Best philosophy books for beginners

Authors • Patrick Stokes Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Deakin University • Duncan Ivison Professor of Political Philosophy, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), University of Sydney • Laura D'Olimpio Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Notre Dame Australia • Matthew Sharpe Associate Professor in Philosophy, Deakin University Disclosure statement Duncan Ivison receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of The Conversation. Matthew Sharpe has taught and written on political philosophy at Deakin. He is part of an ARC grant on Religion and Political Thought and coauthor of The Times Will Suit Them: Postmodern Conservatism in Australia (with Geoffrey Boucher). Laura D'Olimpio and Patrick Stokes do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Partners The Conversation UK receives funding from these organisations View the full list However, the ancient Greeks would have been familiar with these phenomena for all kinds of reasons. They understood how anger, resentment and revenge shape politics. And they had some pretty interesting ways of dealing with outbreaks of populist rage and constitutional crises. Our language is still littered with them: think “ostracism”, “dictatorship” and “oligarchy” (let alone “democracy”). So, this year, amongst all the noise, I f...

As someone who likes to keep a strong foot in the realm of social justice and the contemporary philosophy, even though I would not count myself an expert in any of those fields, I thought it would be cool to come up with a list of my favorite and best philosophy books for beginners. Because let’s face it, we’re all beginners here. So I assembled a list of 13 (the philosopher in me really wants to comment on the meaning I instinctively ascribe to that number), and I hope you enjoy. If you want to see everything in a convenient list, then here you go, otherwise keep reading for my explanation on each one. Philosophy 101 by Paul Kleinman No products found. If you’re looking for a great introduction to philosophy, that isn’t bogged down with so much talking and talking, then this is the book for you. I found Paul’s style to be very direct and to the point. I never had any trouble understanding what he was talking about, and I thought all his bullet points and clear chronological order of philosophers really helped to put everything into perspective. It’s a great introduction, as the name suggests, and so I would definitely consider starting here. That said, if you’re more of a visual learner, let’s move onto the next item… The Philosophy Book by DK No products found. I’ve mentioned the “Book” series by DK before, and I can’t not mention it here. People, I think, often view DK as being more for kids, but they have advanced a lot in recent years to be more of a visual learning e...

211 shares • Share 41 • Tweet • Pin 170 “Let no one delay the study of philosophy while young nor weary of it when old” – Epicurus I often regret not studying philosophy sooner. There’s something “alive” and infinite in understanding the human condition. Since ancient times, we’ve been searching for meaning. We’ve been trying to explain how we organize our societies, why we exist, and the purpose behind suffering. Many great men and women attempted to answer these questions. We’re obliged to continue their exploration and honor their legacy! Recently, I wrote a post about the Our #1 Recommendation Fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen takes the reader on a journey through some of the greatest philosophical concepts of the Western world. As this Norwegian teenager unravels a mystery in her own life, she imparts the wisdom of these great teachings on the reader, too. Check Latest Price *We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. It’s a great list that works as a directory for those who want to have a holistic understanding of philosophy. But I realized that it’s not a beginner-friendly guide. Some of the books are prescriptive rather than explanatory and there are titles that require preliminary reading to truly appreciate them. This time, I’m attempting to write about the For ages 12-99. If you’ve never read a philosophy book in your life, keep reading. The journey begins! Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11 Philosophy Books For Beginn...

Philosophy. It started out as the ancient’s first (and only) form of science. Everything we have today, biology, physics, economics, sociology, chemistry started out as philosophy. This is why Sir Isaac Newton called himself a “natural philosopher”, and titled the book that describes the basic fundamental forces of physics as “ Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy”. The first philosophers were a combination of religious thinkers, scientists, and logicians because knowledge had not branched out yet One by one, as each branch of branch of philosophy accumulated more and more knowledge, they separated and became their own science. This is why philosophy today seems empty and superseded in importance by science. However, this is only a false impression. Nowadays philosophy tries to answer what science cannot (yet). Who we are, why are we here, why do we know what we know, and how to live life well are still fundamental questions that are still yearning for an answer. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Introductory philosophy books for beginners A short overview of the biggest philosophical problems in history, written in concise and easy to understand language., Also talks how these philosophical problems impact your life, including: • How Do We Know Anything? • Other minds. • The Mind-Body Problem. • The Meaning of Words. • Free Will. • Right and Wrong. • Justice • Death • The Meaning of Life. An enjoyable introducto...

• About Menu Toggle • Advertise • Buy Our Books • Contact • YouTube • Podcast • Reading Menu Toggle • Best Authors Menu Toggle • Best 20th Century Authors • Best 21st Century Authors • Best American Authors • Best Australian Authors • Best Canadian Authors • Best English Authors • Best Horror Authors • Best Science Fiction Authors • Crime Thriller Authors • Best Books Menu Toggle • Best Books for Teenagers • Best Dean Koontz Books • Best Fantasy Authors • Best Grammar Books • Best Ken Follett Books • Best Life Changing Books • Top Mystery Writers • Best Philosophy Books • Best War Books • Best Spy Novels • Must-Read Classic Literature Books • Stephen King Best-Selling Books • Genres Menu Toggle • Autobiography • Biography • Historical Fiction • Literary Fiction • Memoir • Mystery • Motivational • Romance • Satire • Science Fiction • Thrillers • Courses Menu Toggle • Best Online Writing Courses • MasterClass Menu Toggle • Masterclass Writing Courses • Masterclass Review • Apps Menu Toggle • AI Writing Menu Toggle • ChatGPT vs Grammarly: Which is Best? • Best Grammar Checker Menu Toggle • ProWritingAid Review • Quillbot Review • Grammarly Menu Toggle • Grammarly Review • Grammarly Free vs Premium • Grammarly Alternatives • Reviews Menu Toggle • Best Writing Apps And Software • Best Writing Apps for Android • Best Writing Apps for iPad • Best Story Writing Apps • Getting Paid Menu Toggle • Article Writing Menu Toggle • Article Writing Topics • Where To Read Good Articles Onli...

