Philosophy for dyslexics

[redunderthebed]

I have a friend who is dyslexic and we were today in the program that im involved in atm. We were discussing beliefs and she stated that she doesn't know what she believes at the moment and she is in a state of limbo after being rather screwed up by her family and her former church in that respect (and many other ways i fucking hate pentecostal arseholes ). I do not want to enforce my beliefs i merely want to help her on her journey to find what she believes to be true. However as before mentioned she has a for want a better word a disability which means heavy 200-500 page books atm are out of the question. I was wondering if there was some good sources of philosophy that can be broken down into understandable bit size pieces. I'm not being patronising its just that she struggles to read and absorb information presented to her.

Of course i'm hitting up one of the best sources of information known to mankind the local library but i was wondering if you anyone has some good links to philosophy stuff that is easy to understand and absorb.

Cheers and of course beers
Adam

[Rum]

I recommend any of Saretr's books on exsistntialsm for dyslexics.



Sorry - too easy!

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. It's an introduction to philosophy written as a fantasy novel for teenagers! Thoroughly recommended.


Just avoid Gittwensniet.

[hiyymer]

Interesting that you immediately jump to reading and philosophy as the way to find out who you are and what you want and what you "believe". What I believe to be "true", in the material sense, is that our bodies are soul-less biological mechanisms and all we are and have and mean is the ride; the conscious world that our brain creates. The "truth" is irrelevant to what I want and who I am, because the reasons of material reality are not accessible to me in real time. What I want can only be found in the heart. Beliefs are mostly ways to make other people wrong; the age old mechanism in action that makes us feel on top. When beliefs are what you stand for with your heart, what you want because you want it, then it's in the world. When beliefs are what you think is "right", then it's just about power. I'd say, your friend won't find her answer in a book. There are other ways.

[rasetsu]

Sophie's World is available on audiobook as well. (I think. I DL'ed it via torrent. I haven't gotten to it yet, but it has a massive reputation, but it is a bit long.)

This may be going into waters you want to avoid, but one of my atheist book clubs did "Atheist Voices of Minnesota: an Anthology of Personal Stories," all essays of which are roughly 1-2 pages each (electronic version). Even though, as a Taoist and Hindu, I'm the resident Pagan of the group, I found the essays to be profoundly moving and transformative. (In the interest of full disclosure, I am good friends with several of the authors whose essays are included in the book, a very active member of Minnesota Atheists who put the book together, and well liked by many in MNA — which may, may, unduly influence my assessment.)

I'll get back to you with something else. As one who bills herself as an amateur philosopher, I should, but my brain ain't coming up atm. (Whatever else you do, warn her strongly, never, NEVER, read David Bohm's Wholeness and the Implicate Order [the first three chapters alone, the portion I read, are the most incredibly painful, pseudo-scientific, New Agey bollocks I've ever forced myself to endure for more than three paragraphs].)


I must confess to somewhat following Hiyymer, in wondering (I think he said) "why philosophy?" I could recommend some "pure philosophy" books, but most folk I know who aren't already into philosophy, are unlikely to get into a philosophy book. That being said, for pure philosophy, Bertrand Russel's "The History of Philosophy" (Russell is a great philosopher, but an even better writer, with a relaxed, very readable prose style); I'm told a similar book by Magee is also good. I hated the Durant' history of philosophy.



I just glanced at my book shelf. Nothing there that I'd recommend. (Yeah, a deluxe copy of Schopenhauer's The World As Will And Representation — that's the ticket!)

[Azathoth]

http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/book/t ... -nietzsche

free audiobook

[rasetsu]

http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/book/t ... -nietzsche

free audiobook

Nietzche can be very difficult prose. I'm not familiar with this, nor if it's better on audio book, but Nietzche can be confusing and often off-putting (or inaccessible). (Not to mention, somewhat amoralistic and nihilistic, and probably has a reputation as the German antichrist among many fundamental Christians.)


Here's a stray thought. A good history book can be a better philosophy book than a philosophy book itself can, especially for non-philosophers. (Science fiction, too. And to a lesser extent, fiction. Like, say, The Color Purple, or Steinbeck.)


The Dhammapada? (I'm still thinking. Hesitant to recommend any really religious books.) The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. (If you're aiming at stealth evangelism, that's a good choice, The Power of Myth in book, audio, or video, is a lesser choice.) The new Dawkins book, the magic of reality or whatever. (I haven't read it yet, and Dawkins may translate into "Satan's Handy Helper" in her mind, but I'm told it's very good.)

