Introduction to philosophy.

[bookworm57]

Hi everyone
I am new to literature and am interested in reading some books on philosophy.
Can anyone please recommend a book that would be a good basic introduction to philosophy? for a beginner like me. Thanks very much.
Regards.

[hyperborean]

It depends on your level of education and reading comprehension.

[bookworm57]

deleted

[hyperborean]

To truly appreciate philosophy it's best to go from ancient greece all the way through to 20th century existentialism. However, most of the works may be difficult reads for you.

Anybody else on the forum want to jump in and help bookworm57 out?

[vili]

Bertrand Russell's A History of Western Philosophy (1945) is, despite of its age and flaws, a good and solid introduction to the subject.

It is an especially good intro to ancient philosophy, and one may even consider reading just Book 1 from the three-volume work, as Russell's treatment of medieval and post-Cartesian philosophy is in some ways quite flawed (and certainly highly opinionated).

It should also be noted that you don't necessarily need to agree with Russell's own philosophy to get much out of this book. I certainly don't, and yet I am here to recommend the book.


If one wants to take a bit lighter approach, Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World is a novel (primarily targeting young audiences) that at the same time works as an introduction to the history of philosophy. It is used by many elementary and high schools to introduce the subject to students, and I have personally quite enjoyed it as well.


Your librarian, however, might be of more help than I can be.

There are also some fairly good online resources that I have seen -- one simple way would be to combine a list of most important philosophers and then simply rummage through Wikipedia and related sources reading about them. You may get a highly simplified introduction that way, but at least you can explore topics at your own pace and in the order you want.

Although I would probably still start with a book for an introduction.

[Bii]

You could start with this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teach-Yourself-Philosophy-General/dp/0340926953/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/202-5721181-8604663?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181893397&sr=8-1

Part of the 'Teach yourself' range - it's a really good, basic, easy to follow introduction and will help steer you in the direction of further reading.

[troubadour]

If you want to learn what other people say about philosophers and philosophies, read anything on the net or in these 'self-help-yourself' type books. In these places you can learn about what some people have said about philosophy's and philosophers and you can talk about them and even convince yourself you understand what they mean.

If you want to engage with the life of philosophy over the last 3000 years you have to read the good folk themselves. The more you do the latter and avoid the former the better you will understand the course and consequences of western thought. Indeed, time is short; and you will find that the philosophers themselves, rarely mention any but the most important. Proper philosophy is reflection on one question (Being) through time. All the rest is just commentary. .

That said, I watched a BBC film of 'Sophie's World' many times and read 'Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance,' around the same time as I was getting into philosophy, taken there by other subjects and questions, chance. I can remember memorizing the names and beliefs as I watched, being drawn into the pursuit of truth interwined in lifetime as I read. (So the commentaries have their use in that they mention who is important, though they know not why).


Love and farewell on your journey, with truth,

Troubadour.

[NickAdams]

I recommend History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell; however, I agree with Troubadour, in that you should look to the philosophers themselves. The History of Western Philosophy is just to get you familiar with names and ideas, so you can explore the philosophers that interest you.

I don't have any recommendations for Eastern Philosophy though.

[bookworm57]

Hi everyone
I am new to literature and am interested in reading some books on philosophy.
Can anyone please recommend a book that would be a good basic introduction to philosophy? for a beginner like me. Thanks very much.
Regards.

Thank you everyone who replied to this post. I'm sure Your help and advice will prove to be informative and invaluable. It is much appreciated.
Kind regards.:idea:

[Midas]

How about 'Bluff your way in Philosophy' (Jim Hankinson). It covers very
simply, and clearly, most of the oft discussed philosophers. Within a few lines you will pick up their particular points of view.

It is small, inexpensive, and fits easily into the pocket and can pass the time when travelling, or waiting for your meal to arrive in a restaurant.

You can then, from their slants on life (if you must) choose the ones that appeal, and select a more focused and detailed account of their mind ramblings that are destined, if you are not careful, to get you as screwed up with life as so many of them were.

However, it does not include my favourite, no doubt because he is not considered by most for his wonderful, down to earth, understanding of life and human relationship with it, that oozes from almost every word of his prolific writings, our own dear - William Shakespeare.

He imparts, enlightens, and entertains - too many are overawed by the 'entertainment' that they fail to recognise, or, at least appreciate, the other.

Midas

[bookworm57]

How about 'Bluff your way in Philosophy' (Jim Hankinson). It covers very
simply, and clearly, most of the oft discussed philosophers. Within a few lines you will pick up their particular points of view.