• Activity & Game Books • African American Studies • Aging & Longevity • Alternative Medicine • American History • Animals • Archeology • Art & Drawing Instruction • Art, Music, & Photography • Astrology & Mysticism • Aviation • Award Winning Books • Backyard Homesteading & Sustainability • Biographies & Memoirs • Body Art & Tattoo • Botany • Business & Economics • Children’s Nonfiction • Computer Science • Cookbooks, Food & Wine • Craft, Sewing & Hobbies • Cultural Heritage • Current Affairs & Politics • Diet & Fitness • Dictionaries & Reference Books • Divination • DIY • Education • Feminism • Film & Television • Gardening • Gender Studies • Grief • Health & Wellness • History • Humor • Interior Design • Journals, Sketchbooks & Notebooks • LGBTQ+ • Martial Arts • Massage & Reflexology • Mind, Body & Soul • Native American Studies • Nature • New Age & Spirituality • Needlework, Sewing & Cross Stitch • Occult & Paranormal • Outdoors & Survival • Philosophy • Poetry • Psychology • Religion & Spirituality • Science • Self Help • Social Sciences • Spanish Nonfiction • Sports & Recreation • Tarot Cards & Oracle Decks • Travel • True Crime • Yoga & Meditation • Activity & Game Books • Animals • Architecture • Art & Drawing Instruction • Aviation • Award Winning Books • Back to School • Biographies & Memoirs • Bugs & Insects • Career Books • Children's Social: Adversity • Children's Social: Bullying • Children's Social: Disabilities & Differences • Children's Social: Gender • Co...

Philosophy is one of those subjects that can seem really daunting for beginners. There are so many philosophers and so many philosophies! Where do you start? In this blog post, we will recommend our picks for the 11 best philosophy books for beginners. Each book is chosen for a different reason – some are easy to read, others introduce important philosophical concepts, and still, others are just plain fascinating! We hope this list will help you get started on your philosophical journey! The Republic Philosopher: Plato The first book on our list is Plato’s Republic. This is one of the most important works of philosophy, and it introduces some of the most enduring ideas in Western thought. It can be challenging to read, but it is definitely worth the effort! It is a Socratic dialogue that covers a wide range of topics, including the nature of justice, the structure of the ideal city-state, and the nature of the human soul. The book begins with a discussion between Socrates and his friend Glaucon. Glaucon challenges Socrates to prove that justice is actually worth pursuing. Socrates does this by first proposing the analogy of the cave, which is a thought experiment that explores the nature of human knowledge. Next, Socrates outlines the structure of the ideal city-state. He describes the three main classes of citizens: the guardians, who are the rulers; the auxiliaries, who are the soldiers; and the producers, who are the workers. Each class has its own distinct role to play...

Check out Professor and Department Head Lewis Gordon’s picks for “Why create a reading list of the best philosophy books for beginners? Well, Bertrand Russell once said that ‘science is what you know, philosophy is what you don’t know’, and when it comes to philosophy – I don’t know nearly enough. The vastness and occasional intangibility of the subject can make it feel inaccessible for novices. Like trying to find the end of a piece of sellotape, it can be frustrating to know where to start. In situations like this, there is only one thing you can do – ask the experts what they’d recommend as philosophy books for beginners. Luckily for me, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing some of the world’s finest philosophical minds.” -Phil Treagus Evans, “Philosophy Books for Beginners” This entry was posted in

Part of being human is asking questions like why we are here, what the purpose of existence is, and how to understand our lives as well as the world around us. Philosophy explores and sometimes attempts to answer these questions in ways that can adjust our world views for the better. Because philosophy is a millennia-old discipline, it can be tough to know where to start studying—and even tougher to narrow down the discipline into a finite list of books. In this post, you’ll find 15 of the best philosophy books to start with, along with the concepts each one covers. I’ve separated this article into three sections: classic philosophy texts, contemporary philosophy books, and books that provide an overview of philosophical movements or concepts. That way, if you’re just starting to study philosophy, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. If you want books that explain philosophical concepts to kids, 5 Classic Philosophy Books Confucius was a Chinese philosopher who lived in the 6th century BCE. His teachings provided founding principles for Confucianism, a philosophy known for its emphasis on morality, education, and family. The Analects collect many of Confucius’s well-known sayings, which were compiled by his followers after his death. Plato was a philosopher with connections to two other well-known thinkers—Socrates (his teacher) and Aristotle (his student). His best known work, The Republic, is presented in dialogue format between Socrates and three others. Through...

Check out Professor and Department Head Lewis Gordon’s picks for “Why create a reading list of the best philosophy books for beginners? Well, Bertrand Russell once said that ‘science is what you know, philosophy is what you don’t know’, and when it comes to philosophy – I don’t know nearly enough. The vastness and occasional intangibility of the subject can make it feel inaccessible for novices. Like trying to find the end of a piece of sellotape, it can be frustrating to know where to start. In situations like this, there is only one thing you can do – ask the experts what they’d recommend as philosophy books for beginners. Luckily for me, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing some of the world’s finest philosophical minds.” -Phil Treagus Evans, “Philosophy Books for Beginners” This entry was posted in