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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask you how to educate myself about philosophy?

22 replies

msrisotto · 23/05/2017 19:46

Inspired by another thread here about Art. I would love to know more about Philosophy, although i'm not sure i'm ready to read original Nietzsche as yet. Any ideas about a tentative foray into this area?

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BossWitch · 23/05/2017 19:54

Start with Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. It's an introduction to philosophy but written as a novel, really accessible as originally it was meant to be for older children/teens. I read it at 19 ish and loved it, took a few philosophy modules at uni as a result and found it a good grounding (although some rather snobby PhD students were a bit huffy about it). Actually, I might re-read it again now you've made me think about it!

CurlyBlueberry · 23/05/2017 19:55

Try Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy. I find him quite readable (although, disclaimer, I have a philosophy degree so clearly find the subject matter interesting!). Don't be put off by the size - it's in chapters so if you decide you're not interested just skip ahead.

There is also a series of books called Very Short Introductions and they have quite a few in the philosophy range.

Hassled · 23/05/2017 19:58

I saw the thread title and thought "Bertrand Russell". It's readable, comprehensible etc - talks about the ancient philosophers but also more modern, and religious philosophy as well.

CHJR · 23/05/2017 19:59

Michael Sandel's "Justice" is a very very good and readable overview of ethical / moral / political reasoning right up to the modern day.

CurlyBlueberry · 23/05/2017 20:00

global.oup.com/academic/content/series/v/very-short-introductions-vsi/?type=listing&subjectcode1=1793239%7CAHU00010&subjectcode1=1793239%7CAHU00010&subjectcode2=1802703%7CAHU02720&lang=en&cc=gb

Looking down I'd go for:

Ancient Philosophy
Causation
Consciousness
Descartes
Ethics
Free Will
Hume
Knowledge
Logic
Marx - if interested
Metaphysics
Utilitarianism

but I was taught in the analytic tradition so have ignored all the continental stuff!

acquiescence · 23/05/2017 20:03

Another vote for Sophie's world. I read it as a teenager and it felt like my world had opened up considerably.

OverAndAbove · 23/05/2017 20:05

I hated Sophie's World - she was such a brat! Agree Bertrand Russell is a good start, and follow up on the various branches mentioned

CandleLit · 23/05/2017 20:07

Don't bother with Nietzsche. Put me in a foul state of mind for weeks.

Alain de Botton's Consolations of Philosophy was a good read - collections of philosophers' writings on their angst over poohing and accidental farting in company!

msrisotto · 23/05/2017 20:14

Ooh thank you everyone, i've added several to my wishlist! Must first see if the library has some, otherwise my compulsive book acquiring issues will see me bankrupt Grin

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DixieFlatline · 23/05/2017 20:15

This is pretty good if you want to see if anything in particular piques your interest, or if you want to look something (or someone) up.

makeourfuture · 23/05/2017 20:52

The Tao.

Trifleorbust · 23/05/2017 20:53

You can google Western philosophers and read something by each, in chronological order. A good overview is also a good place to begin. You will want something that runs right through to structuralism and post-modernism, though. Bertrand Russell is great but the book came out in 1945.

ChristmasFluff · 23/05/2017 21:35

I quite often listen to podcasts of 'In Our Time' on Radio 4. There are lots of philosophy-based ones. Melvyn Bragg and three experts discussing a particular philosopher or theory.

sonjadog · 23/05/2017 21:53

Do you know which area of philosophy you would like to know more about? Or are there any particular philosophers you are interested in?

I agree that Russell´s book gives a good overview. If you want to work on some "practical" philosophy, there are many books of philosophical problems/ case studies to think over and discuss.

QuintessentialShadow · 23/05/2017 21:54

Sophies world. Definitely as a start.
And for fun, The Solitaire Mystery - though not about philosophy but a good read nevertheless.

SeparatedByMotorways · 23/05/2017 21:58

I was going to suggest Stanford but Dixie has beaten me to it!

The Philosophers Arms (which is all on podcastplayer.FM but not sure where else) is good for a nice intro from a philosopher and then a general discussion, framed in more accessible/funny ways than straight up philosophy too.

timeexperiencer · 23/05/2017 22:14

Nth-ing Sophie's World. Though actually my introduction to philosophy was Julian Baggini, starting with The pig that wants to be eaten.
For a wider exploration of philosophy I really enjoy Nigel Warburton's philosophy bites podcasts. I enjoyed his books as well.
Also Simon Blackburn's Think as a general introduction to what we're doing when we do philosophy. (He writes about it here.)
If you really get into it Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a free academic source to look up terms/movements/philosophers.
Good luck on your adventure!

showmeislands · 23/05/2017 22:20

I read Sophie's world as a 16 year old and went on to do a philosophy degree at oxford. I'd recommend it too!

If you do fancy a bit of Nietzsche, try Why I Am So Wise.

msrisotto · 24/05/2017 22:03

Lots of thanks to the podcast suggestions. I very much enjoyed the swearing episode of the philosophers arms. An excellent gentle introduction to make the best of my commute.

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Genevieva · 24/05/2017 22:25

The Story of Philosophy by Brian Magee

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