[laurie17]

Naw, they'd forget the things they thought up ;) (I always forget anything clever I've said, like random questions. So annoying!)

[the crow]

INFJs are generally best at demolishing everything.
Last man standing.
Now if those same people could learn to put their considerable talents to constructive uses...

[Vaan]

INFJs are generally best at demolishing everything.
Last man standing.
Now if those same people could learn to put their considerable talents to constructive uses...

ive always believed we are the type that will build up something in our minds, and then we will get a new piece of information, and so we'll demolish it to try to rebuild it stronger, but the problem is with the conflicting data its like trying to build a building with only the + shaped tetris blocks so it takes an insanely huge amount of time to create a powerful thesis

[Zero_Origin]

I don't think Plato was an INFJ, he might even have been an ENTJ, but we can never be sure (I also really doubt Wittgenstein was an INFJ and Whitehead might also have been a T, I don't know Plotinus and de Beauvoir well). Spinoza and Kierkegaard seem like INFJs, but it's almost impossible (it's guessing) to type people who you haven't met in person and you don't have many video recordings of.

There's a really strong internet consensus that Plato was INFJ, and my own reading of him leaves little to no doubt of that in my mind. His Fe is most apparent in 'The Republic' when he compares the nature of the human soul (pyche) to the social behavior manifested in the State (and whenever he talks about "The Good," "The Beautiful" and "The Virtuous," but I think his Ni-Ti is prevalent in almost all of his writings. It's also clear that he had inferior Se; he really didn't regard physical 'reality' as something to be trusted and preferred to focus on the "World of the Forms" (Ni).

Speaking of Ni-Ti, that's what (post-Tractatus) Wittgenstein was all about. The concept of 'language games' is essentially a systematic exploration of the Ni-Ti loop. His Fe isn't as apparent due to the troubles he had growing up with his family, but you can still see it in some of his writings if you look closely (namely his spiritual/mystical focus). Based on his biography it's also easy to see that he had inferior Se.

Spinoza probably was INFJ. I agree with you there. Keirkegaard, meanwhile, is controversial (either INFP or INFJ), but the majority side with the former, and I agree. His idea of of "teleological suspension of the ethical" is more Fi than Fe, and his writing style does not have the clarity or focus of a J type.

[Morality]

There's a really strong internet consensus that Plato was INFJ, and my own reading of him leaves little to no doubt of that in my mind. His Fe is most apparent in 'The Republic' when he compares the nature of the human soul (pyche) to the social behavior manifested in the State (and whenever he talks about "The Good," "The Beautiful" and "The Virtuous," but I think his Ni-Ti is prevalent in almost all of his writings. It's also clear that he had inferior Se; he really didn't regard physical 'reality' as something to be trusted and preferred to focus on the "World of the Forms" (Ni).

Speaking of Ni-Ti, that's what (post-Tractatus) Wittgenstein was all about. The concept of 'language games' is essentially a systematic exploration of the Ni-Ti loop. His Fe isn't as apparent due to the troubles he had growing up with his family, but you can still see it in some of his writings if you look closely (namely his spiritual/mystical focus). Based on his biography it's also easy to see that he had inferior Se.

Spinoza probably was INFJ. I agree with you there. Keirkegaard, meanwhile, is controversial (either INFP or INFJ), but the majority side with the former, and I agree. His idea of of "teleological suspension of the ethical" is more Fi than Fe, and his writing style does not have the clarity or focus of a J type.

I think it's great that you researched this, I haven't, I just know about MBTI and about Philosophy. The things you say sound reasonable, the main objection I have is that much of typing people from the past is guessing and you can focus on many things to make your case. People want big names like Plato and Wittgenstein to be INFJs, but it seems to me a bit unlikely that a big part of the most famous philosophers ever are INFJs, when it is such a rare type. Plato was also described as being broad, he was involved and interested in politics, he puts much emphasis on power, he writes in dialogues he wasn't involved in himself (he never speaks in his own voice), he wasn't present on Socrates' last day and he's very harsh towards some people (mostly sophists); there are many con arguments, just like there are many pro arguments; isn't it just wishful thinking (it might be correct that he was an INFJ, but it doesn't seem very certain and therefore doesn't seem right as an argument for us INFJs being good at philosophy)? That some INFJ aspects aren't as apparent in Wittgenstein is also an indicator that it might be having a hammer and looking for nails (that point to them being INFJs). You might be right about all of them (you're probably right about Spinoza and Kierkegaard), but I wouldn't be as sure as you are. Thank you for the discussion though.

[Zero_Origin]

I think it's great that you researched this, I haven't, I just know about MBTI and about Philosophy. The things you say sound reasonable, the main objection I have is that much of typing people from the past is guessing and you can focus on many things to make your case. People want big names like Plato and Wittgenstein to be INFJs, but it seems to me a bit unlikely that a big part of the most famous philosophers ever are INFJs, when it is such a rare type. Plato was also described as being broad, he was involved and interested in politics, he puts much emphasis on power, he writes in dialogues he wasn't involved in himself (he never speaks in his own voice), he wasn't present on Socrates' last day and he's very harsh towards some people (mostly sophists); there are many con arguments, just like there are many pro arguments; isn't it just wishful thinking (it might be correct that he was an INFJ, but it doesn't seem very certain and therefore doesn't seem right as an argument for us INFJs being good at philosophy)? That some INFJ aspects aren't as apparent in Wittgenstein is also an indicator that it might be having a hammer and looking for nails (that point to them being INFJs). You might be right about all of them (you're probably right about Spinoza and Kierkegaard), but I wouldn't be as sure as you are. Thank you for the discussion though.

Yeah, I started analyzing philosophers by cognitive function preference after a discussion in my 'Modern Philosophy' class regarding the role of family background, temperament (in a general sense of the word; no model of personality was mentioned), and alleged physical/mental 'issues' in influencing a philosopher's ideas. Some people balked at the mere possibility that these factors should be taken seriously, preferring merely to take their ideas at 'face-value.' I was intrigued though. So, in order to form a solid opinion on the matter I started analyzing whoever we were reading (and anyone I've read before) to see if their type could be ascertained. Not surprisingly (to me at least) most of the time its pretty easy to type them based off of how they reason and what ideas they cherish; not to mention how their systems were built in response (either in appraisal, criticism, or some combination thereof) to those that came before them. The ways in which they disagree also makes sense in light of their difference in temperament.

I mention this only to show why I'm as confident in my assertions as I am (especially since others on the internet who have noticed this trend seem to match up pretty closely to my estimations). That said, when I said their types were "confirmed" I definitely set the road up for misunderstanding. My bad on the word choice

Don't worry, I'm not going to go around spouting this as "objective truth" (especially considering I have a temperament bias of my own). I'll be careful to phrase things better next time

[Princess Rena]

Sure, why not....doesn't everyone have a philosophy on life. =p

[violetta]

INFJs ARE philosophical...i also love philosophy.
i wanted to recommend a good book to all u philosophers- Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
Has anyone already read it?

[Morality]

INFJs ARE philosophical...i also love philosophy.
i wanted to recommend a good book to all u philosophers- Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
Has anyone already read it?

I haven't read it yet, I did buy it recently.

[Ubuntu]

More so than INTPs?