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lost_lad · 10-03-2005, 00:03

The Passsion of the Western Mind by Richard Tarnas. and a good dictionarry.

I'm new to philosophy but this book gives a fantastic in chronological order history of philosophy in the west from greece to now. I have been reading it and now know what i would like to learn more of and what i would like to steer clear of, for now.

lost_lad · 14-03-2005, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by lost_lad

The Passsion of the Western Mind by Richard Tarnas. and a good dictionarry.

I'm new to philosophy but this book gives a fantastic in chronological order history of philosophy in the west from greece to now. I have been reading it and now know what i would like to learn more of and what i would like to steer clear of, for now.

Cant believe i typoed dictionary.. Muppet!!!

WHEELER4 · 06-04-2005, 15:05

The first post in this thread is quite enlightening and all the other posts. It seems to me that no one has a clear idea of what philosophy is. Most think it is "to be skeptical". That philosophy is an excercise in "criticism".

The word "philosophy" was coined by Pythagoras. It is different from the word "sophos" and it was coined in opposition to the word "sophos".

Philosophy means a "love of truth". A love of wisdom. Not that anyone is wise at all. If you have no love or concept of "Truth" or "Wisdom", then you can not be a "philosopher". You can be a "sophos" but not a "philosopher". There is a big difference there.

Why people get "criticism" confused with philosophy is because one of the first principles of philosophy is the "Principle of consistency". This principles is one the central features of logic. Socrates used this principle to great effect in his dialogues. Truth is consistent and coherent. Falsity is inconsistent. Socrates used this method to determine what someone said was true or false.

The book to read is "Introduction to Philosophy" by Jacques Maritain. His is an excellent book.

**Fysh** · 22-05-2005, 23:11

For anyone looking for an entertaining and uncomplicated entry-point for philosophy (including pointers for further reading) in an original form, you could do worse than Action Philosophers!. While it's a light-hearted comic, it is a fairly faithful guide to the philosophies it describes and includes useful commentaries on the texts the writer based his scripts on. It's like a visual alternative to those "...for beginners" or "Sophie's World"-type books.

Chris_dub · 20-07-2005, 00:16

Sophies World is generally taken to be a great introduction to philosophy. I've read it about 12 times now and it always manages to enlighten me a bit more every time, provided I can get round the way the plot is laid out.

DadaKopf · 20-07-2005, 11:46

Yeah, that book nearly single-handedly got me into philosophy. Around that time, I realised there was nothing else I wanted to study (except politics). It's a really accessible book, but the story's crap! Thing about it is: it leaves so much important philosophy out, but once you get into philosophy, there's no going back!

Anyone read Deleuze and Guattari?

Crubeens · 29-07-2005, 13:17

I have read, or tried to read, many books by the well known philosophers - the ones you'd be proud to be able to quote from! But much of time their thoughts and theories provide me with great intellectual fodder, but do nothing for me spiritually.

What I like about Philosophy is that it makes me think about my life, how and why I am living it, and how I might make it better for me and those around me. With that in mind, I have often enjoyed books like The Alchemist and The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari etc more than deep, technical 'philosophical' books. They make me look at life differently and so make it more enjoyable.

Am I looking at the subject too simplistically? How do you feel about classifying these kinds of books as 'philosophy'?

ven0m · 28-10-2005, 22:51

- Ethics In Practice by "Hugh laFolette", cos it covers Utilitarianism, Communitarianism, amongst others in the context of ethics & philosophy

- Informal Logic by Walton, really good read & well reocmmended

- The Art of War by tSun Zu (it is philospophy when u come down to it & really does take some utilitarian philosophical views rule-vs-act utilitarianism)

::: ven0mous :::

jinc · 17-10-2006, 16:34

Does anybody know any good Nietzche introductions/bio/readers? I started reading him on my own last year, and I think I'm getting through him alright but I could really do with a good overview on his ideas.

**ecksor** · 25-11-2006, 16:00

Was that a recommendation for a book?

