Interested in philosophy
Michael
I'm interested in developing an understanding of philosophy. I was
wondering if anybody around here could recommend a route into it. I
don't have time to go through a formal education (I'm already doing a
degree), so if you can recommend any good books I'd be most grateful.
I've heard good things about "Sophie's World" and also some criticisms.
The good things being that it gives a gentle introduction to the major
philosophers and their theories, and the criticisms being that it is
very simplistic in its approach and doesn't actually give the reader
much information.
There are many online resources, including the wonderful Wikipedia and
newsgroups such as this. Being philosophically inexperienced, I struggle
with the extremely technical language used. This is a hurdle I need to
overcome.
I have noticed that some extremely intelligent people frequent this, and
other, newsgroups. Some of you are clearly experts in your field. So,
while we're here, perhaps some of you could introduce yourselves? How
did you get into philosophy (education / books)? How old are you?
Regards,
Michael
The Spotlight On
For a starter, I suggest you simply read a history of philosophy so you
can avoid the mistake of trying to make sense of any particular
doctrine or philosopher in isolation. The ideas of each era rest atop
and evolved from former works. It will also help to clarify and resolve
where your interests lie afterwards. Here's an overview that goes up to
circa the end of the 19th century:
http://www.nd.edu/Departments/Maritain/etext/hop.htm
I'm not aware of an online history for 20th century postmodernism and
etc; but here's a resource site that covers it extensively:
http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/postmodern.html
In terms of references, here's one of the most detailed philosophical
dictionaries on the web: http://www.ditext.com/runes/index.html
The extensive Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:
http://setis.library.usyd.edu.au/stanford/contents.html
For quickie reviews of philosophers themselves, there is the Squashed
Philosopers site: http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/
And Scaruffi's very brief synopsis accounts:
http://www.scaruffi.com/phi/index.html
One more thing. If you want further responses, I suggest you submit
your post to the much busier newsgroup alt.philosophy , because this
one is usually slow. The recent discussions you see in here largely
came from that group (cross-posting). If your usenet provider doesn't
carry it, then here's the web-based Google version:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.philosophy
davout
The Philosophy Gym: 25 Short Adventures in Thinking
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0747232717/qid=1135611501/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_18_1/202-1579333-8535833)
What's It All About?: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1862077800/qid=1135611555/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_3_1/202-1579333-8535833
Confessions of a Philosopher : A Personal Journey Through Western Philosophy
from Plato to Popper (Modern Library Paperbacks) (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375750363/qid=1135611963/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-8622237-7589759?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
"Michael" <mic...@in-addr.arpa> wrote in message
news:43ab3a13$0$1448$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...
Billy H
"Michael" <mic...@in-addr.arpa> wrote in message
news:43ab3a13$0$1448$ed26...@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...
www.gutenberg.org has a collection of *free* downloads of thousands of the
late and greats, Aristotle, Plato, Descartes, Hobbes, the list goes on and
on.
They started in 1972 with the aim of making ebooks available to all.
You will find *just about* all you need in there to do the reading for as
many PHDs in philosophy and philosophy related subjects as your heart
desires.
--
Billy H
The spirit is not the letter, 2 corinthians 3,6
When a ship heels at sea she must give equal
draught to lee as she takes to windward.
Else she becomes unstable fore and aft, and
may become quite sickly.
Nantes-Howard Naval Architecture 'n' Terrestrial Engineering Services.
A subsidiary of Howard Engineering.
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Live like a ship. Give and Take.
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