Reading Suggestions: Philosophy Forums

Reading Suggestions

PrimitiveSilence
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Posted 06/17/09 - 05:45 PM: Subject: Reading Suggestions	#1
Hello people, I really want to start reading about philosophy of Art and philosophy of social sciences, but really don't know where to begin. Could you possibly guide me by suggesting a few books to begin reading? All suggestions appreciated. Edited by Postmodern Beatnik on 06/17/09 - 06:10 PM. Reason: merged requests.

PrimitiveSilence
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Posted 06/18/09 - 09:56 AM:	#2
any help would be appreciated.

treysuttle
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Posted 06/18/09 - 11:31 AM:	#3
Your best bet would be to get on ebay or amazon and get an Introduction to Aesthetics anthology. A good one should give you a well-rounded reading of the basic issues and lay of the land. I prefer (and would suggest) the analytic approach when beginning, so Aesthetics: A Comprehensive Anthology by Blackwell would be good (used as an introduction up to graduate courses in Aesthetics). Blackwell also makes a Continental Aesthetics, but Continental philosophy generally presupposes a good bit more in terms of 'background' knowledge of the history of philosophy -- although it will be more 'social' contexted...but Continental social theory is also virtually impenetrable (with or without) a good bit of background reading. Read Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Aesthetics. See what they list in the bibliography. I would suggest 1. that you find material that you can understand fairly easily -- not that you don't have to wrestle with it a bit, but realize when you are over your head and move to something else...you are beginning (intro to physics we don't analyze the intricacies of relativity theory). The Blackwell Anthology should be good, because its fairly difficult material, but every time you read an article you will get more out of it than before, which turns to 2) as opposed to reading a whole lot of stuff...concentrate at first on really understanding a few articles... anyways, for whatever it helps, good luck.

Bobard
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Posted 06/18/09 - 02:08 PM:	#4
I was/am in a similar position. I went with: The Philosophy of Art: Readings Ancient and Modern http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obido...61929/ref=ox_ya_oh_product Arguing About Art: Contemporary Philosophical Debates http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obido...24518/ref=ox_ya_oh_product Both of which I found very useful and interesting as primers in aesthetics. I also recommend as a general resource: The Oxford Companion to Philosophy http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obido...64791/ref=ox_ya_oh_product Hope this helps - and please post if you find any other good books on aesthetics from other sources.
never argue with an idiot or a drunk

StaticAge
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Posted 06/18/09 - 02:55 PM:	#5
The Continental Aesthetics Reader edited by Clive Cazeaux is also excellent, imo.
"All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going." -Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Overpower, overcome." -The Cro-Mags

PrimitiveSilence
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Posted 06/18/09 - 03:09 PM:	#6
YES! Thankyou so much everyone, I know where to begin now. Oh and im not a student of philosophy, however i want to increases my awareness and knowledge on a personal level.

MarkLint
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Posted 06/25/09 - 08:34 PM:	#7
Relatedly, I'm looking for a SINGLE ESSAY (or book that I can pull a couple chapters from) in aesthetics that's a particular favorite of someone who knows the field well. Any suggestions? (Besides Kant.) Thanks. Edited by Postmodern Beatnik on 07/01/09 - 08:09 AM. Reason: removed spam.

Ico
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Posted 06/28/09 - 12:30 AM:	#8
I'm in the same spot as the OP - not a philosophy student of any kind, but wanting to expand my knowledge. Aside from the ones posted, are there any good general introductory books of any kind? Any of the ones listed I should start with in particular?
...the Bible (nor any 'holy' book) should not have a favored place in our human exploration of what is true about our world ~Ellory Schempp (Abington vs. Schempp)

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