Good philosopher to start off with?

I think that one should avoid reading the above-mentioned books. When I was a novice, and wanted a deeper acquaintance with the subject, I asked the Head of Philosophy Department at J.U. for a reading list. The one I got (after waiting for two weeks or so) consisted mainly of books like 'The Story of Philosophy' and 'Philosophy' of the Oxford Very Short Introduction series. I think she even suggested 'Existentialism For Dummies'. True, these books arent written by renowned philosophers but they do provide a comprehensive study in simple and elegantly written english. They also have a decent bibliography.

After all, we all know what little drops of water are capable of, right?

I'd second Plato's Republic. While I am at it, here is a list of books I've assigned in my Introduction to Political Philosophy Courses. They are mostly standard canon and very relevant. The list is all over the place, but I find that different people latch on to different philosophers. What I like, you may hate, etc. (For example, I love Rousseau and Nietzsche.)

Aristotle's Politics
Machiavelli's Prince
Locke's Second Treatise
Rousseau's First and Second Discourse, Social Contract
Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil, On the Genealogy of Morals
Freud's Civilization and its Discontents
Camus' The Rebel
Foucault Power/Knowledge, Discipline and Punish

Most of these books are relatively short. Try some.

P.S. I'd ignore mal4mac's advice here. I actually tend to agree with him, or I should say Rorty, as far as the whole literature thing. But, that is a debate and discussion that falls well beyond the scope of your original inquiry. I'd be glad to continue that discussion, but I think it's disingenuous and wrong to steer someone in that direction when they clearly asking a straightforward question.

There are too many books of philosophers and philosophers and I like to refer to the Vedas.

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Originally Posted by blazeofglory

J Krishnamurti is a philosopher to start off with. I have read most of his books and all are very insightful and as a matter of fact reading him is very enlightening.

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And you can check him out online easily enough

Texts or videos

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Originally Posted by DanielBenoit

Maybe Aristotle and Plato? But then agian, Aristotle can be very dry, and you are bound to reencounter their ideas again and again in philosophy, whether you have read them or not.

I too started out with Nietzsche, but probably isn't the best place to start. Might I suggest Desartes or Hume? One of the most basic ideas of philosophy is that dichotemy between empiricism and rationalism.

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This post says what I intended to say when I saw the question posed in the title of the thread.

The intro to philosophy course that originally got me into philosophy focused primariliy on Plato's Apology and Descartes Meditations. Having read a lot of philosophy since then, I can`t think of two better texts with which to begin one`s journey into the discipline.

I think that gaining a thorough understanding of Plato in particular will open your eyes to much of the thought that's shaped culture period, be it western or eastern, for the last several thousand years. Plato, Plato, Plato!

And I hate Plato. I just think he is the quickest route to realizing what's been going on in the philosophies and religions of the world since god knows when.

To me Nietzsche is the be all end all of western philosophy, and it can't hurt to read a text by him, even if it might not make a lot of sense considering your lack of familiarity with the overall tradition. May I recommend Twilight of The Idols. Its a very succinct statement of his philosophy.

I'm also a huge fan of the Chinese Daoist philosopher Chuang Tsu. Check him out. It'll blow your mind for sure.

For western philosophy, Plato. No question.

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Originally Posted by Seamus619

Hello,
I am new to this forum, as well as philosophy.
Who would you guys recommend would be a good philosopher to start off with for someone who is just now taking an interest in philosophy? Thanks :-)

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Emerson and Rilke. Let them in.

An accessible, modern, and somewhat relevant work is "Life, Sex, and Ideas: The Good Life Without God" a collection of philosopher A.C. Greyling's essays on various subjects from violence and abortion to literary criticism and autodidact-ism. Not radically innovative or profound like Nietzsche or Russell mentioned above, but a nice introduction to considering problems in a rational a philosophical way. An added bonus is his referencing of other notable philosopher's is a good leaping off point.

I have read all the western,eastern and western philosphers then i came across one who transcended them all. Mr wilhwelm Nietzsche. Really in terms of 'philosophy and ideas' this guy is absolutely priceless. After i read all his works i cannot even look any other philosophers work in the eye without thinking youve been debunked by freddie.
I firmly believe Nietzsche is by far the greatest pure thinker ever,better than einstein,plato,buddha and aristotle combined.
However,in terms of understanding the human condition he has to bow to Dostoevsky,and what is to his eternal credit he did...

Some have said Jiddu Krishnamurti - and I agree. Universal and limpid. He tried to be outside any tradition.

If you want every philosophy and the very nature of thought destroyed, try U.G. Krishnamurti.