Not So Good at Philosophy

[kappablackmafia]

I'll admit that while I have a deep interest in the modes of philosophical thought throughout the centuries, my mind (nor my time) is particularly adept at understanding men like Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Heidegger, et al.

Are there resources for people like me so that we can obtain a decent understand of these men and their logic without sacrificing energy, effort, or academia?

Or, perhaps, are their secondary sources which explore these philosophies within a broader context?

While I'm not opposed to reading Kant's CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON or PRACTICAL REASON or Heidegger's BEING AND TIME, I'll admit I'm skeptical concerning my ability to follow along - or is this just the natural liability when it comes to the pursuit of philosophy?

Thanks in advance to those of you who might be able to assist with any recommendations or advice.

[ShottleBop]

The Kent Library Research Guide suggests many sources. One of the online sources that looks promising is Philosophy Pages

Of course, there's always Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes--a fun read, but it doesn't go into any depth at all, and contains some outright errors.

[ZEZOZE]

create your own. that's my philosophy.

[ShottleBop]

Originally Posted by InTheServiceOfZeke

create your own. that's my philosophy.

"I know lots of people are smarter than me, but I have this philosophy: So what?!"

---Julie Brown, "'Cause I'm a Blond," from "Goddess in Progress."

[Ymir's blood]

All I can say is to avoid 'Philosophy For Dummies' unless you're in the mood for a Roman Catholic Apologetic.

[Nullifidian]

Out of books, I find that the Oxford University Press' "Very Short Introductions" series to be an excellent way into a basic grasp of what many philosophers were all about.

They have a nice Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction which is not an explanatory book, per se, but a book which just has short illustrations which represent the breadth of philosophy and encourages one to think about the issues brought up, but for you the VSIs on various specific philosophers might be very useful as well. They have books about Hegel, Heidegger, Kant, and Descartes.

[JamesBannon]

Yeah, the very short introductions are good. I have them for Hume, Kant, Hagel, Marx, Merleau-Ponty and a few others.

BTW: By far the easiest stuff by Kant to read are his political essays. Oxford University do a collection and they're far easier than any of the Critiques.

P.S. Also keep in mind that a lot of what these philosophers say has been superceded by modern science or is just plain bollocks.

[naturalist.atheist]

Until philosophy has a mechanism for preferring one philosophy over another other than personal preference I will not think much of it. It is not so much a body of knowledge but an accretion of hunches and tap dancing made over two millennia.

[viscousmemories]

As far as books, I really enjoyed Sophie's World.

For an online resource, Hugo Holbling wrote a series of essays that add up to a very accessible introduction to philosophy which I highly recommend, currently here.

We also have at least one prolific poster who's a professional philosopher, so you can always ask any questions you have here.

[Iacchus]

Originally Posted by naturalist.atheist

Until philosophy has a mechanism for preferring one philosophy over another other than personal preference I will not think much of it. It is not so much a body of knowledge but an accretion of hunches and tap dancing made over two millennia.

All about the experiential nature of the mind, I would say. Without the mind, there would be no experience, hence nothing to report.

[kappablackmafia]

I've decided I'm going to have to get right down to reading the hard stuff if I intend to understand it. UC Berkeley has a free online podcast on Heidegger and BEING AND TIME through iTunes. I've put the book on special order at my local Borders bookstore along with a supplementary guide.

However, I have to agree with what JamesBannon said above, namely that these philosophies are now mostly defunct and contemporary philosophers continue to pose the same old issues all over again. It definitely causes a person to reevaluate WHY to take on this endeavor.

[GodPossessed]

I like Will Durant's 2 volume "The Story of Philosophy". Hits the high points of the main philosophers, chronologically, from Plato to the American Pragmatists.

[D. Scarlatti]

H. Holbling never posted his promised philosophy of law segment, that lazy slacker.

[Sock Puppet]

Call me crazy (entire board shouts "YOU'RE CRAZY!"), but I find even "discredited" philosophy to be interesting and educational. At its core, philosophy should be a concerted effort to think clearly. Many philosophers raised some fascinating questions, even if their attempts to answer them failed miserably. E.g., Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy is a must read; just because his answers to the questions he posed were pretty lame from our perspective doesn't mean the questions weren't good ones to begin with. Kant was a great thinker, although his work is pretty damned dull reading. And I have yet to read anyone who has a satisfying answer to Hume's classic problem of causation.

My favorite philosopher, however, is probably John Searle -- although that's probably influenced by the fact that I took a couple of his classes, and by his close friendship with my favorite teacher in the whole world (Julian Boyd, RIP).

[JamesBannon]

Yep, Hume's problem with causation has never been answered, nor has the fork had any counter-examples that I know of.

[Hugo Holbling]

Sorry, Scarlatti. I owe TLR one, too, which is about half-finished. I'll get to it when i'm done being shot at.

[D. Scarlatti]

I kid, of course. The existing set of essays is superb.

And I had no idea you were in the military until fairly recently, Hugo. Stay safe.

[Adam]

I had no idea until just now. Stay safe, man. Maybe smear some kinda matte finish on those total fucking clown shoes of yours so as not to present such an obvious target.

[Doctor X]

Six Easy Pieces, Richard Feyman.

--J.D.

[Ohm]

Believe the philosophy of being a "Human Being" and understanding what "Humans" "Are" and "Do".
Also take notice of "Human like" behavior in animals and vice versa.

most importantly Know your life will end soon, so Die gracefully.

everything else is food for thought.