Book suggestions please

[applepie]

OK, so it's been a while since I've read anything by way of philosophy. I think it has been at least 2 years, and even that was when I was taking Western Philosophy for college. So, since I'm looking to learn a bit more, I was hoping that you could all suggest some books that are a good introduction. The only book I have in the house currently is The Republic. I'm interested in both Eastern and Western philosophy, but I'm also very interested in the idea that people are born inherantly good or evil. Any suggestions you can give will be appreciated. I'm looking to start a few new book lists. One is new Sci-Fi, one for philosophy, and another for classics. Thanks a bunch:D

Meg

[Scheherazade]

You might find this thread useful, Meg:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27360

[applepie]

Thanks, I really need to look closer before I start a thread:blush: I'll check it out now.

[Mr. Dr. Ralph]

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes wouldn't be a bad start, posits that humans are evil. Discourse on the Origin of Inequality by Rosseau posits otherwise, the work that put him on the map, so to speak.

Peruse wikipedia until you find someone that you like.

[RichardHresko]

The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant is a wonderful general introduction, and very readable.

[NikolaiI]

Entering the Stream (multiple authors) is a great book for an introduction to Buddhism.

[Mortis Anarchy]

I'm reading Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo...so far so good...but there are a few things I'm cun-fuzzed about.:)

So you may want to try this one.

[byquist]

"Godel, Escher, Bach" although it might be "Bach, Escher, Godel" -- same diff. The author, Hofstedter or something, published a recent book which probably got a good review.

[Demian]

Erich Fromm's Escape From Freedom is a good blending of philosophy, history and psychology. You also might like The Journals of Kierkegarrd or The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant. Daniel Boorstein's The Seekers is also good-it is a philosophy of history and more readable than Hegel.

[Oniw17]

Other than the Socratic dialogues thatI've read, Mill's essays are the best philosophy I've seen. As far as philosophical sci-fi, there's always the Dune series. The Tao Te Jing and the lotus sutra are pretty good as far as Eastern Philosophy. Ecclesiastes in the Bible I liked, though it seems somewhat poetic along with being philosophical. Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. This blog (http://constantinosa.blogspot.com) is a good read, and so is this hermitary website, but I lost the link for it. Real life experience and discussion are the best modes of learning philosophy though.