Though I'm a Buddhism/Vedanta/Yoga nut, and though I often wonder what the point of Western philosophy is, there have been some Western thinkers I've been a fan of. Here are some of them.
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An American philosopher of aesthetics who teaches in New Zealand. Robust and broad-minded, and responsive to the arts as well as aware of the best science. His magnum opus is "The Art Instinct." He also edits the influential website Arts & Letters Daily.
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A freelance intellectual and anthropologist, Dissanayake offers up ideas that I find very persuasive about what the arts and culture generally are all about. Too bad she isn't better-known -- her books are wonderful.
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One of the most impressive contempo poets, Turner is also a great thinker about the arts. Drawing from evolutionary biology, chaos theory, and genetics, he has created a great alternative to the usual academic-critical thing.
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An English political thinker who was as immersed in aesthetics as much as politics. He's my favorite of all Western philosophers. Great Oakeshott quote: "I'm a conservative in politics because I'm a radical in everything else."
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There are many fine teachers of the craft of narrative, though they're more likely to be found teachiing screenwriting than "creative writing." McKee is the pope of the scene, and his book "Story" is one to spend a lifetime exploring.
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Anthropology, art, and ideas from a supersmart, pugnacious point of view that's both conservative and radical.
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A contemporary English philosopher who's vigorous, subtle, and -- shock of shocks -- respectful of common experience. I did a q&a with Scruton that you can find in the freelance writing section of this website.
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A British scientist-turned-philosopher who chipped away at absolutism without ever tumbling into total relativism. If you find the multiple p-o-v thing of postmodernism both appealing and suspect, Toulmin may be for you.
