/lit/ - Literature

[I am James Franco !!6QDNBSFUTYI No.1090952]

Hello, I would like to start "getting into" philosophy. How can I go about this? What books should I begin reading first? Do you know of any good websites to begin with?

I was trying to read some stuff on Wikipedia but it all went way over my head, mainly due to the fact that there's roughly 9000 different terms for the belief systems people have.


Thanks /lit/

[Stagolee, Exiled Usurper of /lit/ !0Pey/QLK3E No.1090958]

are you relaly james franco/

[I am James Franco !!6QDNBSFUTYI No.1090962]

>>1090958
There's always the possibility.

[STLFag !IeX.oK0HUk No.1090968]

/lit/ will probably tell you to start with classic philosophy (Plato and Descartes seem particularly popular). It's not a bad idea, building from the foundations, but I honestly find it easier to start with something more relevant to yourself and then work backwards.

Either way, which SORT of philosophy would you like to start with? What do you typically think imagine when you say, "I'd like to get into philosophy"?

[Anonymous No.1090979]

>>1090968
this guy is actually on to something. this is always how i recommend philosophy to the beginner. start with something that interests you, and a relatively new writer, and work your way chronologically backwards from there.

[Anonymous No.1090986]

classic philosophy is worthless
start with wittgenstein

[I am James Franco !!6QDNBSFUTYI No.1090997]

>>1090968

Logic, Social and Ethics I guess would be the top three. I'd like to know more about all the different kinds though.

>>1090986
Which book?

[Anonymous No.1091005]

Sophies world. By the way, Franco, you sucked as James Dean.

[STLFag !IeX.oK0HUk No.1091018]

>>1090997
>Social philosophy
I really like John Locke, but he's kind of a bitch to actually follow (which you'll get a lot of). Give his "Essay Concerning Human Understanding" a shot, but if you get tired of trudging through it, try his "Two Treatises of Government" instead.

On the plus side, most of his ideas are so deeply ingrained in society today that you'll just be like, "Well, no shit..." the entire time.

[Anonymous No.1091019]

http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/

[I am James Franco !!6QDNBSFUTYI No.1091021]

>>1091005
I will check it out - thank you.


And De Niro liked me, so I am okay with it.

[Anonymous No.1091029]

Read the man with the moustache first, because it's all downhill from there.

[I am James Franco !!6QDNBSFUTYI No.1091030]

>>1091018
Okay, cool, thanks. Any other recommendations? I would really love a book or website.
>>1091019
Can you expand on this website? What exactly am I looking at?

[Stagolee, Exiled Usurper of /lit/ !0Pey/QLK3E No.1091031]

james franco why you gotta betray harvey milk bro that wasn't cool

[STLFag !IeX.oK0HUk No.1091037]

>>1091030
>Would really love a book
My copy of "...Human Understanding" has 497 pages. "Two Treatises..." has 240.

Unless I'm misunderstanding...?

[I am James Franco !!6QDNBSFUTYI No.1091042]

>>1091031
Isn't it obvious? Because he's gay!


..I really shouldn't have said that.

>>1091037
Okay. I quickly did a Google search for "Human Understanding" and was brought to a web page where I can simply read the whole thing. I can buy a physical copy at a book store though?

[Anonymous No.1091043]

James Franco you got ethered in Publishers Weekly but I'd still suck your dick

[I am James Franco !!6QDNBSFUTYI No.1091050]

>>1091043
No comment

lol.

[Stagolee, Exiled Usurper of /lit/ !0Pey/QLK3E No.1091051]

dat mustache

[Anonymous No.1091053]

I would start with essays instead of whole works. One of my favorites is "the question concerning" technology by Heidegger, but his language and syntax is so convoluted that I don't know if it's the right place to start.
What are some of your favorite books? This will give us an idea of your interests and help to recommend an area. Some of the best philosophy is contained within narrative works. (Quixote, for ex. Or Dostoevsky. I once heard something that amounted to "the 19th century was the battle of Dostoevsky vs. Nietzsche)

[I am James Franco !!6QDNBSFUTYI No.1091068]

>>1091053
I like sci-fi and fantasy. As well as sociology and economics books. And anything humorous (my favorite author is Douglas Adams).

