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In Need of Assistance
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:32 am
by Xydan
Well I only currently started getting into philosophy and to be honest, I'm really craving direction into the kind of literature I should be reading and what philosophers I should take a look into.
So far I've really taken a feeling into Ethical Philosophy which seems to by my favorite kind. I've read quotations of Immanuel Kant & Friedrich Nietzsche. But I'd like any kind of lead as to Metaphysics, Political Philosophy etc.
In a nutshell, I'm very new to Philosophy and I'm finding ways to expand my knowledge. I'd like a set of literature and philosophers concerning Ethics, but I really wouldn't denounce other branches of philosophy either. I just want someone to lead me in the right direction if that's possible.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:24 am
by Arising_uk
Welcome Xydan,
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=177
You could do worse than taking a subscription out with the Philosophy Now magazine and this will give you access to all the back-issues online as well.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:03 am
by chaz wyman
Xydan wrote:Well I only currently started getting into philosophy and to be honest, I'm really craving direction into the kind of literature I should be reading and what philosophers I should take a look into.
So far I've really taken a feeling into Ethical Philosophy which seems to by my favorite kind. I've read quotations of Immanuel Kant & Friedrich Nietzsche. But I'd like any kind of lead as to Metaphysics, Political Philosophy etc.
In a nutshell, I'm very new to Philosophy and I'm finding ways to expand my knowledge. I'd like a set of literature and philosophers concerning Ethics, but I really wouldn't denounce other branches of philosophy either. I just want someone to lead me in the right direction if that's possible.
Getting into philosophy for the first time can be difficult. If you go straight to original sources you can find yourself drowning in a sea of words. For example if you wanted to look at Ethics and opened up a but of Kant, you might be put off by the complexity.
For some basic philosophical methods I'd recommend Hosper's Introduction to Philosophical Analysis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Ph ... 0415157935. He talks about the basic categories of truth for example, in a clear and easy to understand way. You can probably pick up a cheap on from Abe books.
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Searc ... .y=0&sts=t
I imagine the Nigel Warburton's "Philosophy: The Classics" would be a good place to start. I have listened to many of his podcasts and it is likely that his clear explanations will translate to the printed page.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:42 pm
by Rortabend
What chaz said!
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 5:53 pm
by Xydan
chaz wyman wrote:Xydan wrote:Well I only currently started getting into philosophy and to be honest, I'm really craving direction into the kind of literature I should be reading and what philosophers I should take a look into.
So far I've really taken a feeling into Ethical Philosophy which seems to by my favorite kind. I've read quotations of Immanuel Kant & Friedrich Nietzsche. But I'd like any kind of lead as to Metaphysics, Political Philosophy etc.
In a nutshell, I'm very new to Philosophy and I'm finding ways to expand my knowledge. I'd like a set of literature and philosophers concerning Ethics, but I really wouldn't denounce other branches of philosophy either. I just want someone to lead me in the right direction if that's possible.
Getting into philosophy for the first time can be difficult. If you go straight to original sources you can find yourself drowning in a sea of words. For example if you wanted to look at Ethics and opened up a but of Kant, you might be put off by the complexity.
For some basic philosophical methods I'd recommend Hosper's Introduction to Philosophical Analysis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Ph ... 0415157935. He talks about the basic categories of truth for example, in a clear and easy to understand way. You can probably pick up a cheap on from Abe books.
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Searc ... .y=0&sts=t
I imagine the Nigel Warburton's "Philosophy: The Classics" would be a good place to start. I have listened to many of his podcasts and it is likely that his clear explanations will translate to the printed page.
Thank you chaz for the help and I'll see to it hearing the podcasts and possibly buying the "Introduction..." book. Is there anyway that might find it here in the U.S? cause the currency is in a different.. yeah. Oh and if of any Relevance, I am 16 years old. But i find the age of a person irrelevant to what they believe in.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 6:44 pm
by chaz wyman
Xydan wrote:chaz wyman wrote:Xydan wrote:Well I only currently started getting into philosophy and to be honest, I'm really craving direction into the kind of literature I should be reading and what philosophers I should take a look into.
