/lit/ - Literature

We should have a brainlet philosophy club

>>13524601
Sometimes it's good to get a brainlet's view

I had a coworker who had to go to a mental institution because he saw everything as math

Descartes meditations is simple and easy Hume is good too

>>13524760
I was about to say Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.

Eventually you want to work into German idealism but that's kinda sloggish

>>13524588
I don't think it's best to read this yet. If you have time, get the Five Dialogues first.
https://www.amazon.com/Plato-Dialogues-Euthyphro-Apology-Phaedo/dp/1724803441/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=five+dialogues&link_code=qs&qid=1564040103&s=gateway&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-5
There are 4 or 5 core Socratic dialogues typically read or bound together. The Apology isn't necessarily a dialogue as the other are, but an account of Socrates's defense at his trial (the word apologia, "apology," means "rational defense," basically, carrying a different connotation than the contemporary use of the word). Euthyphro, the Apology, Crito, and Phaedo revolve around the trial and death of Socrates.
Some don't put the dialogue Meno in the same category as the rest, since it doesn't revolve around the trial and death of Socrates, but others tend to put it in as either an authentic dialogue or one which the dialogue Phaedo (among later Platonic works) builds on. Meno is where you'll encounter the first view into much of Platonic philosophy, as well. For example, the Theory of Forms, the Platonic soul, much of these have an antecedent in Meno.
The general opinion is that Plato initially gave rendition of authentic conversations Socrates had, and then later used him as a literary device. Some conjecture that Socrates is a fictional character. I think that's a totally false claim, though, and really isn't based on consistent scholarship. Persons other than Plato wrote about Socrates, like Xenophon.
But those Five Socratic dialogues are the first formative work of western philosophy. The Republic is the next great work, but I don't think you'll get the depth of the Republic without reading those dialogues first. Plato's view of human nature and political philosophy was certainly influenced by the trail and death of Socrates. Reading the Republic first is a bland move, the kind a political science professor would make, and not a philosopher. If you really want to, go for it, but you won't get a full picture without those four or five dialogues.
I linked the Jowett translation, which I prefer over the other popular Grube translation (because Grube was a figure stooped in contemporaneous politics and definitely had a slant, which isn't something I want out of a scholar). I say skip the introductions and forewards, and just read the text as written by Plato. See what you get out of it, first. Then, maybe see what might be a basic scholarly view of the text. Academia often has certain, but nameless principles they see as standardized in the texts, but the texts can contain so much more.

>>13525095
this is good advice
>>13524760
also this

>>13524588
>>13525095
>aren't too sloggish?
Adding to this, the dialogues are pretty easy to read and process. They really are the perfect place to start. You might have some misunderstandings based on the meanings of words in the Greek original, or maybe you're unfamiliar with cultural items that the Greeks would know, like Achilles. But most of that you might make out of context. Consider taking a Philosophy 101 class from a good professor at a Community College. 101 in philosophy is a survey, rather than a true start. Don't be that douche who considers that a total replacement for a whole degree, because you'll read these texts and may realize the textbook or the professor had a bad or incomplete take on a subject or author.

The Republic is going to come off as very odd if it's the first work of philosophy you're reading. The dialogue style alone as well as Socrates' character can seem bizarre to our contemporary sensibilities. I think it is worth reading, as anon >>13525095 suggests, the "trial and death of Socrates" series of dialogues to better understand the Socratic method and the character of Socrates himself. That said, Meditations is fine to jump straight into. The stoic writers are a great starting point to getting into philosophy.

>>13525252
>The dialogue style alone as well as Socrates' character can seem bizarre to our contemporary sensibilities
Polemarchus: C'mon Socrates join us there will be a festival and a gather of young men, and we will have a good talk

Cepahlus: Welcome Socrates so good to see you. Make our house as your resortm and keep company with these young men.

Socrates: Sheeit nigga that's all you had to say

This is a 3-4 hour read at most

>>13524588
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>>13525557
>reading 350 pages of philosophy in 3-4 hours

Ok bud

>>13525557
You can read it in that time, but it takes weeks to understand the underlying ideas and a lifetime to absorb them.

>>13524588
READ THE DIALOGUES FIRST AHHH

>>13525639
Dude comes up to you. makes chimp noises and gestures. Replies "Yeah..."