Jackie laughlin · 30-11-2006, 02:53

I would go with "Sophie's World" as a starter but my judgement might be off as I'm well down the philosophy path. I recall that Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" gave me a little nudge towards formal study.

When it comes to popular mags., I don't find "Philosophy Now" at all useful or attractive but "Think" and "The Philosophers Magazine" are easy reads while remaing reputable. I've not seen them in the newsagents but they're quite cheap by way of subscription.

Valmont · 17-02-2007, 01:23

Initially I found Paul Stratherns mini philosophers series to be a good introduction to some of the more popular philosophers which lead me into other things. They're small books and the in the series are Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau, Nietzsche, Confucius, Marx, Hegel, Machiavelli, Locke and Descartes. Compact, informative and and a short overview of each philosophy.

As said before Bertrand Russells book on Western Philosophy is brilliant if a little dated. Sartre and Wittgenstein wouldn't be included for example.

Just discovered Sartre myself recently, bloody tough going and I need a dictionary on hand but I'm enjoying it immensely!

Sauron · 06-06-2008, 00:26

Don't think this has been posted, so:

http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/

Glyn Hughes takes the work of many prominent philosophers and "squashes" them, taking out only essential sentences and making some of them a little more readable. It's been useful enough for me so far. It also gives a handy reading time estimate at the right.

Also, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig was quite entertaining; it was good fiction and had some very good explanations of elements of Philosophy; some good stuff about empiricism and the Molyneux Problem. He relates a lot of it to motorcycles too : ) That's what really sparked my interest in the subject... The empiricism, not the motorcycles.

It was one of the bestselling philosophy-type-books of the 20th century or so the blurb tells me...

DenMan · 06-06-2008, 18:59

This is one I really enjoyed.

The Object of Morality by GJ Warnock

Really explores issues of morality and our place in a very intolerable work. Well worth a read....and a debate!

DenMan · 06-06-2008, 18:59

Sorry about that, intolerable world.

06-06-2008, 00:26	#43
Sauron Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dublin Posts: 1,131 Adverts \| Friends	Don't think this has been posted, so: http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/ Glyn Hughes takes the work of many prominent philosophers and "squashes" them, taking out only essential sentences and making some of them a little more readable. It's been useful enough for me so far. It also gives a handy reading time estimate at the right. Also, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig was quite entertaining; it was good fiction and had some very good explanations of elements of Philosophy; some good stuff about empiricism and the Molyneux Problem. He relates a lot of it to motorcycles too : ) That's what really sparked my interest in the subject... The empiricism, not the motorcycles. It was one of the bestselling philosophy-type-books of the 20th century or so the blurb tells me... Last edited by Sauron; 06-06-2008 at 00:28.

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10-03-2005, 00:03	#31
lost_lad Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 72 Adverts \| Friends	The Passsion of the Western Mind by Richard Tarnas. and a good dictionarry. I'm new to philosophy but this book gives a fantastic in chronological order history of philosophy in the west from greece to now. I have been reading it and now know what i would like to learn more of and what i would like to steer clear of, for now.

06-04-2005, 15:05	#33
WHEELER4 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 28 Adverts \| Friends	The first post in this thread is quite enlightening and all the other posts. It seems to me that no one has a clear idea of what philosophy is. Most think it is "to be skeptical". That philosophy is an excercise in "criticism". The word "philosophy" was coined by Pythagoras. It is different from the word "sophos" and it was coined in opposition to the word "sophos". Philosophy means a "love of truth". A love of wisdom. Not that anyone is wise at all. If you have no love or concept of "Truth" or "Wisdom", then you can not be a "philosopher". You can be a "sophos" but not a "philosopher". There is a big difference there. Why people get "criticism" confused with philosophy is because one of the first principles of philosophy is the "Principle of consistency". This principles is one the central features of logic. Socrates used this principle to great effect in his dialogues. Truth is consistent and coherent. Falsity is inconsistent. Socrates used this method to determine what someone said was true or false. The book to read is "Introduction to Philosophy" by Jacques Maritain. His is an excellent book.

