Could someone please recommend some interesting and little known intellectual and, philisophical literature?

Question

Asian, African, European, I have note heard of, or seen any South American philosophies would be interested.

Answer 1

It is a small book in size but very well known and the best book in philosophy I have ever read. "Trial and Death of Socrates" by Plato.

Answer 2

Have you heard of Hamzah Fansuri? I;m not sure if can there is a translation of his Indonesian writings in English out there but he is quite influential in south east asia where i come from and sadly an unknown in the westren hemisphere.He is a sufi mystic so that would give you a an idea of what he is all about.
Also Pramoedya Ananta Toer , Recently deceased is great novelist and widely credited.His novels are translated into many languages including english.


here's a link to a favourite intellectual write of mine from malaysia, since i'm malaysian, such as Salleh ben Joned and Farish Noor and some others. Good luck.

http://www.alibris.com/search/books/author/Noor,%20Farish

http://www.silverfishbooks.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syed_Muhammad_Naquib_al-Attas

http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1871438292

Answer 3

Whatever your beliefs and perspectives of life, I think "Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way" by the Indian philosopher Nagarjuna (1st-2nd century AD), translated and commented by Jay L Garfield, is a real eye-opener.

Nagarjuna is maybe the most influential of all Buddhist philosophers, and often credited as the founder of Mahayana Buddhism. This book is pure, analytical philosophy, challenging the very fundamentals of our habitual thinking, always with logic and systematic analysis as his tools.

I can't recommend it enough! And it's not even expensive! ;)

Answer 4

Abe Kobo is a highly philosophical, surreal and imaginative Japanese writer. Active primarily from the early 1950s to the early 1970s, his works tackle issues of identity and alienation related to the modern, urban individual.

he was heavily influenced by existentialism, surrealism and marxism, but also by his experiences as a Japanese citizen during the war, but one who grew up in the then-Japanese puppet state of manchuria.

i would recommend woman in the dunes (also an excellent film), the face of another, the ruined map, inter ice-age four, the box man (if your tastes run closer to the postmodern) and secret rendezvous. enjoy!

Answer 5

Pierre Shlag, "Normative and Nowhere to Go", excellent treatise on the uselessness of language.

Robert Anton Wilson "The Illuminatus Trilogy" Underground classic in sci-fi and philosophy.

Aliester Crowley "Book of Lies" Fairly well known, actually, but I thought I'd add it to the list in case you missed him. Occult thinker, awesome read.

Answer 6

The Philospohy of Natality.

Answer 7

The Tao of Pooh

Answer 8

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe.

"Needful Things" by Stephen King

They may not be exactly philosophical but sure do personify true to life human traits very well.

Answer 9

i've got long previous devoid of it for fairly of an prolonged time..... i assume you concentration on different issues to get you thru. does not make you an psychological. If something, you merely do the perfect you are able to with what you're able to paintings with. Yeah, he became hilarious.. makes me think of i'm screwed no count what I do... lo

Answer 10

Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Srimad-Bhagavatam. Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta. All excellent literature and all available to read online at this link. http://www.krishna.com/e-books