<p>I'm slowly starting to really get interested into philosophy, especially with all of these very deep conversations on here regarding certain aspects of philosophy. So here is the question I propose to you:</p>
<p>What are the first couple of books I should read on philosophy or books by philosophists that will really give me a good starting point on philosophy as a whole, while also not boring me to death?</p>
<p>“Zorba the Greek” would definitely be my first recommendation. It’s not exactly a typical philosophy, nor can I give you a summary that does justice to the book. What I can say is that it’s a fictious story that explores various existential ideas, and that it will definitely leave you smiling in the end. </p>
<p>Also, this may bore you, but if you’re willing to go into deep, Grecan philosophy (and won’t mind reading in a bit of old English), “Letters From a Stoic” by Seneca would be a must-read.</p>
<p>This is an amusing book:</p>
<p>[Plato</a> and a Platypus Walk Into A Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Plato-Platypus-Walk-into-Understanding/dp/0143113879/ref=tmm_pap_title_0]Plato”>http://www.amazon.com/Plato-Platypus-Walk-into-Understanding/dp/0143113879/ref=tmm_pap_title_0)</p>
<p>Even if you’re not Buddhist, I really REALLY recommend reading books about them. Like The Most Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh’s books are the bomb. Friggen eye-openers. </p>
<p>The thing that strikes me the most about books like his, and Buddhism in general, is that it’s open-minded. It teaches you a lot of things about happiness and pain and everything. I promise you won’t be tossing them around in disgust about how it counters \insert other religion here LOL it’s very focused on humanity itself. Not so much the afterlife/a Superior Being looking out for us or anything. </p>
<p>So yeah Buddhist/Taoist stuff is more philosophically centered
And it’s really a lovely read :)</p>
<p>Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance.</p>
<p>I like Cicero’s “On Duties.” Someone mentioned Daoist philosophy, and I gotta second that recommendation. Pick up the Daodejing by Laozi, or maybe The Zhuangzi.</p>
<p>Sohpies world, Life of Pi, the stranger, Siddhartha, We or brave new world or 1984(same themes). All of these have philosophical ideas or are about philosohpy.</p>
<p>Depends what kind of philosophy you want to get in to - epistemology, ethics, ancient, logic, modern, aesthetics, political philosophy, philosphy of education, philosophy of law, etc. You can go onto any university’s website (that has a philosophy department) and they will usually have an Intro paragraph or page asking “What is Philosophy?” From there, I suggest you start reading different philosophers according to your personal interests. Here is the Harvard undergrad page for philosophy-</p>
<p>[Harvard</a> University Department of Philosophy: Why Philosophy?](<a href=“http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~phildept/undergradprogram_whyphilosophy.html]Harvard”>http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~phildept/undergradprogram_whyphilosophy.html)</p>
<p>My favorites, in no particular order:</p>
<p>Existentialism is a Humanism
Thus Spoke Zarathustra
The Virtue of Selfishness
Elements of the Philosophy of Right
Beyond Good And Evil
The Voice of Reason: Essays in Objectivist Thought
Critique of Pure Reason
The Phenomenology of Spirit
The Fountainhead (I count this because the philosophical element of the novel is plainly visible and yet appropriately subtle.)</p>
<p>If you allow political philosophy, which is essentially applied human nature and ethics, you can’t beat:</p>
<p>The Federalist Papers
Two Treatises of Government (Locke)
The Prince (completely wrong normatively, but a useful exploration on sociopathy in government)</p>
<p>Sophies world</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID2 using CC</p>
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<p>FYI, the word’s philosopher, not philosophist.</p>
<p>You might want to check out Russell’s History of Western Philosophy. He has a pretty engaging style, and it’s fairly comprehensive. The biggest downside is that he can be biased at times, but as long as you don’t take his account as gospel it shouldn’t be a big problem.</p>
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<p>Nietzsche AND Kant? AND Rand? You must be an interesting guy, Jimbo.</p>
<p>Maybe not relevant to the OP, but it’s worth considering that academic philosophy in the US is almost entirely [url=<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytic_philosophy]analytic[/url”>Analytic philosophy - Wikipedia]analytic[/url</a>]. A lot of the stuff suggested in this thread … isn’t.</p>
<p>I think that a “mathematical” approach informs philosophy the same way it informs economics-- that is, it gives you confidence about junk. I prefer a broader approach that attempts to build up a foundation for living. Philosophy really isn’t a mathematical science. Neither is economics. But of course, university professors have to feel good about themselves, and physics envy is easier to ignore than to confront.</p>
<p>Also, I read Kant after Rant kept b****ing about him, and I really don’t get what she was talking about. I think she must have misinterpreted something she had heard he had said, or something. Nietzsche is freaking awesome, although admittedly wrong about half the things he wrote.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to contribute to your Philosophy of media. I strongly recommend you read Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death.</p>
<p>Turns out Mom was right about not watching too much TV.</p>