What about buying a text book, such as this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Introduction-Wondering-James-Christian/dp/053451250X/ref=cm_cr_pr_p
roduct_top

[Anonymous No.1091070]

For people wishing to 'get into' philosophy I reccomend first reading the kind of stuff they agree with. Preference Hedonism, Determinism, Unanymous Direct Democracy, whatever. They can be all like 'fuck yeah this guy' or 'fuck yeah that guy'. Then they should move on to the criticisms of whatever it is they like, and be like 'hey bitch you can't disagree with me'. Looking for arguments and counterarguments will take you through alot of the literature, back to the foundations and often upwards to some contemporary writers, and you would be more motivated to undertstand it because it is relevant to your beliefs

[Anonymous No.1091072]

[Anonymous No.1091079]

>>1091072
Selections from all major western philosophers paired with short biographies and I think some information. Provides a solid foundation for further philosophical exploration. I would also reccomend Coplestone's 9 volume history.

[The REAL James Franco !ozOtJW9BFA No.1091080]

What the FUCK is going on in here?!?!

[Anonymous No.1091082]

short stories often give you a good feel

Omelas is an interesting neutralish counterpoint to Utilitariansim

The Prince and the Magician kind of captures the feel of absurdism/postmodernism

Both should be easy to find online. Anyone know any others?

[I am James Franco !!6QDNBSFUTYI No.1091098]

>>1091070
Thanks. I will probably do this. I heard that this book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0915145227/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=

Is a good starting point. Yes or no?

Lastly, what exactly does determinism mean? The whole Fate vs Free will debate is what sparked my interest for this stuff, so when I did some research I kept coming across "determinism". What I think it means is that every action you take is caused by an external force that is making you take that action and not freedom of will.

[Oil? What Oil? No.1091105]

Personally, I dislike "overviews" of philosophy, such as you'll find in college courses, that focus on highlights and key points of noted philosophers for a given culture.
I find its far more beneficial to absorb the actual work.
As much as I love the classics (plato aristotle Confucius ect) Im drawn much more to contemporary philosophers. Perhaps because its more relatable? Who knows. I recommend you start with
Self-Reliance
by Emerson
The Rebel
by Camus
and Walden
by Thoreau

just for starters

[Anonymous No.1091117]

>>1091098
I haven't read that book but Plato's dialogues, particularly Euthyphro, are good. Problem with antiquated philosophy is that sometimes you need clarification as to what Plato means when he says certain things. That's what the internet's for, I guess.

Determinism is pretty simply that due to the causal links between events, all events are predetermined. You will have Hard and Soft determinism (compatibilism) that worms in free will (since the idea that if your actions are determined by external forces out of your control- in the case of people, nature and genetics -it seems intuitive you are not acting freely).
Libertarians, not to be confused with the political philosophy, belief that an act of free will is a newly created causal link, though their position generally isn't a strong one.

[Anonymous No.1091118]

>>1091068

Gosh, I don't know about ordering a compilation or textbook online. If you wanted to take that avenue I would try to find something similar in a good bookstore near you (provided you have one) and spend some time with it in order to see if you could absorb the thing or not and if it would give you motive to continue.
In the end the goal is to read entire original works, but it's important, I think, to be very selective before you go about this, as a complete major work of a serious philosopher can be a pretty big time commitment. (re the earlier wittgenstein post, to read through the investigations and truly understand it took me years)
Truly the best way is to find a teacher that you like and take their class on the fundamentals, but this isn't an option for everyone. The key is passion.
I've never read Douglas Adams, but based on my general impressions of him I would read someone with a relatively light weight to their step, not some of these tortured mechanics of existence that I love. When I think of them I'll get back to you.
(a lot of people, I think love Nietzsche for his engaging narrative. The only problem with him are the implications of his philosophy see: the nazis)

community, scopor

[Anonymous No.1091124]

>I would like to start "getting into" philosophy.

One does not "get into" philosophy. Have fun wasting your time poser. This will not get you laid.

[Anonymous No.1091125]

Also, on a sidenote, has anyone here seen "Stalker" by Tarkovsky? I was trying to think of some optimal combination of sci-fi and philosophy and it came to mind.

rodinal Lord!

[Anonymous No.1091126]

>>1091124

Congratulations on propagating your cancer race.

owners cortacs

[Anonymous No.1091132]

http://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Years-Nonlinear-History/dp/0942299329

Not exactly pure philosophy, but if you like science and social science, I hear this is pretty accessible and fascinating (from good friends) Apparently has connections to Deleuze and Guattari, two increasingly popular contemporaries.

maréchal thiplock