- Do the assigned reading. The philosophical texts simply are the content of the course; if you do not read, you will not learn. …
- Consider the context. …
- Take your time. …
- Spot crucial passages. …
- Identify central theses. …
- Locate supportive arguments. …
- Assess the arguments. …
- Look for connections.
How do you read a philosophical text?
- Do the assigned reading. The philosophical texts simply are the content of the course; if you do not read, you will not learn. …
- Consider the context. …
- Take your time. …
- Spot crucial passages. …
- Identify central theses. …
- Locate supportive arguments. …
- Assess the arguments. …
- Look for connections.
How do you understand philosophy?
Quite literally, the term “philosophy” means, “love of wisdom.” In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people undertake when they
seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves
, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other.
Is philosophy hard to read?
Reading Philosophy is a difficult task
, especially coming to uni with little or no background in the subject. Reading lists can look long and daunting, vocabulary can be confusing and it seems to take ages to understand even the smallest part of a chapter.
Do you need to read philosophy in order?
A guide for those that are interested in philosophy, but are having trouble knowing where to start. That said, it is suggested that readers read the books in the order presented if they’d like to follow along and understand subsequent books/philosophers. …
Why is philosophy so hard?
Thought cannot be touched nor smelt, seen nor grasped. … Philosophy requires us to not only deal with something ostensibly intangible, but also to refine, clarify, and use proper language for that intangible thing. Put otherwise, when we do philosophy, we are to paint a ghost.
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.
How can I be good at philosophy?
- Spend idle time thinking rather than distracting yourself. The world around us is rife with distractions. …
- Argue in good faith whenever possible. This is a practice that can be employed across several other disciplines, like political science. …
- Read as much as you can.
How do you read philosophy fast?
In some ways,
reading quickly is the harder skill
. It’s also the one less taught in philosophy seminars. … Indeed, unless you can read quickly, you’re likely not to have the broad understanding necessary to see where one should read slowly.
Is Nietzsche difficult to read?
Nietzsche is
one of the most difficult thinkers in the Western canon to think through
. This is both in spite and because of his brilliant literary powers. … In these works, Nietzsche develops some of his most striking imagery and ideas.
Which philosophers should I 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.
How do you study philosophy?
- Do the assigned reading. The philosophical texts simply are the content of the course; if you do not read, you will not learn. …
- Consider the context. …
- Take your time. …
- Spot crucial passages. …
- Identify central theses. …
- Locate supportive arguments. …
- Assess the arguments. …
- Look for connections.
How do you write philosophy?
- Organize carefully. Before you start to write make an outline of how you want to argue. …
- Use the right words. …
- Support your claims. …
- Give credit. …
- Anticipate objections. …
- Edit boldly.
Is philosophy a hard degree?
Readings for philosophy courses are generally not long,
but they are difficult and challenging
. You cannot expect to go through an assigned reading once and have an adequate grasp of it. Some students seem to thrive on the painstaking study required, while others simply don’t have the patience for it.
What job can I do if I study philosophy?
These highly critical, analytical, and argumentative skills that are developed often lead students to pursue legal studies, MBA programs, or seminaries. Jobs for philosophy majors include a
lawyer, systems analyst, cultural affairs officer, technical writer, and a critic
.
Why do we study philosophy?
The study of philosophy
enhances your ability to evaluate and resolve problems
. It will help you to analyze concepts, definitions, arguments, and problems. It contributes to your capacity to organize ideas and issues, to deal with questions of value, and to extract what is essential from masses of information.