[rasetsu]

I may be reaching here, and to be honest, it's been so long since I've read it that I may be completely misremembering it, but Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. It's short, easy to read, and uplifting.

"Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight--how to get from shore to food and back again," writes author Richard Bach in this allegory about a unique bird named Jonathan Livingston Seagull. "For most gulls it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight." Flight is indeed the metaphor that makes the story soar. Ultimately this is a fable about the importance of seeking a higher purpose in life, even if your flock, tribe, or neighborhood finds your ambition threatening. (At one point our beloved gull is even banished from his flock.) By not compromising his higher vision, Jonathan gets the ultimate payoff: transcendence. Ultimately, he learns the meaning of love and kindness. The dreamy seagull photographs by Russell Munson provide just the right illustrations--although the overall packaging does seem a bit dated (keep in mind that it was first published in 1970). Nonetheless, this is a spirituality classic, and an especially engaging parable for adolescents. --Gail Hudson

[charlou]

AC Grayling's The Meaning of Things: Applying Philosophy to Life is an easy read and contains some thought provoking ideas. I can send you my copy if you'd like? PM me.

How about film? Can't go past David Attenborough's many nature series on DVD, and Jacob Bronowski's The Ascent of Man is a great work .. I also highly recommend a wonderful (subtitled) French film, Genesis.

[JimC]

I may be reaching here, and to be honest, it's been so long since I've read it that I may be completely misremembering it, but Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. It's short, easy to read, and uplifting.

"Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight--how to get from shore to food and back again," writes author Richard Bach in this allegory about a unique bird named Jonathan Livingston Seagull. "For most gulls it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight." Flight is indeed the metaphor that makes the story soar. Ultimately this is a fable about the importance of seeking a higher purpose in life, even if your flock, tribe, or neighborhood finds your ambition threatening. (At one point our beloved gull is even banished from his flock.) By not compromising his higher vision, Jonathan gets the ultimate payoff: transcendence. Ultimately, he learns the meaning of love and kindness. The dreamy seagull photographs by Russell Munson provide just the right illustrations--although the overall packaging does seem a bit dated (keep in mind that it was first published in 1970). Nonetheless, this is a spirituality classic, and an especially engaging parable for adolescents. --Gail Hudson

I loved that book, and I still have it on my bookshelf...

"The Origins of Virtue", by Matt Ridley, is worth a read, IMO...

[Xamonas Chegwé]

AC Grayling's The Meaning of Things: Applying Philosophy to Life is an easy read and contains some thought provoking ideas. I can send you my copy if you'd like? PM me.

How about film? Can't go past David Attenborough's many nature series on DVD, and Jacob Bronowski's The Ascent of Man is a great work .. I also highly recommend a wonderful (subtitled) French film, Genesis.

Good idea, RiverF - film.

There is a film that I loved and which completely fixed the ubiquity of religious belief (and hence, perhaps paradoxically, the fact that NO belief system is in any way special) in my mind.

It is called Baraka. It also has some of the most beautiful images ever put to film.

I was left feeling that ALL of the people in this film, with all of their myriad different faiths, were all equally convinced that they were uniquely right - and hence, must all be completely wrong! It was an eye-opening moment for me - something that cemented my conviction that atheism was not only more likely than anything else - but was right!

It is not all about religion by any means - it also shows the natural world at its most spectacular. The juxtaposition of that with the human scale is one of the best things about this film.

I haven't watched it for a few years - probably about time I did...

[rasetsu]

There is a film that I loved and which completely fixed the ubiquity of religious belief (and hence, perhaps paradoxically, the fact that NO belief system is in any way special) in my mind.

It is called Baraka. It also has some of the most beautiful images ever put to film.

I was left feeling that ALL of the people in this film, with all of their myriad different faiths, were all equally convinced that they were uniquely right - and hence, must all be completely wrong! It was an eye-opening moment for me - something that cemented my conviction that atheism was not only more likely than anything else - but was right!

It is not all about religion by any means - it also shows the natural world at its most spectacular. The juxtaposition of that with the human scale is one of the best things about this film.

I haven't watched it for a few years - probably about time I did...

Depends on the person, I suppose. Being religious, Baraka made me feel sublime and, envious, of the faith, community, and practice of some in the film.


I don't know if this is a good idea for the person in question, but Attenborough's 4 DVD "Mammals" is an all-time favorite of mine.

I suppose Life Of Brian or Kevin Smith's Dogma are ixnay on the erson-pay. Shame.


Though I think maybe tonight, for me, I'll pop in the one Hikari Mitsushima film I've managed to obtain and bliss out. (Kakera: A Piece Of Our Life) bbl.