of the things I found important is not to hero worship. They were a bunch of very clever guys with interesting ideas some which I even agree with. :)

But perfect they were not nor do the best of them claim to be.