New Philosophers

[letsbefriends]

Hello all!
I realize this question is somewhat loaded - particularly about what modern and a term like, 'philosophers' includes.  But I'm curious if anyone can recommend authors to read, whom you would consider today's "greats" in terms of philosophy.  Something like the Humes, Mills or Nietzsches of our day.  I used to read quite a bit of philosophy back in uni but stopped to focus almost entirely on science for pretty much the last decade...and most of my philosophy has been coming from what pop-sci physicists, cosmologists and neuroscientists can say regarding philosophical questions.  So just curious who I've been missing.  Maybe something published in 2010 or newer, any topic would be cool.  I'm just interested in knowing whether we now have (what you all would consider) today's modern analogues for past giants in philosophy.  With such open access to write and publish - and larger populations - it seems easier for great minds to go unnoticed just as much as being heard!

Thanks

[Longhorn]

I can't help you with any recommendations but I wanted to drop in and say hi


Hi

I like your username

[robvalue]

Hello, welcome

I'm afraid I'm not clued up enough to offer advice here either, sorry! I can tell you a few to avoid

I'm sure some of our members will be able to point you in the right direction.

[Cato]

I don't have anyone to recommend comparable to the philosophers you mentioned; however, I will point you towards Massimo Pigliucci. He has earned Ph.D.'s in science and philosophy. I enjoy Massimo's commentary because he's vocal about getting academia out of the ivory tower, abhors pseudo science, and discards what I'll call 'useless' philosophy.

He has a doctorate in genetics from the University of Ferrara, Italy, a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D. in philosophy of science from the University of Tennessee.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massimo_Pigliucci

His now defunct, but archived Rationally Speaking site. 
http://www.rationallyspeaking.org/

His newer Scientia Salon site.
http://scientiasalon.org/

The Wiki link above contains a list of his books. I recently borrowed Answers for Aristotle, but have yet to start it. I have read some of his previous work which are really compilations of what you can find at the Rationally Speaking site. 

For me, Massimo does a great job of synthesizing philosophy and science. 

[Mudhammam]

Not exactly what you're looking for, but nonetheless this is a good read about the 'new philosophy of cosmology' and may give you a sense of what some natural philosophers are working on in our day:

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/ar...gy/251608/

[mralstoner]

My only interest in philosophy is at the level of value theory, or meta-ethics. To that end, these guys are pretty smart: Richard Carrier, Neil Sinhababu, Jesse Prinz, Jonathan Haidt e.g.

RPD7.1 Is happiness the Goal of Morality? Richard Carrier's Opening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctfh3O7ofl0

Neil Sinhababu - Zarathustra's Metaethics, Pt. 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjI4c57Zgv4