Self-study philosophy textbook

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Hey guys, I was wondering if you would recommend me a good philosophy textbook that would introduce me to the subject? I was thinking about getting the text book “Philosophical Foundations for a Christian worldview” by J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig. It comes from a “biblical Christianity” perspective. It seems to be almost the equivalent of getting a philosophy degree, it covers everything.

I really don’t want to waste money to take philosophy courses where the teacher will likely be an atheist who will be attempting to disabuse any philosophically ignorant Christians in their class of their faith and brainwash them into the Richard Dawkins inspired new atheism (this is what I’ve heard that most of the philosophy courses are like at my school, and most of the profs there even support abusing Christian students with ridicule and mocking, as Dawkins recommended that his disciples do…but I’m getting off track).

I can’t think of any good Catholic texts like this, and apart from the Sola Scriptura heresy that undergirds the book, if I can just ignore that it seems like it would be well worth my investment. But I was wondering if there might be a Catholic book that I could study that would make me conversant with philosophy. I’m tired of being ignorant in this subject.
 
I am going to recommend a non-religious text that will let you know how modern economics works. If you understand economics, you will be able to understand how and why people in modern society act.
The title of the book is “The worldly philosophers”. vy Eobert L Heilbrener. It discusses the lives, times and ideas of the great economic thinkers.
Never forget, that a chronically empty stomach has more effect on an individuals religious, philosophical, and political beliefs that any other factor.
 
This book was very highly recommended to me when I had a similar question. It is an introduction to the formal study of philosophy and is very good.

Whatever you do, don’t do what I did when I was in college and assume that later is better! I was totally turned off philosophy by the absurdity of more recent (1700’s on) philosophers! When it comes to philosophy, St Thomas Aquinas is the best, and then the ancients… modern philosphy has a lot of problems.

However, I have also learned a lot from several talks (MP3) that I listen to, and this is more like informal philosophy where they talk about what happened in philosphy and what the effects were. If you are interested, I can give you some links.
 
Estevao said:
Hey guys, I was wondering if you would recommend me a good philosophy textbook that would introduce me to the subject? I was thinking about getting the text book “Philosophical Foundations for a Christian worldview” by J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig. It comes from a “biblical Christianity” perspective. It seems to be almost the equivalent of getting a philosophy degree, it covers everything.

I really don’t want to waste money to take philosophy courses where the teacher will likely be an atheist who will be attempting to disabuse any philosophically ignorant Christians in their class of their faith and brainwash them into the Richard Dawkins inspired new atheism (this is what I’ve heard that most of the philosophy courses are like at my school, and most of the profs there even support abusing Christian students with ridicule and mocking, as Dawkins recommended that his disciples do…but I’m getting off track).

I can’t think of any good Catholic texts like this, and apart from the Sola Scriptura heresy that undergirds the book, if I can just ignore that it seems like it would be well worth my investment. But I was wondering if there might be a Catholic book that I could study that would make me conversant with philosophy. I’m tired of being ignorant in this subject.
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You can read " A Manual of Modern Scholastic Philosophy " by Cardinal Mercier on line at www.archive.org or you can get a used copy from Amozon reasonably. Comes in two volumes and is suitable for undergraduates and covers the enrtire range of Scholastic Philosophy. Or you can contact the Philosophy Dept of a good Catholic University and find out what they are using in their undergraduate courses in Cosmology, Metaphysics, Theodicy ( the Philosophy of God or Natural Theology ), Human Psychology.

You will also find this site helpful: aquinasonline.com/Topics/index.html

Linus2nd
 
I would recommend as a philosophy teacher of mine once told me to read the primary source documents and try and digest them yourself before seeking another source for philosophy. I would recommend starting with arguably the founder of western philosophy, Socrates. Read through many works of Plato especially:
-Republic
-Euthyphro
-Apology
-Crito
-Meno
-Phaedo

My philosophy teacher told me that for anyone interested in philosophy, they should read through all the works of Plato and once you think you understand them, read them again.

Blessings!
 
landon13 said:
I would recommend as a philosophy teacher of mine once told me to read the primary source documents and try and digest them yourself before seeking another source for philosophy. I would recommend starting with arguably the founder of western philosophy, Socrates. Read through many works of Plato especially:
-Republic
-Euthyphro
-Apology
-Crito
-Meno
-Phaedo

My philosophy teacher told me that for anyone interested in philosophy, they should read through all the works of Plato and once you think you understand them, read them again.

Blessings!
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I’m old but Fr. Copleston’s series is my recommendation. The read the primary sources for yourself.
 
