A friend of mines told me that plato's The Republic was a mind boggling piece of work but I would also like to get some other opinions.
2006-08-10 18:48:03 · 12 answers · asked by E-con 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
You are interested in philosophy and want your mind blown?
Read "Mein Kampf" by Adolph Hitler.
My suggestion in no way supports Herr. Hitler. But for a mind blowing piece of personal philosophy there is nothing to compare.
2006-08-10 19:29:36 · answer #1 · answered by Temple 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Frederick Nietzsche's "Thus Spake Zarathustra," if you can get through it. The language is pretty Shakespearean, but the concepts are great. The concept of the uber-man or superman, in particular, is very empowering. It says that you should screw any limits to reaching your full potential imposed on you by society, culture, tradition, gov't, religion, self-doubt, etc.
Some more philosophy along the same vein would be extropic or transhumanist philosophy. These are modern-day equivalents to the superman concept, which see the possibility of tapping the unimaginable amount of potential in the human race if only we could leave behind all the ancient beliefs and primitive ethics that have been holding us back.
2006-08-11 02:26:36 · answer #2 · answered by R[̲̅ə̲̅٨̲̅٥̲̅٦̲̅]ution 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
While not exactly philosophy, for some good insights into human society you should add Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and 1984 by George Orwell to your reading list.
These two works are extraordinary in that they predicted societal changes decades before they occurred. In fact, many of the predictions are coming true today. The phrase "Orwellian" has been used to describe many emerging facets of society over the past thirty years.
You will find the topics presented in these works open the door to many philosophical discussions.
2006-08-11 01:57:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
1- "Man's Search For Meaning" by Victor Frankl (existentalist/psychotherapist who survived the holocaust and writes about his experiences and suprisingly positive life views develpoed out of the concentration camps, and a new type of psychotherapy he developed out of that view. Defenitly my most reccomended book to everyone. It literally changed my life, and is the reason why I am doing what I am doing in college right now. It bridged my love of philosophy with the very practical application of psychology and helped me define what life menas to me, and what I should do with it.)
2-"Illusions" by Richard S. Bach (same guy who wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Odd story, explains existence as a illusion. To truly get an understanding of it, you have to read it)
2006-08-11 03:18:54 · answer #4 · answered by amiaigner 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fritjof Capra - The Tao of Physics. A comparison between quantum mecanics and oriental religions.
2006-08-11 05:14:05 · answer #5 · answered by Shaitan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Way of the Peaceful Warrior or
God's Debris
good luck and remember to keep the hinge on your "open mind" ready for action.....do not accept everything you read. OR, if you do then stay away from Dianetics.
2006-08-11 01:55:08 · answer #6 · answered by newsgirlinos2 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned "Godel, Escher, Bach" yet. I couldn't possibly encapsulate it here, but to get a hint of what it's like, read the comments on the back cover:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0465026567/ref=sib_dp_pop_bc/002-6755325-8988024?ie=UTF8&p=S0N8#reader-link
2006-08-11 04:38:08 · answer #7 · answered by Jon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stranger In A Strange Land. If I can spell it right the author was Heinlein-{last name} will make you think.
2006-08-11 01:58:21 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A book that will seriously addle your mind is "Being and Time" by Martin Heidegger.
2006-08-11 01:54:32 · answer #9 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Scientific proof of God`s existence.
2006-08-11 01:54:56 · answer #10 · answered by mamanoelia 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