Books on Philosophy.

[FBM]

I'm having a really difficult time trying to read Sarte and Spinoza and fear I may have jumped in the deep end.
Is there any good books on philosophy, what it is, types of philosophy etc... preferably with an introduction to former logic that might help me better read this stuff?

Something wrong with current logic?

Start off with Heidegger's Being and Time. http://books.google.co.kr/books?id=S57m ... q=&f=false Once you're up to snuff on that, branch out. Like, try reading it again in Korean or something.

OK, enough joking. Have a gander at this: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Philosophy

If you want a short, actual book that hits some of the big questions in an interesting way, try Thomas Nagel's What Does It All Mean? It's basic, but thought-provoking. I've been studying philosophy for...a long time...and he asks some questions from a perspective I'd never run across before.

[JOZeldenrust]

Philosophy has been many different thing during different times and in different parts of the world. As it stands, the topic is much too vast for any person to be familiar with even superficially, so what kind of questions would you like to investigate?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

You can't go wrong with Sophie's World IMO.

[Comte de Saint-Germain]

You can't go wrong with Sophie's World IMO.

It's shit. Doesn't include Nietzsche.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

You can't go wrong with Sophie's World IMO.

It's shit. Doesn't include Nietzsche.

He's mentioned - I just checked. Gets a couple of paragraphs to himself. Not bad in a children's fantasy novel of 250 pages or so that covers the entire history of philosophy in passing!

I must admit, I like your criticism style. Succinct and to the point. No messing around with 'explanations' or any other newfangled twaddle!

[Animavore]

Philosophy has been many different thing during different times and in different parts of the world. As it stands, the topic is much too vast for any person to be familiar with even superficially, so what kind of questions would you like to investigate?

The main questions I have are in dualism and materialism. I don't really buy dualism in my (very) basic understanding in it. I'm interested in philosophers, perhaps those with an education in cognitive science, who tackle the questions about what thought actually is.

Also interested in the whole determinism vs free-will question. The only book I've read tackling that is Freedom Evolves which a few people seem to have objections to. I'd be more interested in a book about the free-will vs determinism question, perhaps one that has quotes and opinions from different philosophers, before I tackle reading any books by philosophers.

[JOZeldenrust]

Philosophy has been many different thing during different times and in different parts of the world. As it stands, the topic is much too vast for any person to be familiar with even superficially, so what kind of questions would you like to investigate?

The main questions I have are in dualism and materialism. I don't really buy dualism in my (very) basic understanding in it. I'm interested in philosophers, perhaps those with an education in cognitive science, who tackle the questions about what thought actually is.

Also interested in the whole determinism vs free-will question. The only book I've read tackling that is Freedom Evolves which a few people seem to have objections to. I'd be more interested in a book about the free-will vs determinism question, perhaps one that has quotes and opinions from different philosophers, before I tackle reading any books by philosophers.

Ravenscroft, Ian. Philosophy of mind: a beginner's guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.

[Animavore]

Philosophy has been many different thing during different times and in different parts of the world. As it stands, the topic is much too vast for any person to be familiar with even superficially, so what kind of questions would you like to investigate?

The main questions I have are in dualism and materialism. I don't really buy dualism in my (very) basic understanding in it. I'm interested in philosophers, perhaps those with an education in cognitive science, who tackle the questions about what thought actually is.

Also interested in the whole determinism vs free-will question. The only book I've read tackling that is Freedom Evolves which a few people seem to have objections to. I'd be more interested in a book about the free-will vs determinism question, perhaps one that has quotes and opinions from different philosophers, before I tackle reading any books by philosophers.

Ravenscroft, Ian. Philosophy of mind: a beginner's guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Just looking at it's content on Amazon. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks

[Comte de Saint-Germain]

You can't go wrong with Sophie's World IMO.

It's shit. Doesn't include Nietzsche.

He's mentioned - I just checked. Gets a couple of paragraphs to himself. Not bad in a children's fantasy novel of 250 pages or so that covers the entire history of philosophy in passing!

Yeah, the most important philosopher of the past 2000 years of philosophy got a couple of paragraphs in an otherwise perfectly mediocre shitty novel. And the entire history of what he deems Western philosophy. His later add on about Eastern philosophy is an even sadder excuse for a book. Can't believe I read all that crap.

I must admit, I like your criticism style. Succinct and to the point. No messing around with 'explanations' or any other newfangled twaddle!

It's a bit like sex. Short, painful for everyone else, and only I walk out satisfied.

[floppit]

Philosophy has been many different thing during different times and in different parts of the world. As it stands, the topic is much too vast for any person to be familiar with even superficially, so what kind of questions would you like to investigate?

