Start
with Plato’s dialogues
, either the Apology or the Alcibiades. Neither the Metaphysics nor the Republic is good introductory material. Instead, I recommend Plato’s Apology and Euthyphro, Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations (if you want to go further into Hellenistic philosophy).
What Greek philosophy book should I start with?
Start by reading the
book Polysophy
. it is a good intro to philosophy. Peace! Read Plato and then Aristotle, but read a book on ancient Greek history first.
Should I start with Plato or Aristotle?
The “best” order would depend on your goal. If your goal is to get an A in “Plato class” and you have limited time, the “best” order would be
to start with Plato
. If your goal is to get an idea of how these ancient philosophers’ views changed over time, it might be appropriate to read Socrates, Plato, then Aristotle.
Where do I start with philosophy?
- Plato, The Last Days of Socrates — this includes four dialogues: the Euthyphro , the Apology , the Crito , and the Phaedo.
- Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics.
- Epictetus, Discourses, Fragments, Handbook.
- Augustine of Hippo, Confessions.
- Boethius, Consolation of Philosophy.
What should I read first in philosophy?
- Plato: Five Dialogues by Plato.
- The Emperor’s New Mind by Roger Penrose.
- Mengzi: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries translated by Bryan W. …
- Meno by Plato.
- Republic by Plato.
- Discourse on Method by Rene Descartes.
- Symposium by Plato.
- The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins.
What are the basic ideas in Greek philosophy?
The Post-Socratic philosophers established four schools of philosophy:
Cynicism, Skepticism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism
. The Post-Socratic philosophers focused their attention on the individual rather than on communal issues such as politics.
What is Plato’s philosophy?
In metaphysics Plato envisioned
a systematic, rational treatment of the forms and their interrelations
, starting with the most fundamental among them (the Good, or the One); in ethics and moral psychology he developed the view that the good life requires not just a certain kind of knowledge (as Socrates had suggested) …
What did Aristotle and Plato disagree on?
Aristotle rejected Plato’s
theory of Forms but not the notion of form itself
. For Aristotle, forms do not exist independently of things—every form is the form of some thing.
Did Plato and Aristotle know each other?
Plato mentored Aristotle in philosophy
and, in the Macedonian village of Mieza, Aristotle mentored Alexander the Great. The teachings spanning back to Socrates had trickled through great minds through mentorship down to Alexander.
Is Plato difficult to read?
Plato is complicated and demands re-readings and re-interpretations
. That’s what makes him great, so just keep at it. I’d start with the Republic, even though it’s probably his densest dialogue. You can also try something like “Philosophy for Beginners” by Richard Osborne.
What is the best introduction to philosophy?
- Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder.
- A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell.
- Philosophy: The Basics by Nigel Warburton.
- The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant.
What is the best way to learn philosophy?
- Read the books “A History of Western Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell or “The Story of Philosophy” by Will Durant. …
- Listen to bite-sized audio courses on Listenable. …
- Take bite-sized courses on philosophy on Highbrow. …
- Use Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
What is the best way to get into philosophy?
- Start from a position of ignorance.
- Expect to go slowly.
- Read when you are most alert.
- Pick whatever interests you the most.
- Get a philosophical dictionary.
Which philosopher is easiest to read?
- Apology of Socrates by Plato. …
- Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle. …
- The discourse on method by Descartes. …
- Candide or Optimism by Voltaire. …
- Beyond good and evil by Nietzsche. …
- Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky. …
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Kundera. …
- Existentialism and Humanism by Sartre.
Is there any value in studying philosophy?
Studying philosophy
improves reasoning and critical skills
. Skills gained by philosophy majors are useful in almost any career. Students learn about questions.
What books do philosophers read?
- Meditations. One that you’ll find on many of these types of lists is Meditations and for good reason. …
- Letters From a Stoic. …
- Nicomachean Ethics. …
- Beyond Good & Evil. …
- Meditations on First Philosophy. …
- Ethics. …
- Critique of Pure Reason. …
- On the Genealogy of Morals.