It is small, inexpensive, and fits easily into the pocket and can pass the time when travelling, or waiting for your meal to arrive in a restaurant.

You can then, from their slants on life (if you must) choose the ones that appeal, and select a more focused and detailed account of their mind ramblings that are destined, if you are not careful, to get you as screwed up with life as so many of them were.

However, it does not include my favourite, no doubt because he is not considered by most for his wonderful, down to earth, understanding of life and human relationship with it, that oozes from almost every word of his prolific writings, our own dear - William Shakespeare.

He imparts, enlightens, and entertains - too many are overawed by the 'entertainment' that they fail to recognise, or, at least appreciate, the other.

Midas
Thanks Midas, I will try and get hold of that also.
I paid a visit to my local library yesterday but could only get "The Complete Idiot's guide To Philosophy" by Jay Stevenson,Ph.d. I have also ordered " The History of western Philosophy" by Bertrand Russell and "Sophie's World" by Jostien Gaarder.
Thanks for your advice.
Regards-:thumbs_up

[jon1jt]

i highly recommend, Philosophy for Dummies. it covers all the basic history, etc. etc.

[NikolaiI]

In my mind philosophy is linked very closely to literature, as well as poetry and art. It's not so much ideas that are convincing to people as it is rhetoric, style and beauty, etc. etc. Therefore I suggest fiction authors as well as poets. And lots of philosophers were also fiction authors, poets, scientists, etc. (like Camus).

I suggest Descartes' Meditations on the First Philosophy, though I warn that I've seen some goofy translations. I think all the greats are good. Descartes, Pascal, Jaspers, Camus, Sartre, but try to find works that you are comfortable reading, and enjoy. Above all follow your heart. Choose writers that speak to you.

Good luck,
Nikolai.

[quasimodo1]

To Bookworm57: Well if you must read philosophy then start with Rene' Descartes of "I think therefore I am" fame. This way you might not get jaded too soon. quasimodo1

[bookworm57]

To Bookworm57: Well if you must read philosophy then start with Rene' Descartes of "I think therefore I am" fame. This way you might not get jaded too soon. quasimodo1

Hi quasimodo1,
Thanks for the recommendation but I'm intrigued to know why you sound despondent about me wanting to read Philosophy.
Regards-

[bookworm57]

Thanks for that. It is much appreciated.

[quasimodo1]

To Bookworm57: Wouldn't say despondent; very much interested but I have learned not to take it too seriously. Philosophy is at times such a high-handed and pretentious form of study. Does one study "life style" or "mental set" in philosophy? Do not go by my take on it anyway (would still start with Descartes though). If you are super-fresh to this area...you have a chance to study it differently, i.e. do a primer in each philosopher in chronological order and perhaps you will get a sense of how it evolved since it was written down. quasimodo1

[bookworm57]

To Quasimodo1:
What you say seems like very good advice. Thank you.
Regards-Bookworm 57.

[quasimodo1]

To Bookworm57: What has you interested in philosophy? I mean how did you come to this attraction? quasimodo1

[Bii]

Bertrand Russell's A History of Western Philosophy (1945) is, despite of its age and flaws, a good and solid introduction to the subject.

It is an especially good intro to ancient philosophy, and one may even consider reading just Book 1 from the three-volume work, as Russell's treatment of medieval and post-Cartesian philosophy is in some ways quite flawed (and certainly highly opinionated).

It should also be noted that you don't necessarily need to agree with Russell's own philosophy to get much out of this book. I certainly don't, and yet I am here to recommend the book.


If one wants to take a bit lighter approach, Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World is a novel (primarily targeting young audiences) that at the same time works as an introduction to the history of philosophy. It is used by many elementary and high schools to introduce the subject to students, and I have personally quite enjoyed it as well.


Your librarian, however, might be of more help than I can be.

There are also some fairly good online resources that I have seen -- one simple way would be to combine a list of most important philosophers and then simply rummage through Wikipedia and related sources reading about them. You may get a highly simplified introduction that way, but at least you can explore topics at your own pace and in the order you want.

Although I would probably still start with a book for an introduction.

I'd endorse both of these recommendations, plus anything by Bertrand Russell - you may not agree with his views but his writing is very accessible.

[Janna Nijland]

Just finished Anthony Gottlieb's Dream of Reason. Reads easily and has as much to say about philosophy as Bertrand Russel. I don't know why he isn't more popular.

[Argyroneta]

Bookworm57:

Descartes 'Meditations' and 'Discourse On Method'. I recommend these as the author is arguably the father of modern philosophy.

A very good and short introduction is Bertrand Russell's 'The Problems Of Philosophy'

Also, it is always fun trying to get one's head around the ancient greek philosophy of Aristotle (Ethics) and Plato (Republic).

