introduction to philosophy..... help!

[CTID1988]

First off you will need a beret, a moustache and a pipe

 

[Carver]

Secondly, you have to realise that they were all pissheads

I drink therefore I am.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b7r5jIEe9s[/youtube]

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

now I have time on my hands I fancy reading a bit of philosophy. Can anyone recommend a good starting point? I've heard the the 'Dummies' one is shite. Therefore, recommendations?

If you want some basic introductions then Nigel Warburton and Simon Blackburn have both written good basic overviews. The classic summary work is Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy.

With respect, "a" not "the" classic. Russell is a rattling good read but sketchy, unreliable and polemical. Copleston's History of Philosophy in eleven volumes is the standard work of reference and generally agreed to be the most fair and complete summary available.

Russell's good on the philosophers he likes, crap on the one's he doesn't as he basically doesn't understand them/take the time to understand them. Coppleston is indeed the best but a hell of a lot to read as an introduction. If he reads the Phaedo he'll know if philosophy is for him, and can take it from there.

 

[hackneyslim]

The Dice Man isn't philosophy, it's hardly even writing, let alone literature. If you want philosophical literature, try Age of Reason by Sartre, or The Plague by Camus.

I read a lot of books about other books to save wading through stuff which was too hard at first (or ever, in the case of Hegel). Russel and Copleston are excellent starting points.

A very good way in is to read a little epistemology or metaphysics - only introductions, mind, because it gets funny really quickly. Wikipedia will give you enough to get you going, and more.

I think you will find out pretty quick if you want to read further, and also what area you might be more interested in - the above, plus ethics, politics, aesthetics etc.

Schopenhauer and Ayer, for example, are very readable but people like Heidegger or Derrida are just deliberately obtuse if you ask me. Be careful who you start with, it's easy to get stuck at whatever stage.

Good luck.

 

[Manc in London]

If you want some basic introductions then Nigel Warburton and Simon Blackburn have both written good basic overviews. The classic summary work is Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy.

With respect, "a" not "the" classic. Russell is a rattling good read but sketchy, unreliable and polemical. Copleston's History of Philosophy in eleven volumes is the standard work of reference and generally agreed to be the most fair and complete summary available.

Russell's good on the philosophers he likes, crap on the one's he doesn't as he basically doesn't understand them/take the time to understand them. Coppleston is indeed the best but a hell of a lot to read as an introduction. If he reads the Phaedo he'll know if philosophy is for him, and can take it from there.

Are you serious? You are saying Betrand Russell doesn't understand other philosophers work? Unbelievable. Russell was a fiercely intelligent man.

He could be dismissive but that is because he was able to cut through the bullshit just as he did with Copleston when debating the existence of God.

 

[George Hannah]

With respect, "a" not "the" classic. Russell is a rattling good read but sketchy, unreliable and polemical. Copleston's History of Philosophy in eleven volumes is the standard work of reference and generally agreed to be the most fair and complete summary available.

Russell's good on the philosophers he likes, crap on the one's he doesn't as he basically doesn't understand them/take the time to understand them. Coppleston is indeed the best but a hell of a lot to read as an introduction. If he reads the Phaedo he'll know if philosophy is for him, and can take it from there.

Are you serious? You are saying Betrand Russell doesn't understand other philosophers work? Unbelievable. Russell was a fiercely intelligent man.

He could be dismissive but that is because he was able to cut through the bullshit just as he did with Copleston when debating the existence of God.

Russell was so clever he didn't know he had halitosis. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.schillerinstitute.org/fid_91-96/943a_russell_lhl.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.schillerinstitute.org/fid_91 ... l_lhl.html</a>

 

[dannybcity]

now I have time on my hands I fancy reading a bit of philosophy. Can anyone recommend a good starting point? I've heard the the 'Dummies' one is shite. Therefore, recommendations?

If you want some basic introductions then Nigel Warburton and Simon Blackburn have both written good basic overviews. The classic summary work is Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy.

I've got Russell's book and periodically I try to tackle it, I've never got very far.

 

[dom]

now I have time on my hands I fancy reading a bit of philosophy. Can anyone recommend a good starting point? I've heard the the 'Dummies' one is shite. Therefore, recommendations?

If you want some basic introductions then Nigel Warburton and Simon Blackburn have both written good basic overviews. The classic summary work is Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy.

I've got Russell's book and periodically I try to tackle it, I've never got very far.

The 'History' is a bit of a 'tome'... altough well written.

Actually.. as a clearly written accessible book, the slim volume by Russell called 'The Central Problems of Philosophy' is as good a starting point as any.

 

[CheesySmoker]

Depends what type of philosophy you want to read. I would suggest starting with Descartes meditations if you want a good insight into modern philosophy and metaphysics.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Descartes-Meditations-Philosophy-Selections-Objections/dp/0521558182" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.com/Descartes-Meditat ... 0521558182</a>

 

[Gabriel]

If you have time on your hands, you may be interested in Coursera. It is a wonderful concept of extending education and you can study courses on all manner of subjects, taught by academics at top universities around the world. It's all driven online, so videos and electronic quizzes etc., and, get this, completely free. You'll probably end up doing more than one course and study and learn things you never thought you would.

The Introduction to Philosophy course is run by the University of Edinburgh; just type philosophy in the search bar.

Hope this helps

https://www.coursera.org/