Who are your favourite living thinkers / intellectuals?

Nim Chimpsky, something of a towering intellect, for a non-human primate. Unfortunately deceased, however. So maybe Richard Dawkins, even though he has not mastered sign language, as far as I know..

Probably - I like the shapes of the pieces and the patterns that they move in across the board. I'm usually a natural problem solver, but there are so many different permutations to take into account when playing chess that I find it difficult to plan ahead. I now occasionally play it against an AI on my Xbox and can set the level of difficulty.

Kasparov would probably fall about laughing if he saw me play chess!

I've never understood chess, do you think it's one of those things where you either get it or you really don't?

The answers so far make me feel a bit dumb as I haven't heard of any of them.

The only brainy person I can think of who I admire is Garry Kasparov - I enjoy chess but I'm not very good at it, and the Grand Masters amaze me.

Plum Village monastics. Previously I’d have said Thich Nhat Hanh but sadly he’s no longer alive - but he taught the monastic community of Plum Village so they are continuing the wisdom. I find Alain de botton interesting and helpful sometimes. But I don’t think anything compares to Buddhism when it comes to finding wisdom and ways to deal with being a human being, reducing suffering and increasing happiness and compassion. Thich Nhat Hanh makes it all so accessible too. 

The rapper and founder of the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company.

I'd include people like Mary Beard, Bettany Hughes and Francis Pryor for really opening up history and archaelogy. 

TheCatWoman said:

Akela

Akela the wolf from The Jungle Book? Or is that a misspelling of Akala, the rapper? Akala is someone I admire.

In no particular order:

Jane Goodall for her studies on chimpanzee behaviour and her conservation and environmental work.

Malala Yousafzai for her bravery and contribution to women and girls’ rights and education.

Motaz Azaiza for his bravery and photojournalism of the war in Gaza. Since the war in Gaza, Azaiza has been employed by UNRWA (United Nations). Although he never intended to become a photojournalist, his work chronicling the war in Gaza has allowed the world to catch a glimpse of the reality of The Strip. At least fifteen of his relatives have been killed in the war. The international press is barred from accessing Gaza, but Azaiza has contributed thousands of photos documenting the daily struggle for survival. 

Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. He describes himself as an “after_religionist”. He doesn’t have certainty there is or is not God, yet he doesn’t describe himself as a theist or an agnostic. He has a broad knowledge of many subjects and reflects on life and love. 

Peter Frankopan

Akela

and others who's names dont' immediately spring to mind

I guess for me the nearest thing would be the editor-in-chief of Gray's Anatomy Susan Standring - I do occasionally refer to Gray's Anatomy or search my online copy of the book for things I'm interested in - she updated the latest revision and although I miss some of the black and white pencil drawings from the previous edition and the sections on embryology seem to have been copy and pasted from other books I think overall she has improved it.