[bookworm57]

.......

[Nossa]

Bertrand Russell's A History of Western Philosophy (1945) is, despite of its age and flaws, a good and solid introduction to the subject.



I totally agree. It's one of the best books that helped me in my philosophy course last term. I'd strongly second this recommend.

[quasimodo1]

To Bookworm57: You will forgive my glibness on this subject. I have a relative with similar backround. Sounds like you must have developed a philosophy allready in dealing with all that. Don't see how you could not have. Having lived with issues like this myself, intimately, of course it is not boring; on the contrary. Let me guess and say many members here have had some contact with adversity. quasimodo1

[Quark]

Hi everyone
I am new to literature and am interested in reading some books on philosophy.
Can anyone please recommend a book that would be a good basic introduction to philosophy? for a beginner like me. Thanks very much.
Regards.

Before you try to learn philosophy it might be best to simply read some of it unadulterated and see if you enjoy or appreciate the discipline. Some suggestions might be Descartes' Meditations, Plato's Republic, or Kant's Prolegomena. These are some of the shorter and more accessible classic works of philosophy that many introductory students are given. Set some time aside for reading and just see if you find this interesting.

[bookworm57]

I suggest Descartes' Meditations on the First Philosophy, though I warn that I've seen some goofy translations. I think all the greats are good. Descartes, Pascal, Jaspers, Camus, Sartre, but try to find works that you are comfortable reading, and enjoy. Above all follow your heart. Choose writers that speak to you.

Good luck,
Nikolai.

I intend to buy Descartes ( Meditations on the first philosophy) but want to avoid the "Goofy" translations. Can anyone advise me which ones are good?

Regards

[Bartholomew]

I think some basics like The Symposium by Plato, Ethics by Spinoza, On Friendship (and other essays) by Michel de Montaigne, and maybe The Genealogy of Morals by Nietzsche worked well together for me. They cover a lot of varying styles of not only philosophy, but writing and making points. This collection served for me a great introduction, I think.

[FrozenDuchess]

hello Bookworm

I suggest "What does it all mean?" a very short introduction to philosophy by Thomas Nagel. This book is slim and fun to read, and not to underestimated...we had it as a recommended text in first year philosophy. He covers many concepts and does so in a gritty argumentative way.

[firefangled]

Read a book called Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. It is very engaging and will give you a great introduction to what is out there of classical philosophy. Then, of course pick your choices with which to get more familiar. Sophie's World is sort of an entertaining syllabus.

If you want to get into the contemporary stuff you are going to have to get familiar with quantum physics at the same time. It is beginning to be difficult to speak of philisophical problems in most branches without acknowledging the sheer physical weirdness of the world in which we live. What is real, what is good or evil, is there a God all become very interesting and open ended.

Someone once said, the world is not only stranger than we imagine. It is stranger than we can imagine.

After Sophie's World, read The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukov and The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra.

Have a good trip.

[FrozenDuchess]

If you want to get into the contemporary stuff you are going to have to get familiar with quantum physics at the same time. It is beginning to be difficult to speak of philisophical problems in most branches without acknowledging the sheer physical weirdness of the world in which we live. What is real, what is good or evil, is there a God all become very interesting and open ended.
Have a good trip.


I do not agree with that, many contemporary writers such as Dr David Benatar explore philosophy from ethical perspectives and that has nothing to do with physics. It is essential to understand that there is a difference between Logic and Epistemology and ethical philosophy, classical philosophy and literary philosophy- all of which can be contemporary...and have nothing to do with physics.

[NikolaiI]

I intend to buy Descartes ( Meditations on the first philosophy) but want to avoid the "Goofy" translations. Can anyone advise me which ones are good?

Regards

I don't know the name of the translator, but the book I read it from had a good translation, the book was called "European Philosophers; from Descartes to Nietzsche".

[bookworm57]

I don't know the name of the translator, but the book I read it from had a good translation, the book was called "European Philosophers; from Descartes to Nietzsche".

Thanks for that NikolaiI
Regards-

[bookworm57]

Read a book called Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. It is very engaging and will give you a great introduction to what is out there of classical philosophy. Then, of course pick your choices with which to get more familiar. Sophie's World is sort of an entertaining syllabus.

If you want to get into the contemporary stuff you are going to have to get familiar with quantum physics at the same time. It is beginning to be difficult to speak of philisophical problems in most branches without acknowledging the sheer physical weirdness of the world in which we live. What is real, what is good or evil, is there a God all become very interesting and open ended.

