Which philosopher has been your greatest influence?

[Ben.]

Probably…

Robert Nozick as while I disagree with his conclusions, his underlying assumptions seem pretty coherent and more importantly accurate to me, certainly in the great division between Nozick’s libertarianism and John Rawls’ socialist approach I tend to agree more with Nozick not that Rawls, great thinker that he was, was not without some sound and credible ideas of his own IMO.  

In terms of contemporary intellectuals (they don’t like to be called philosophers these days), its really a strange mix, on foreign policy I agree a great deal with leading neo-conservatives (though I think that label is neither helpful nor accurate) such as Richard Perle and Michael Novak and on the other hand do find a lot to agree with in the revisionist writings of Anthony Giddens, though I would like to see these ideas developed in a more radical direction…
  
Also in broader terms, when it comes to philosophy, I have a great fondness for Kierkegaard, who’s entire approach and philosophical narrative have appealed to me, I would also argue that as a fan of Kierkergaard I also have a great respect for Hagel, or while dry is incredibly important in understanding pretty much any works of European philosophy from the nineteenth century onwards.      

[Ben.]

Noam Chomsky

Out of interest your view on his denials that the Cambodian killing field ever took place? And that really Pol Pot was a rather nice guy… sorry but I have a deep disliking for the guy, and more to the point think he’s not only overrated but he’s pretty much on a bar with the charlatans who pretend the holocaust didn’t happen.