I'm getting really interested in philosophy, what are some books that you suggest reading?

Question

I've learned some things about the different philosophers and their beliefs in articles mostly, but the only real book I have read is Plato's "The Trial and Death of Socrates" and I really enjoyed it. I'm going to the book store tomorrow and am going to look around but if you have any suggestions that would be great!

I didn't know whether to put this under books & authors or not but I figured that because the subject is philosophy I might get more answers here....lol, thanks!

Answer 1

Anything by Nietzsche or Camus.

Answer 2

hey, now as u know philosophy is big, now Camus, Nietzsche etc are good but i wouldn't start there. Before proceeding read an introduction to philosophy book first this will give you a back ground check and then proceed onwards. Or even the basics series. 'The oxford intro' series is good and academic with out getting too deep. Try reading the novelists as well not just sophies world, i mean camus is good, catcher in the rye, the post man always rings twice, catch twenty two, candide, brothers karamazov etc. As camus said the best novels are the ones that have a philosphical nature to it... they explain hard ideas with out making it too tough on the reader. but remember another thing, philosophy is a great tool but it will never give u THE ANSWERS u will still be the ant who's trying to figure out a masive complex computer. its tiring. U need to delve into the religions too if u open the door of philosophy...for they too provide answers...

Answer 3

For introductions, i admire some philosophy oriented fiction. a million) Sophie's international. - Philosophy defined to slightly lady. 2) The Brother's Karamazov - Does God exist? 3) Atlas Shrugged - Capitalism! 4) The Sandman sequence - a chain of image novels on quite some matters, yet generally approximately freedom. 5) The Lord of the Flies - Existentialism. 6) Animal Farm - Communism fails.

Answer 4

Aristotle, Plotinus, survey works about the Stoics, the Pythagorean, the Cynics, the Epicureans

Aquinas , Al-ghezzari

Spinoza

Nietzsche, Schilling, Schopenhauer

Hume, Hegel, Kant

the list is huge....pick an era and read
but until the existentialist and following, most western thought was based on/elaborated on/reaction to/reaction against the Greek philosophers
so...if you want to appreciate the progression of thought in the western world, I would recommend that you start with the Greeks...

Answer 5

If you're starting to get interested - don't jump into one philosopher - that will narrow your thinking and make you one-sided in philosophical discussion. Instead - get a philosophy survey like the one below.

Gretz, Stanley J. (1996) A Primer On Postmodernism Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans.

This is the best overview of Philosophy I've read to date!

Answer 6

Any recent translation of the ancient Chinese book "The Art of War". If you are just getting into philosophy, this book may not interest you, now. Take a look at it in the book store, and keep it in mind. If you are truly into, you should own this book someday.

Answer 7

Stick with what is real and eschew metaphysics as the plague. John Searle. Jerry Fodor. Noam Chomsky. Pete Singer ( for the lefty in you ). Thomas Hobbes ( classical ). Spinoza ( on god ). These few should start you off well. Stay far away from those French pseudo- intellectuals.

Answer 8

Bully For Brontosaurus

Answer 9

Joseph Campbell's "power of myth" and SE Frost's "Basic Teachings of the Great Philosophers"

Answer 10

I recommend the Encyclopedia of Philosophy and on-line encyclopedia. I t gives a brief history of philosophy, some of the philosophers and their philosophy, as well as a cross reference by philosophy.

Answer 11

Marcus Aurelius really made an impact on me.

Also Lao Tzu.