Someone once said, the world is not only stranger than we imagine. It is stranger than we can imagine.

After Sophie's World, read The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukov and The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra.

Have a good trip.

Hi,
Thanks for the advice.
I was happy to find "Sophie's World" in a charity shop recently.
At the moment, I'm reading Jane Austen's "Mansfield Park",
So will start "Sophie's World" as soon as I've finished that.
Regards.:D

[Dori]

I recommend The Story of Philosophy by Bryan Magee or the Essentials of Philosophy by James Mannion. Both cover philosophy from before Socrates to the present. I find Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics a bit dry (I've just recently started reading from Aristotle). Descartes is a pleasure to read if you get the chance. I've heard that Nietzsche's Thus Spake Zarathustra was good, but I have yet to read it.

[bookworm57]

Hi,
As I've written in a previous post, I have got "Sophie's world" which ( from what I've read so far ) seems like an excellent start ( for me) as an introduction to philosophy.
I have also got Bertrand Russell's "A History of Western Philosophy" on loan from the library,and intend to buy a copy at some point.
I have not started reading this yet and would like to know If you feel that the book is biased in any way
(as he was a philosopher himself)

Kind regards-

[Ludmila607]

What would make a person an habitual Philosophy reader?
It depends on youre age your previouss readings and the place you living at.
Some people approaches to Philosophy by the polithical side.Reading Marx ,Engels trying to explain this world by dialectical interpretation...
Others ,like some teens discover Philosophy being seduced and offended by Nietszche, because he is a rebel and his writing style it is just amusing.
I personally approached toPhilosophy by reading some Nietszche and Sartre.
They are quite attractive when your so young and looking for anwers.
When I started to serious study Philosophy I loved the Greeks and the Alexandrines Philosophers.I think they found the key of knowledge having no point where to start.They give many correct answers.
The Medieval thought make dissapear and hide many of this enourmous knowledge.And fight those who try to bring it back to human mind.The Church say Knowledge was powerful, it was a weapon so they hold it.
Anyway great Philosophers were Christians,instead of Mathematiscians or scientists, such as PASCAL, LEIBNIZ, SPINOZA.
I dont think Philosophy is Giving us something knew nowadays.
I am using Lyndon Larouge Jr to get into Time space issues.Vattimo is interisting.
But all we can do is going around what Aristotle, Descartes, Pascal ,Wittgenstein and Einstein told us about ourselves and the Universe.[/FONT]

[vili]

I have also got Bertrand Russell's "A History of Western Philosophy" on loan from the library,and intend to buy a copy at some point. I have not started reading this yet and would like to know If you feel that the book is biased in any way (as he was a philosopher himself)
I would say that it is certainly biased. But I would still recommend it, or at least the first half or so.

[Ludmila607]

Here we go.Bertrand Russell , Philosopher, Matematiscian and Logic Author.
PRINCIPIA MATHEMATICA, writen with Whitehead.His philosophical writing is simple and wide.Anyone can read it.
I seem to be insisting with the Philosophers who were MAths lovers....any good Philosopher should be interested in Geometry and MAths.(from Pitagoras, to Descartes, Leibniz and B.Russell.
I think our Literary Boy is going to need a big time to get all recommended!

[bookworm57]

Hi Ludmila607. Thanks for the advice.
Regards-

[Ludmila607]

Can I add some more? ERICH FROMM is is very redeable if you are looking existential advice. F NIetszche is great if you want to gert scandalized.
PASCAL is like no other if you like Misticism and enjoyable Philosophy. Plato dialogues are good if you want to have some fun and like arguments!!!(long, long arguements)
I am a Literature Lover, but chose Philosophy as a Career.So I understand that sometimes get hard to change from a Literary assumption of a txt to a Philosophical one.it is just not the same.
Good look.Let me know where did you start .....

[RichardHresko]

I would strongly recommend Will Durant's Story of Philosophy. It is concise, readable, and not nearly as opinionated as Russell. This won't cover the more recent philosophers like Rorty, but is a great introduction.

[Haven]

I thought Russell's "A History of Western Philosophy" was a cracking read, But will take on board RHresko's recommendation on Durant.

I know your query was about Philosophy, but if you are using concept and theory for academic purposes I found this guy Chandler to be really useful. Okay, it is 'critical theory' which is of course based on philosophy. Also, his websites are useful in several ways. Explains the main theoriticians associated with particular concepts. Also details what the concept is about and gives excellent bibliographies which you can access via the Net or library. I've just attached two of his sites. One on Semiotics and the other on Genre Theory. Hope is of use.


http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/sem01.html

http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/intgenre/intgenre1.html