22-05-2005, 23:11	#34
Fysh Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: London Posts: 7,456 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Comics, Living Abroad, London	For anyone looking for an entertaining and uncomplicated entry-point for philosophy (including pointers for further reading) in an original form, you could do worse than Action Philosophers!. While it's a light-hearted comic, it is a fairly faithful guide to the philosophies it describes and includes useful commentaries on the texts the writer based his scripts on. It's like a visual alternative to those "...for beginners" or "Sophie's World"-type books.

20-07-2005, 00:16	#35
Chris_dub Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Dublin Posts: 3 Adverts \| Friends	Sophies World is generally taken to be a great introduction to philosophy. I've read it about 12 times now and it always manages to enlighten me a bit more every time, provided I can get round the way the plot is laid out.

20-07-2005, 11:46	#36
DadaKopf Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 4,695 Adverts \| Friends	Yeah, that book nearly single-handedly got me into philosophy. Around that time, I realised there was nothing else I wanted to study (except politics). It's a really accessible book, but the story's crap! Thing about it is: it leaves so much important philosophy out, but once you get into philosophy, there's no going back! Anyone read Deleuze and Guattari?

29-07-2005, 13:17	#37
Crubeens Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dublin / Waterford Posts: 131 Adverts \| Friends	I have read, or tried to read, many books by the well known philosophers - the ones you'd be proud to be able to quote from! But much of time their thoughts and theories provide me with great intellectual fodder, but do nothing for me spiritually. What I like about Philosophy is that it makes me think about my life, how and why I am living it, and how I might make it better for me and those around me. With that in mind, I have often enjoyed books like The Alchemist and The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari etc more than deep, technical 'philosophical' books. They make me look at life differently and so make it more enjoyable. Am I looking at the subject too simplistically? How do you feel about classifying these kinds of books as 'philosophy'?

28-10-2005, 22:51	#38
ven0m Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Somewhere on the outskirts of sanity, right around Posts: 1,798 Adverts \| Friends	- Ethics In Practice by "Hugh laFolette", cos it covers Utilitarianism, Communitarianism, amongst others in the context of ethics & philosophy - Informal Logic by Walton, really good read & well reocmmended - The Art of War by tSun Zu (it is philospophy when u come down to it & really does take some utilitarian philosophical views rule-vs-act utilitarianism) ::: ven0mous :::

17-10-2006, 16:34	#39
jinc Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dublin Posts: 3 Adverts \| Friends	Does anybody know any good Nietzche introductions/bio/readers? I started reading him on my own last year, and I think I'm getting through him alright but I could really do with a good overview on his ideas.

25-11-2006, 16:00	#40
ecksor Puppy Shotgun Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 10,090 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Mustard, Security	Was that a recommendation for a book?

30-11-2006, 02:53	#41
Jackie laughlin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,121 Adverts \| Friends	I would go with "Sophie's World" as a starter but my judgement might be off as I'm well down the philosophy path. I recall that Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" gave me a little nudge towards formal study. When it comes to popular mags., I don't find "Philosophy Now" at all useful or attractive but "Think" and "The Philosophers Magazine" are easy reads while remaing reputable. I've not seen them in the newsagents but they're quite cheap by way of subscription.

17-02-2007, 01:23	#42
Valmont Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Eboracum Posts: 4,452 Adverts \| Friends	Initially I found Paul Stratherns mini philosophers series to be a good introduction to some of the more popular philosophers which lead me into other things. They're small books and the in the series are Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau, Nietzsche, Confucius, Marx, Hegel, Machiavelli, Locke and Descartes. Compact, informative and and a short overview of each philosophy. As said before Bertrand Russells book on Western Philosophy is brilliant if a little dated. Sartre and Wittgenstein wouldn't be included for example. Just discovered Sartre myself recently, bloody tough going and I need a dictionary on hand but I'm enjoying it immensely!

06-06-2008, 18:59	#44
DenMan Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wandering on Horizon Road Posts: 6,911 Adverts \| Friends	This is one I really enjoyed. The Object of Morality by GJ Warnock Really explores issues of morality and our place in a very intolerable work. Well worth a read....and a debate!