/lit/ - Literature

they can't. it's unprecedented in history so it may be physically impossible

im sure there's a chart on lits recommended wikia

and itd probably say start with bertrand russel's story of philosophy

Start reading Plato, since his works were build up into dialogues they keep some literary aspects as well, this way you may enjoy reading the classical philosophical problems a way better.

I am a fiction guy myself, notably fantasy. I just sort of picked it up. It turns out a ton of that stuff is already sneaked into the fictions works under different words and names.

Just read famous philosophy works then ones that relate to ideas you liked.

Study philosophers chronologically, and read their work as you go

>>3672004
I'd agree with this OP. Plato is surprisingly nice to read. I'd recommend "The Last Days of Socrates" as a good beginning read.

Read Tarnas's Passion of the Western Mind. It is a wonderful, chronological overview of the history of Western thought and summarizes it's growth and development through all the major philosophers. Once you've read it, read up on any philosophers that interest with a secondary source or two to prepare you to jump in balls deep, then once you feel like you have a good grasp on them, tackle the primary texts. They are sometimes (not always, but often) much more difficult than you're gonna' think going on, but it is rewarding and there's really no comparison to reading the actual works of a philosopher themselves.

Camus is a nice balance between philosophy and fiction.

>>3672125
Not OP but that book looks really good. Already got it on my kobo. Thanks

I've been reading fiction for the past 6 years, and though some of the novels I read were philosophical in nature, it wasn't enough. I've approached literature with a pseudo academical approach, getting my classics first and then going through different regions. So I'm planning to do something similar with philosophy.

So far I've read Marcus Aurelius' Meditations because I've always felt inclined towards stoicism. Now I'm reading Plato's Early Socratic Dialogues.
This guy is >>3672004 is right. The dialogues are indeed literary in form and some of them are hilarious.

A friend of mine suggested a different approach. I'd look for one author or one line of thought that interested me and read any book that interested me. So even if I don't fully "get it", if I found it interesting it would encourage me to read other authors and works to understand it better in order to one day, reach original conclusions.

Just keep in mind that reading philosophy is not like reading fiction. Keeping notes and rereading passages over and over helps immensely.


>>3672115
is that Socrates' Apology?

>>3672245
I think it's a collection of a bunch of the dialogues around the death of Socrates - without looking it up, at least the Apology, the Crito, and the Phaedo.

>>3672245
It contains Euthyphro | Apology | Crito | Phaedo

>>3671954
Maybe you should try reading some of Francis Bacon's Essays? You will need to read them slowly, or even re-read. I recommend the one Of Riches, but many are very good. He tends to get overlooked. You can read them free here:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/575/575-h/575-h.htm

"Of great riches there is no real use, except it be in the distribution; the rest is but conceit. So saith Solomon, Where much is, there are many to consume it; and what hath the owner, but the sight of it with his eyes?"