another reader on “overrated”

This one is from someone I know fairly well (I’ve lightly edited it, because it was sent in a sort of telegraphic style that only I would fully understand):

“I love it when you do this kind of stuff. Most overrrated of all time: someone I like to read but can’t seem to use… Kierkegaard. 20th century: Ayn Rand, if she’s even a philosopher…

Among continentals: it has to be Lacan, who’s absolutely among the most brilliant, yet by far _the_ most full of shit. Zizek’s performative parody of his thinking isn’t accidental, he smells bullshit faster than anyone working today.

Honorable mention to Bataille, John Rawls, and Benjamin… all philosophers I respect immensely but think there are fundamental flaws with their thinking that keeps me from working on them.

And I predict your answer will either be Lacan or Dewey…”

May Levi (and Zizek) forgive me, but I tend to feel the same way about Lacan: “brilliant but also full of sh*t.”

On a side note, I wonder if the phrase “Bataille, John Rawls, and Benjamin” ever occurred in the English language before now.