I know absolutely nothing about philosophy, and would like to educate myself on the subject.

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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  1. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Start with the greeks. Use the sticky.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      why would I read a bunch of fiction and mythology stories?

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Because philosophy consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous
      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Don’t read fiction and mythology, read Plato, starting with the Trial and Death if Socrates

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          This.
          The PreSocratics are also a fine place to begin.

  2. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Sophie's World

  3. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    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

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      >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

  4. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    https://www.readthesequences.com/

  5. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    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.

  6. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    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.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      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.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        How do I start with Plato?

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          This

          Don’t read fiction and mythology, read Plato, starting with the Trial and Death if Socrates

          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).

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        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.

  7. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Frederick Copleston's History of Western Philosophy. Excellent works, very much worth reading for anyone starting out.

  8. 1 year ago
    Voluntary Fool
  9. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Philosophy 101 textbook.

  10. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Start with the Greeks.

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