Great Books of "Modern" Western Philosophy that are generally Applicable to living?

Question

I find recent western philosophy to be so abstract and academic, that it usually does not have alot of directly applicable principles. For example Immanuel Kant, Soren Kierkegaard, and more recenly John Rawls, I don't find people finding these works helpfull in everyday life. I'm somewhat disillusioned with more recent western philosophy.

I guess my question is, do others find themselves in the same situation, and if not what works have you read that you find to be very down to earth, that people in everyday life could use.

That ancient image of the philosopher shut in, in his ivory tower, I once hated that image, I still do, yet I'm finding it to be more and more true.

Answer 1

ATLAS SHRUGGED by Ayn Rand.

It is rated by the Library of Congress as the second most influential book in North America after the bible.

Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism is the only philosophy in history which advocates rational self-interest through logic. It is the only philosophy compatible with living selfishly.

In my college years I followed Marx, Kant, Comte and many others but like yourself, I found them inadequate to apply to everyday life as those philosophies advocate self-sacrifice or sacrificing others.

If you are truly interesting discovering a philosophy for living then I highly recommend that you research Objectivism.

"My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute." - Ayn Rand

Answer 2

Modern philosophy was mostly interested in epistemology (the rules of science). Historically, it accompanies the enlightenment, a period in which men became convinced the light of reason could solve all human problems. These philosophers thus thought that by establishing rules of correct thinking, philosophy could lead mankind into a new era of understanding.`
This view seems very reductionist to me as well. Kant's inability to actually articulate such a system also show the limits of human reason. (I know some Kant lovers would disagree, but by and large, the Critique is an unfinished work.) Kant's ambition was nothing less than explaining the whole of human experience and reducing all of the mind's constructions to their raw elements of origin; an enterprise modern research in psychology would conclude is ludicrous.
From that period of time, I ended up retaining the works of Blaise Pascal, Montesquieu, Rousseau and others who seem to me to be more applicable to thoughts of interest to me, which express man's place in the Universe in a way that is applicable to life. If I need a 100 page explanation for what I mean by the word "I", I can't carry that with me. Discourse has to be simpler than that.

Answer 3

I agree with medscape about Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics". It's one of the best books you'll ever read. Several of his books are quite good. Try "Metaphysics" and "On the Soul", as well.

Many philosophers at the time of the "Enlightenment" and after really weren't all that helpful. An old Hungarian monk once said this to me, about philosophy: "The Ancient Greeks got it right the first time!"

Also, it's worthwhile to read Thomas Aquinas and the other scholastics. Thomas was influenced deeply by Aristotle.

Answer 4

Any books on ART of LIVING or Thinking process, etc


Great writer: Alain de Botton: Consolations of Philosophy and Architecture of Happiness

A great read comes from your interest: stick to them. It doesn't have to be formal philosophical writing to be "philosophical" also.

After I read the previous comments, I agree with the above picks:
Rousseau and Montesquie WERE indeed helpful in this regard as well. Amazingly, I found Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics to be the bomb!!! I love his ethics.

Answer 5

I have never been interested in philosophy for that reason.

However, I have met someone who actively use Kant's Categorical Imperative as a means to guide their behaviours. I have met people who use the study of ethics to guide their lives.