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# Who is the Greatest Philosopher of All Time?
- URL: https://mereorthodoxy.com/who-is-the-greatest-philosopher-of-all-time/
- Published: 2007-03-05T05:06:43.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-20T21:29:10.000Z
- Description: Who is the Greatest Philosopher of All Time?
- Author: Mere Orthodoxy
- Tags: Matthew Lee Anderson, Philosophy

Well, BBC listeners chose, surprisingly, [Karl Marx by an overwhelming majority](http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/greatest%5Fphilosopher%5Fvote%5Fresult.shtml?ref=mereorthodoxy.com). The next three in the runnings also exercised great influence for what most would call evil: David Hume, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Frederich Nietzche. Finally, Plato gets in there, but his 6% pales in comparison to the 28% garnered for Marx.

I'm interested in what Mere-O readers think of this poll and its results (Is Marx even a proper philosopher?). Also, who would you name as the greatest philosopher and why? Take a look at the [BBC shortlist ](http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/greatest%5Fphilosopher%5Fvote%5F1to5.shtml?ref=mereorthodoxy.com)to give yourself an idea of the criteria for a "philosopher" - you know it is broad when the likes of Kierkegaard and Marx are on there.