I know absolutely nothing about philosophy, and would like to educate myself on the subject. What are the best books for that for a complete beginner on the subject.
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I know absolutely nothing about philosophy, and would like to educate myself on the subject. What are the best books for that for a complete beginner on the subject.
Beware Cat Shirt $21.68 |
Beware Cat Shirt $21.68 |
Start with the greeks. Use the sticky.
why would I read a bunch of fiction and mythology stories?
Because philosophy consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.
Don’t read fiction and mythology, read Plato, starting with the Trial and Death if Socrates
This.
The PreSocratics are also a fine place to begin.
Sophie's World
I started with Russell's history of philosophy. I'm sure there are better books out there and now, after two more decades and a PhD I view his book as extremely stupid. But it's where I began. Also pirate Lawrence cahoon's ttc course on philosophy. If you just read Russell and watch cahoon you'll know more than the average grad student, I am sad to say
>I started with Russell's history of philosophy. >I'm sure there are better books out there and now, after two more decades and a PhD I view his book as extremely stupid
in another thread I saw someone recommending 3 authors for books related to the history of western philosophy
>Copleston
>Durant
>Kenny
https://www.readthesequences.com/
If you're interested in Nietzsche then this book is decent. The language is not overly complicated or obtuse, like a philosophy book often is. The author goes through a lot of different philosophers to contrast with Nietzsche, and then reactions and interpretations that followed him. I'd say it's a great way to gain interest in philosophy, offering you an insight into other philosophers that you might want to read more about.
Beginning philosophy just by reading it is a fatal error and will doom you to the fate of the schoolmen. Philosophy is an activity, not a body of literature. The literature is just a record of that activity. Philosophy is simply learning the art of learning how to think. Start by thinking, questioning your assumptions, asking yourself questions and trying to answer them, seeing what happens when you suspend your belief, or try to believe something that you find incredible, etc.
This isn’t really bad advice but your priority should really be to read at least half of Plato first because otherwise you won’t even know what to think about and you will waste time on nonsense. Plato’s works are literally designed to allow you to start thinking about philosophy.
How do I start with Plato?
This
the trial and death of socrates includes Euthyphro, Apology, Phaedo, and I think Crito. They are the first dialogues in the Hackett edition of the complete works. Then you should read Theaetetus, Phaedrus, Republic, or whatever dialogues interest you. If you get bored of Plato you can also try Descartes who is very accessible (Meditations on First Philosophy and Discourse on Method).
True, you should read some to get a taste of it and see how it's done. But you shouldn't think that by reading about philosophy you are learning how to *do* philosophy. When people say philosophy is useless, they mean that as a collection of information it is. Doing philosophy is the most useful thing in the world.
Frederick Copleston's History of Western Philosophy. Excellent works, very much worth reading for anyone starting out.
Philosophy 101 textbook.
Start with the Greeks.