The main questions I have are in dualism and materialism. I don't really buy dualism in my (very) basic understanding in it. I'm interested in philosophers, perhaps those with an education in cognitive science, who tackle the questions about what thought actually is.

Also interested in the whole determinism vs free-will question. The only book I've read tackling that is Freedom Evolves which a few people seem to have objections to. I'd be more interested in a book about the free-will vs determinism question, perhaps one that has quotes and opinions from different philosophers, before I tackle reading any books by philosophers.

Have you ever read any of Steven Novella's articles? He's an academic clinical neurologists at Yale and a Skeptic blog writer. He's written quite a bit on dualism and materialism.

I love this one on dualism because it mixes a little east and west:
http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=312

[JOZeldenrust]

Philosophy has been many different thing during different times and in different parts of the world. As it stands, the topic is much too vast for any person to be familiar with even superficially, so what kind of questions would you like to investigate?

The main questions I have are in dualism and materialism. I don't really buy dualism in my (very) basic understanding in it. I'm interested in philosophers, perhaps those with an education in cognitive science, who tackle the questions about what thought actually is.

Also interested in the whole determinism vs free-will question. The only book I've read tackling that is Freedom Evolves which a few people seem to have objections to. I'd be more interested in a book about the free-will vs determinism question, perhaps one that has quotes and opinions from different philosophers, before I tackle reading any books by philosophers.

Ravenscroft, Ian. Philosophy of mind: a beginner's guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Just looking at it's content on Amazon. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks

It's used in the course I'm taking on philosophy of mind, it goes into the question of dualism vs. monism with a decent overview of the most important positions in the debate: substance dualism, property dualism, epiphenomenalism, behaviourism, token identity theory, type identity theory etc.

[Animavore]

Philosophy has been many different thing during different times and in different parts of the world. As it stands, the topic is much too vast for any person to be familiar with even superficially, so what kind of questions would you like to investigate?

The main questions I have are in dualism and materialism. I don't really buy dualism in my (very) basic understanding in it. I'm interested in philosophers, perhaps those with an education in cognitive science, who tackle the questions about what thought actually is.

Also interested in the whole determinism vs free-will question. The only book I've read tackling that is Freedom Evolves which a few people seem to have objections to. I'd be more interested in a book about the free-will vs determinism question, perhaps one that has quotes and opinions from different philosophers, before I tackle reading any books by philosophers.

Ravenscroft, Ian. Philosophy of mind: a beginner's guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Just looking at it's content on Amazon. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks

It's used in the course I'm taking on philosophy of mind, it goes into the question of dualism vs. monism with a decent overview of the most important positions in the debate: substance dualism, property dualism, epiphenomenalism, behaviourism, token identity theory, type identity theory etc.

I'll order it on Tuesday when I'll be able to get my hands on a credit card. Hopefully it'll answer my questions and have suggestions for interesting further reading after. Thanks again

[JOZeldenrust]

You're most welcome.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

You can't go wrong with Sophie's World IMO.

It's shit. Doesn't include Nietzsche.

He's mentioned - I just checked. Gets a couple of paragraphs to himself. Not bad in a children's fantasy novel of 250 pages or so that covers the entire history of philosophy in passing!

Yeah, the most important philosopher of the past 2000 years of philosophy got a couple of paragraphs in an otherwise perfectly mediocre shitty novel. And the entire history of what he deems Western philosophy. His later add on about Eastern philosophy is an even sadder excuse for a book. Can't believe I read all that crap.

I must admit, I like your criticism style. Succinct and to the point. No messing around with 'explanations' or any other newfangled twaddle!

It's a bit like sex. Short, painful for everyone else, and only I walk out satisfied.

Nietzsche was certainly the most important philosopher in history in his own estimation. From what I have read personally, I found his aphorisms far better than the bits in between - but I haven't read him for a while so maybe it is time to try again.

As someone with no philosophical background at all (going back about 15-18 years here) I found SW fascinating and it ignited a desire for me to read more (which I have done, patchily.) Considering that I was in my 30s at the time, I can only guess at its impact on a teenager and I will certainly recommend it to any that I think are old enough to enjoy it, for all its shortcomings.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I'll order it on Tuesday when I'll be able to get my hands on a credit card. Hopefully it'll answer my questions and have suggestions for interesting further reading after. Thanks again

I've added this to my wishlist. I'll keep an eye out for a cheap second-hand copy, or buy it when I'm back in work. It looks to be aimed at exactly my kind of level. Thanks also, JOZ.