looking for some good reading
anything anyones read and is worth buying??
( not 'the game' )

shot!

Being and Nothingness, Jean-Paul Sartre


... and welcome back mate. How've you been?


Peace,

kowalski

Are there any philosophy books that aren't too heavy going? (I know that might sound like a contradiction), sort of like an idiots guide.
I'm currently going through Bertrand Russell's history of western philosophy but it's an audio book so it's a bit of an arse to go back and re-listen to bits.

That's a tough one.

First, I wouldn't try learn philosophical ideas from audio books. You often need to re-read a single sentence many times over, then trackback and re-read the preceding paragraph, then flick back a few pages and read an extract from a previous chapter, then get a philosophical dictionary out, then rummage through a stack of other texts to check if something you read once can be brought to bear on what you are reading now, etc. etc. It is not a linear process.

As for simplifications. That's tough too. I started out reading simplifications of arguments and later discovered that they are only really good for sparing practice. Think of music compression except where you have to reduce the file size to only 1% of the original. You'd be left with only a very basic approximation of the original music and would think 'this is shit'. It is the same with the simplifications of complex philosophical arguments, you end up thinking 'if that's what x said why does everyone suck his balls, it is fundamentally, and screamingly obviously, flawed'. Of course when you come to read the full formulation you discover that the argument is complex, detailed and meaty like a person. Whereas in studying the simplified version what you were studying and criticising was in fact merely a shadow cast by the simplifier's light shone upon the true form of the argument.

A bright cat like yourself is better off going for the real deal, accompanied by some shorter reviews, explanatory texts and critiques and finding others to discuss it with.

You have to treat it like a research project.

I've got some great books with selections of very excellent shorter papers in them that are good for getting your philosophical muscle pumping.


Peace,

kowalski

first ask questions then search for the answers
you know want you want so close the gap between what you want and where you are
I'M studying philosophy at the moment i personly found that my experiences where the best lessons I ever learnt
although one of my biggest inspirations were from Abraham-hicks ( check the dot com )
knowledge is power so its always rad to have a good read on something you have interest in
shot kowalski ! good to be back !
been on one hell of a adventure

I fucking love that Roodster, where'd you find it?


Peace,

kowalski

Hmmm ... you can't ask the right questions before you have a basic understanding of the subject. The questions I had spinning around my head as a youngster I now recognise as naive and badly formed.

The most important quality for a philosopher to have is the faculty to engage with and critically analyse the materials you study. If you are buying into LOA, then you need to exercise this faculty because it is obvious nonsense (and if you are struggling don't worry, just a few minutes research on the net will reveal this). It's like saying 'I'm studying music and my two year old nephews farts are one of my biggest inspirations'. Technically it could be called 'studying philosophy' but it's not really in keeping with the central principle of philosophy - the love of and search for truth.

Have a read of this: Skeptic » eSkeptic » Wednesday, March 7th, 2007

What else you been up to man?


Peace,

kowalski

I thought you'd like that

Luke Surl Comics

Thanks for the link man, some real funny shit on there.


Peace,

kowalski