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The Beginning
A little help for the youngster.

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The Beginning

Noumenal1
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Posted 10/01/09 - 08:20 AM:	#11
I agree completely with Mark post above. The string of thought from from Descartes to Kant is particularly important. I would recommend a general overview with historic context first, then you can pick out what philosophers you are most interested in and read their original works. Widely regarded as one of the best history texts in English is Frederick Copleston's 'History of Philosophy' in nine volumes. The first volume is Socretes, Plato, and Aristotle, etc, so I would recommend that one, then you start with Descartes in volume 4 (I think) for modern philosophy,.. then to Berkeley, Locke, Liebnitz, Hobbes, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Fitch, Schelling, Schopenhauer (sp), not necessarily in that order, etc, etc. If you like science, in particular physics, there are many 'Philosophy of Physics' (A.Sklar, etc) and it doesn't get much more fancinating then that. Edited by Noumenal1 on 10/01/09 - 08:32 AM

ms anthropist
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Posted 10/01/09 - 11:06 AM:	#12
As already mentioned there are loads of free resources on line. Not just secondary sources, but also, primary sources. HOwever, if you are looking for a good starting point, why don't you try something like Louis P. Pojman's "Introduction to Philosophy". A thematic collection of primary sources from classical and contemporary philosophers. Descripción general del libro "Introduction of Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary Readings is a topically organized collection that covers five major areas of philosophy - theory of knowledge, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind, freedom and determinism, and moral philosophy. Editor Louis P. Pojman enhances the text's topical organization by arranging the selections into a pro/con format to help students better understand opposing arguments. He also includes accessible introductions to each part, subsection, and individual reading, a unique feature for an anthology of this depth. While the book focuses on a compelling sampling of classical material - including selections from Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, and Kant - it also incorporates some of philosophy's best twentieth-century and contemporary work, featuring articles by Bertrand Russell, Richard Taylor, John Searle, Thomas Nagel, and others."--BOOK JACKET. No hay vista previa disponible - Notas sobre el artículo: v. 21 - 1991 - 644 páginas I found you a copy for $6 in www.amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?in...ode=qs&keywords=0534143709

Cadrache
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Posted 10/01/09 - 11:26 AM:	#13
I have yet to find a real good 'used book store' in calgary. Mostly just re-sellers of printed text.
"...There was a writer who asked why it was that when we find positive experiences we say that only the physical facts are real, but in negative experiences we believe that reality is subjective. He made an example of those who say that in birth only the pain is real, the joy a subjective point of view, but that in death it is the emotional loss that is the reality." - Tony Ballantyne, Recursion. _____________________________________________ Truth is want. - The internal state of matters. Truth is Need. - The external state of affairs.

sheps
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Posted 10/01/09 - 11:36 AM:	#14
Cadrache wrote: I have yet to find a real good 'used book store' in calgary. Mostly just re-sellers of printed text. There's a great one near me which sells loads of old Soviet Union produced texts and pamphlets by Marx, Engels and Lenin, for like 50p each, many of which aren't even in print anymore! Must have come from the basement of some raging old Bolshevik.
The Midnight Sun Never Sets.

A Clockwork Orange
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Posted 10/01/09 - 12:16 PM:	#15
Thank you all so much, if anyone has anymore suggestions please feel free to make them still. Respectfully, Kaz
Cogito ergo sum

stax
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Posted 10/01/09 - 08:04 PM:	#16
* Metaphysics: Michael J. Loux’s Metaphysics * Logic: Harry J. Gensler’s Introduction to Logic * Epistemology: Robert Audi’s Epistemology * Philosophy of Science: Alex Rosenberg’s Philosophy of Science * Aesthetics: Noel Carroll’s Philosophy of Art * Political Philosophy: Jonathan Wolff’s An Introduction to Political Philosophy * Truth: Richard L. Kirkham's Theories of Truth * Ethics: Harry J. Gessler’s Ethics * Postmodernism: Andrew Cutrofello’s Continental Philosophy * Philosophy of Mind: John Heil’s Philosophy of Mind * Philosophy of Religion: Keith E. Yandell’s Philosophy of Religion * Analytic Philosophy: Avrum Stroll’s Twentieth Century Analytic Philosophy * Philosophy of History: Mark T. Gilderhus’ History and Historians: A Historiographical Introduction * Rhetoric: Silva Rhetoricae All these give the A-Z accounts of their specific field, you get an overview of the common arguments and all the juicy detail. Most of them are 400+ words, so they go very much into detail. I have them all, and I cannot recommend anything better than getting those. Enjoy.
"Man can do what he wills but he cannot will what he wills." Arthur Schopenhauer "To convince someone of the truth, it is not enough to state it, but rather one must find the path from error to truth." Ludwig Wittgenstein "Philosophy is like trying to open a safe with a combination lock: each little adjustment of the dials seems to achieve nothing, only when everything is in place does the door open." Ludwig Wittgenstein

A Clockwork Orange
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Posted 10/01/09 - 08:41 PM:	#17
Wow what a great list. I very much appreciate it. Respectfully, Kaz
Cogito ergo sum

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