Hunting Up Some More Dialogues

[The Comedian]

I really enjoy reading good philosophical dialogues; I've read a bunch, but I wonder if there are any more out there that I should check out. Here's a list of what I've read so far:

Plato -- practically everything
Hume -- Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
Berkeley -- Three Dialogues
Boethius -- Consolation of Philosophy (I'm itchin' for a re-read of this one)

There may be a few more, but I can't remember off hand. Anyway, if you all can come up with some more suggestions, that'd be great. Or, if you just want to talk about the dialogue form and its suitability to philosophical discourse, I like to participate in that too.

[LitNetIsGreat]

My friend, you need to read "The Decay of Lying" by old Oscar, it is available here if you don't own a complete works of Wilde (if not, why not?).
http://www.online-literature.com/wilde/1307/

I think you will find it very interesting and it is not a long read.

Actually, I quite like the dialogue form too, but aside from various bits and pieces, i.e the Plato, for some reason I have not read many. One thing that is good about the form is that it makes you feel like you are listening in on a conversation I suppose, as with the Wilde above, it's a very laidback, casual communication, it’s like laying on a comfy sofa with a nice drink, listening to clever people talk nonsense, fantastic!

Edit: having said that the "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion" by Hume doesn't sound that easy.

[The Comedian]

My friend, you need to read "The Decay of Lying" by old Oscar, it is available here if you don't own a complete works of Wilde (if not, why not?).
http://www.online-literature.com/wilde/1307/

I think you will find it very interesting and it is not a long read.

Just printed it. Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I do not have Wilde's collected works (!!) -- but I've read Dorian Gray a couple times (loved it) and "The Importance of Being Earnest" once.


Actually, I quite like the dialogue form too, but aside from various bits and pieces, i.e the Plato, for some reason I have not read many. One thing that is good about the form is that it makes you feel like you are listening in on a conversation

I really enjoy them for this reason also -- and as you noted with Wilde, they have some personality. I like philosophy but sometimes it just takes itself too seriously. Some of the best ideas are meant to be toyed with!


the "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion" by Hume doesn't sound that easy.

It's not, but it's vastly better than anything with the word "treatise" in the title. :lol:

[LitNetIsGreat]

Just printed it. Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I do not have Wilde's collected works (!!) -- but I've read Dorian Gray a couple times (loved it) and "The Importance of Being Earnest" once.

Well those are his best fictional works by quite a way anyway, so it is not that essential, unless you are a nut like me - though his essays are certainly worth a read as are his fairy tales and De Profundis.


I really enjoy them for this reason also -- and as you noted with Wilde, they have some personality. I like philosophy but sometimes it just takes itself too seriously. Some of the best ideas are meant to be toyed with!

Yes, personality is a good word to use, "The Decay of Lying" certainly has that, you'll have to let me know what you think of it, I won't bite if you dislike it - (that much).


It's not, but it's vastly better than anything with the word "treatise" in the title. :lol:

Oh yes, sounds terrible dry already and probably quite out of date.