Any Philosophy readers?

Alchemy

Alchemy

Alchemy

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I've never been much of a reader, but I recently read one of Dostoyevski's numbers and there was a dialogue dealing with existentialism and it really interested me. I thought I'd ask for some personal recommendations rather than google some of the big names. Epistemology also seems like a topic I'd like to learn about. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
Marcel Proust
Bertrand Russell

Not sure if they're what you're after but I think they're awesome nontheless.
 
I did philosophy at university. The book I'd start with would be Descartes' Meditations - not this pop philosophy crap :p.

I found epistemology terribly dull but that was just me. I preferred metaphysics.
 
Lysander said:
I did philosophy at university. The book I'd start with would be Descartes' Meditations - not this pop philosophy crap :p.

I found epistemology terribly dull but that was just me. I preferred metaphysics.
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DM would be your metaphysics stuff? Sounds good, any specific edition? Will Penguin Classics do? :p
 
Alchemy said:
DM would be your metaphysics stuff? Sounds good, any specific edition? Will Penguin Classics do? :p
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DM is just general philosphy though it is quite related to epistemology and to existentialism.

For metaphysics I'd recommend "A Treatise on Human Nature" by Hume to start with [the stuff on causation is particularly interesting]. You could also look into stuff by Leibniz and Kant, but it's not as accessible.

http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/h/hume/david/h92t/
 
DM is just general philosphy though it is quite related to epistemology and to existentialism
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first time ive heard Descartes work linked strongly with existentialism. Guess it depends on how broadly it is defined :p

i guess you could argue that all that time thinking in his oven he was in existential angst?
 
Surfer said:
first time ive heard Descartes work linked strongly with existentialism. Guess it depends on how broadly it is defined :p

i guess you could argue that all that time thinking in his oven he was in existential angst?
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Yeah, I said "quiet related" which is not the same as "strongly linked" :D but yes.. it's not a major theme.
 
Albert Camus - The Outsider, a very good book with existentialist philosophy leanings. As it's in novel form it is not quite so hard to read.
 
Introduction to Philosophy by Nigel Warburton provides a nice overview of the various aspects of philosophy, ranging from stuff like Descartes to stuff like Hobbes.

The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell is a fantastic little book. Very easy to read but incredibly well written, with a lot of very interesting ideas in.

Descartes - Meditations is normally where people recommend you start, and is fairly straightforward.

Plato and Aristotle should obviously be on your to read list, with Republic by Plato, and Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle, both worth a read.

If you're interested in existentialism, then as Surfer says, check out Sartre, Camus and Kafka, although Sartre can get rather complex and weighty.

Michel de Montaigne is good too but I guess you're after the existential kinda stuff so he isn't massively appropriate.

Edit: Just seen that PJW has said Nietzche...I'd say stay away from Nietzsche until you have at least a basic foundation of philosophical ideas because you'll either mis-intepret Nietzsche or just not understand it.
 
Carzy said:
Introduction to Philosophy by Nigel Warburton provides a nice overview of the various aspects of philosophy, ranging from stuff like Descartes to stuff like Hobbes.

The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell is a fantastic little book. Very easy to read but incredibly well written, with a lot of very interesting ideas in.

Descartes - Meditations is normally where people recommend you start, and is fairly straightforward.

Plato and Aristotle should obviously be on your to read list, with Republic by Plato, and Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle, both worth a read.

If you're interested in existentialism, then as Surfer says, check out Sartre, Camus and Kafka, although Sartre can get rather complex and weighty.

Michel de Montaigne is good too but I guess you're after the existential kinda stuff so he isn't massively appropriate.

Edit: Just seen that PJW has said Nietzche...I'd say stay away from Nietzsche until you have at least a basic foundation of philosophical ideas because you'll either mis-intepret Nietzsche or just not understand it.
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I would go so far as to say The Republic by Plato is essential. It addresses so many ideas that later philosophers expanded on and is accessibly put across.
 
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