In the past, I saw two remarks on Philosophy SE that were quite telling to me:
- all philosophy is a commentary on Plato
- modern philosophy is specialized.
These two remarks are obviously subject to debate.
What I'm looking for in this question is if there are what I would characterize as "desert island" books or particular philosophers or schools that one can live by.
Stoicism seems to have some currency today. And Yngve Slyngstad, onetime head of the Norwegian Wealth Fund, hung out in a cabin reading Heidegger.
So who might be the Western thinkers that could serve as free-standing go-to sources for inspiration.