So far I've really taken a feeling into Ethical Philosophy which seems to by my favorite kind. I've read quotations of Immanuel Kant & Friedrich Nietzsche. But I'd like any kind of lead as to Metaphysics, Political Philosophy etc.
In a nutshell, I'm very new to Philosophy and I'm finding ways to expand my knowledge. I'd like a set of literature and philosophers concerning Ethics, but I really wouldn't denounce other branches of philosophy either. I just want someone to lead me in the right direction if that's possible.
Getting into philosophy for the first time can be difficult. If you go straight to original sources you can find yourself drowning in a sea of words. For example if you wanted to look at Ethics and opened up a but of Kant, you might be put off by the complexity.
For some basic philosophical methods I'd recommend Hosper's Introduction to Philosophical Analysis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Ph ... 0415157935. He talks about the basic categories of truth for example, in a clear and easy to understand way. You can probably pick up a cheap on from Abe books.
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Searc ... .y=0&sts=t
I imagine the Nigel Warburton's "Philosophy: The Classics" would be a good place to start. I have listened to many of his podcasts and it is likely that his clear explanations will translate to the printed page.
Thank you chaz for the help and I'll see to it hearing the podcasts and possibly buying the "Introduction..." book. Is there anyway that might find it here in the U.S? cause the currency is in a different.. yeah. Oh and if of any Relevance, I am 16 years old. But i find the age of a person irrelevant to what they believe in.
No Problem. Abe Books has an AMerican site too.
http://www.abebooks.com/
I see there is a Hosper's for $1.55 plus postage, today.
http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Dir ... cast/23666
Warburton can be got from itunes too.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:11 pm
by Xydan
Thank you chaz, hopefully I'll get a better insight into philosophy, and might see me on the forums more often.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:37 pm
by Arising_uk
Bertrand Russells - The Problems of Philosophy
Metaphysics - Bruce Aune
Are reasonable introductions.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:23 pm
by John
Arising_uk wrote:Bertrand Russells - The Problems of Philosophy
This is available free from
Project Gutenberg (as are many of the classic texts) and I think I'll be sending a copy to my Kindle shortly

Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:57 pm
by thephilo
Hi Xydan,
I'm an editor of a philosophy website (
http://www.the-philosophy.com) so i will not advice you to buy expensive books, but rather to reads some free and serious articles :
-
http://www.philosophypages.com/
-
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/
-
http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/philinks.htm
And
http://www.the-philosophy.com obviously
Hope it helps !
Philosophical Greetings
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 2:50 pm
by Arising_uk
Is it a non-English website?
As for an editor you show a remarkable lack of English grammar or editing skills.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:09 pm
by Rortabend
Arising_uk wrote:Is it a non-English website?
As for an editor you show a remarkable lack of English grammar or editing skills.
Website looks pretty good though. No obvious grammatical or spelling errors.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:28 pm
by Arising_uk
It does and the others look like reasonable resources. Maybe he just had an off-day. Still, a philosophy spammer should at least check his grammar I think, especially when they claim editorship.
But if we're looking for links then I think you do could worse than,
http://plato.stanford.edu/
This may also help Xydan,
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1586
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 3:54 pm
by thephilo
Arising_uk wrote:It does and the others look like reasonable resources. Maybe he just had an off-day. Still, a philosophy spammer should at least check his grammar I think, especially when they claim editorship.
But if we're looking for links then I think you do could worse than,
http://plato.stanford.edu/
This may also help Xydan,
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1586
@Arising_uk
Actually the-philosophy.com is edited by several contributors and you are right, we have to be more vigilant about grammar. We are keen to receive your remarks about it.
However, i won't recommand SEP to philosophy profanes.
Re: In Need of Assistance
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:47 pm
by Arising_uk
The Eds right Xydan.
Take a couple of these with you if you visit the Stanford encyclopedia.
http://www.philosophypages.com/dy/
http://www.ditext.com/runes/index.html
http://www.philosophy-dictionary.org/E/1/
Goggle for anymore. They give you a rough idea of what we witter on about.