Philosophy book recommendations

Parent Cafe
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<p>Watch Monty Python’s “The Philosopher Song” on Youtube and write the philospher’s names down as it plays. [Monty</a> Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl - Philospher’s Song - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>

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<p>Suggestions from my D, who was a Neuro major, but picked up a double in Philosophy just because she like the readin’ and writin’:</p>

<p>"some of the “more understandable” philosophical texts might include:

  • any of Plato’s shorter dialogues
  • Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
  • Machiavelli’s The Prince
  • Descartes’ Meditations
  • Locke’s Two Treatises of Government</p>

<p>In my opinion, the more modern philosophers (e.g., Kant, Heidegger, Spinoza, Neitschze, etc.) are a lot more difficult to tackle."</p>

<p>btw: Stanford has an excellent phil website.</p>

<p><a href=“http://plato.stanford.edu/[/url]”>http://plato.stanford.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>[The</a> Partially Examined Life | A Philosophy Podcast and Philosophy Blog](<a href=“http://www.partiallyexaminedlife.com/]The”>http://www.partiallyexaminedlife.com/)</p>

<p>Why Are We Here?
The Partially Examined Life is a philosophy podcast by some guys who were at one point set on doing philosophy for a living but then thought better of it. Each episode, we pick a text and chat about it with some balance between insight and flippancy. You don’t have to know any philosophy, or even to have read the text we’re talking about to (mostly) follow and (hopefully) enjoy the discussion. </p>

<p>This month they’re doing Ayn Rand: “Warning: This attempt to make sense of Rand’s texts will likely offend any Randians out there, and our reading numerous passages from her alleged ‘texts’ may offend the rest of you. When in doubt, curl up in the fetal position and moan “A=A!” over and over again until the bad sounds stop.”</p>

<p>The site has links to many other philosophy resources. </p>

<p>Incidentally, academia is not the only way to go. Some philosophers in a nod to the ancients, have hung out shingles where you can go for counseling on questions like, What is the meaning of life?</p>

<p>“Philosophical counseling involves a study of your ideas and how they affect your life–and how changing your ideas can change your life.”</p>

<p>The American Philosophical Association can certify you as a philosophical counselor.</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.appa.edu/index.htm]Home[/url”&gt;http://www.appa.edu/index.htm]Home[/url</a>]</p>

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<p>Lol- You guys are amazing. My neighbor went with Mini’s recommendation (her son is a rising junior and pre-law). My husband and I both looked at this list and we have been inspired to read many of your very thoughtful recommendations. </p>

<p>Mini’s recommendation:
IF you want something really contemporary, yet gives a sense of philosophy over time, I’d recommend Michael Sandel’s “Justice”:</p>

<p>Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?: Michael J. Sandel: 9780374532505: Amazon.com: Books</p>