ColdComfort said:
I’m old but Fr. Copleston’s series is my recommendation. The read the primary sources for yourself.
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Never liked Copleston, he couldn’t organize what he wanted to say. He wasn’t a very good writer. And you need a pretty good grounding in Thomism before trying him. Linus2nd
 
Linusthe2nd said:
Never liked Copleston, he couldn’t organize what he wanted to say. He wasn’t a very good writer. And you need a pretty good grounding in Thomism before trying him. Linus2nd
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Yes that’s true. You need to know something, but not a lot, about Scholastic philosophy as the books were written for seminarians. To each their own tho’. I found the books well written and organized.
 
There are two questions here.

What should you read to become a philosopher? Everything you can read by Plato, who will teach you how to think. Even when you disagree with Plato, that will be partly because he has taught you how and why you must disagree.

Who are best best books to read today from a Catholic perspective? I would say almost anything by Peter Kreeft. You might start with his little book, Jacob’s Ladder: Ten Steps to Truth.
 
The best basic philosophy text I can recommend to you, whether written from a Catholic perspective or not, is Jacques Maritain’s “An Introduction to Philosophy,” which has been republished. The fact that it is written from a Catholic, Thomist perspective makes it even more valuable. This was used as THE textbook in philosophy classes in Catholic universities for generations:

amazon.com/gp/product/0742550532/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1

"Jacques Maritain’s An Introduction to Philosophy was first published in 1931. Since then, this book has stood the test of time as a clear guide to what philosophy is and how to philosophize. Inspired by the Thomistic Revival called for by Leo XIII, Maritain relies heavily on Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas to shape a philosophy that, far from sectarian theology in disguise, is driven by reason and engages the modern world. Re-released as part of the Sheed & Ward Classic series, An Introduction to Philosophy is sure to enliven the minds of students and general readers for years to come.

“From the new introduction by Ralph McInerny:
You are about to read a magnificent introduction not only to a kind of philosophy but to philosophizing itself. Jacques Maritain was a relatively young man when he wrote this book, but his effort is one that attracts any philosopher more and more as he grows older. However odd and unusual what he says becomes, the philosopher yearns to show how even the most abstruse claims can be put into relation with what the reader already knows. That, in its essence, is what teaching is. In this book, the reader will find a wise and certain guide into philosophizing as such. And, in the end, he will find that what he reads is really only a refinement and development of what he and everybody else already knew.”
 
When a very young man, I corresponded with Jacques Maritain for about five years. I have about seventeen letters from him. He was a deeply spiritual man as well as a distinguished philosopher, and had a profound personal influence on me and many others that will never be known by the world at large. To this day I think of him more as a saint than as a philosopher.

The only reservation I have about Maritain is that he is a difficult read in many of his books. This was due in part, I have been told, to some poor quality translations of his works into English. I recommend Maritain for the advanced philosopher, but not for those just learning to philosophize.

His work in esthetics especially impressed me. See his Creative Intuition in Art and Poetry. I could tell he was highly pleased when I let him know it was my favorite work by him.
 
Charlemagne_II said:
When a very young man, I corresponded with Jacques Maritain for about five years. I have about seventeen letters from him. He was a deeply spiritual man as well as a distinguished philosopher, and had a profound personal influence on me and many others that will never be known by the world at large. To this day I think of him more as a saint than as a philosopher.

The only reservation I have about Maritain is that he is a difficult read in many of his books. This was due in part, I have been told, to some poor quality translations of his works into English. I recommend Maritain for the advanced philosopher, but not for those just learning to philosophize.

His work in esthetics especially impressed me. See his Creative Intuition in Art and Poetry. I could tell he was highly pleased when I let him know it was my favorite work by him.
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That is very impressive!

Linus2nd
 
Estevao said:
Hey guys, I was wondering if you would recommend me a good philosophy textbook that would introduce me to the subject? I was thinking about getting the text book “Philosophical Foundations for a Christian worldview” by J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig. It comes from a “biblical Christianity” perspective. It seems to be almost the equivalent of getting a philosophy degree, it covers everything.

Try searching out the King’s College philosophy without any gaps podcasts.

I’m a Christian, and I haven’t lost faith. Don’t overplay the Idea that philosophy can brainwash anyone or convince them out of their faith. It only strengthens mine, and leads to a better appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of philosophy. The word after all comes from the Greek and means the love of wisdom. Not the love of stupidity.

And Richard Dawkins is not a philosopher. His attack against religion does not constitute science, and any philosophy professor worth his degree should now this. If they don’t they’re only using their tenure to promote their own opinions/beliefs. A professor of philosophy should be someone receptive to arguments, and the valid arguments of atheists and theists alike.
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I would study great philosophers
like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Immanuel Kant.
 
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