Starting put philosopher here

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Binto

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Hey guys

I’ve been getting into philosophy for a while know but have only been reading catholic sources. I recently discovered Peter Kreeft and realized he’s the guy I need to be reading. But I want to read non Catholic philosophers too so I have at least some grasp of Western philosophy. I’m just so overwhelmed by all the names, I don’t know where to begin. Also, I don’t feel like I understand philosophy the way I should. Is there a book out there that sort of helps me think like a philosopher?

Thanks a lot guys, and God bless!
 
A couple of suggestions, neither of which are Catholic - in fact, quite the opposite.

William Lane Craig and J.P. Moreland’s book Philosophical Foundations For A Christian Worldview, though obviously with a strong Christian focus, nevertheless covers a broad range of philosophical issues and is both detailed and well-explained.

I’d also recommend a history of philosophy - I find them best for beginning to understand what individual philosophers are on about. Of course, you could just pick up an introductory text on philosophy, which will probably give you some grounding in the topic areas of philosophy but little from specific philosophers in particular. So, for a non-Catholic source I’d suggest Antony Flew’s An Introduction To Western Philosophy. Flew was an atheist who by the end of his life became something of a theist - to the great chagrin of the new atheists, like Dawkins. Anyway, he has a very sharp mind and is a clear writer. I’d also suggest Bertrand Russell’s book A History Of Western Philosophy - another atheist - but am slightly hesitant because although Russell is good with Hume and a few other philosophers, he is absolutely awful with medieval philosophy. In all honesty, the best in this area is the Jesuit Frederick Copleston’s monumental A History Of Philosophy series, which has nine or so volumes. He is Catholic but gives every philosopher a fair treatment.

Another idea, if you want something really basic and introductory, is the series of books … For Beginners (insert your favourite philosopher!). They are entertaining books and pretty good, though a bit sparse on detail at times.

Hope that helps!

Jonathan
 
Yes, there are such books. You might begin by reading any of the the Socratic dialogues by Plato, especially the Republic. These will condition you to think analytically. Not that you will always agree with Socrates, but that Socrates has challenged you to think like a philosopher.

Will Durant’s Mansions of Philosophy is another good introductory book that stresses thinking analytically.

Inexpensive hardbound used copies can be purchased at Amazon.com.
 
Re: Getting started.

Probably the easiest and safest start would be " Aquinas " by Edward Feser.
I would not read William Lane Craig, he is not a Thomist, not safe.
The best we have in regard to the history of philosophy is the series on The History of Philosophy by Frederick Copelston S.J. For modern philosophies other than Thomas, just stay clear of them until you feet are firmly planted in Thomism. Otherwise you will be misslead as so many others.

Also, from a prior post of mine:

The textbooks I use for philosophy courses may be found in www.fraternitypublications.com. Click on the philosophy tab, and the books by D.Q.McInerny are my favorites. Don’t know if he is related to Ralph McInerny of Fr. Dowling fame.

Fraternity Publications is the bookshop of the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, a traditional catholic religious organization. Note that I am not a member of the Fraternity. I am a layman.

It is not easy anymore to find good, thomistic books, which is why I am keeping those that I bought from years back. Also, I was able to collect a lot of used, but out-of-print books from www.addall.com.

How about you? Do you have any favorite authors?

Well, one of my favorites is Edward Feser, I have a copy of the S.T. ( Black Friars Translation, England - great notes and commentary ), and most of his works are available for on line reading, Gilson - Elements of Christian Philosophy ( one of my favorites ), The Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, Henri Rahner - The Philosophy of Being and the Philosophy of God, Charles A Hart - Thomistic Metaphysics, Maurice R Holloway - An Introduction to Natural Theology, Peter Hoenen - Reality and Judgment, Raymond J Anable - Philosophical Psychology, Frederick D Wilhelmsen - Man’s Knowledge of Reality, George E Klubertanz - The Philosophy of Human Nature, Cardinal Mercier - Scholastic Philosophy Vols 1 & 2, all of Colpelston’s History of Philosophy, William A Wallace - The Elements of Philosophy & From a Realist Point of View ( He is 94 and still working
dominicanhistory.blogspot.com…an-priest.html ). Check him out, he is a real brain. And I have some odds and ends up stairs which aren’t important.

I think " The Metaphysical Thought of Thomas Aquinas by John F. Wipple would be a good book to study.

You can back track my posts and threads for web sites on Thomas. If you don’t want to do that you can generally google St Thomas Aquinas or the Metaphysics of Thomas Aquinas or " ( name subject ) in Thomas Aquinas. " For example, " participation " in Thomas Aquinas. " Try this last and you will see what I mean.
you are cheating your study time. Linus2nd

Good luck, but it is really a great waste of time. And limit yourself to 30 or 60 min a day because it is even more important to study St. Thomas and the more time you spend debating the less time you have for study. If you spend more than three hours a week debating.

Linus2nd
 
Hey Linus, he doesn’t want Catholic philosophers - and besides, there are other reputable Catholic philosophers who are not Thomists!

😛
 
Binto said:
Hey guys

I’ve been getting into philosophy for a while know but have only been reading catholic sources. I recently discovered Peter Kreeft and realized he’s the guy I need to be reading. But I want to read non Catholic philosophers too so I have at least some grasp of Western philosophy. I’m just so overwhelmed by all the names, I don’t know where to begin. Also, I don’t feel like I understand philosophy the way I should. Is there a book out there that sort of helps me think like a philosopher?

Thanks a lot guys, and God bless!
Click to expand...
I have found this to be a great help with the large picture.
Very brief descriptions of everything but the best part is the graphs

amazon.com/Chronological-Thematic-Philosophies-Philosophers-ZondervanCharts/dp/0310462819#_
 
Linusthe2nd said:
I don’t think you read my post very carefully. Linus2nd
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Hmmm I mustn’t have - it’s early in the morning here.

I don’t get it - still, please bear with me! - where is the non-Catholic recommendation?

By the way, Craig and Moreland’s book is very good as a primer for philosophy. It doesn’t have a very strong evangelical bent and tends to be quite fair in its treatment of Aquinas where he is covered.
 
Binto said:
Hey guys

I’ve been getting into philosophy for a while know but have only been reading catholic sources. I recently discovered Peter Kreeft and realized he’s the guy I need to be reading. But I want to read non Catholic philosophers too so I have at least some grasp of Western philosophy. I’m just so overwhelmed by all the names, I don’t know where to begin. Also, I don’t feel like I understand philosophy the way I should. Is there a book out there that sort of helps me think like a philosopher?

Thanks a lot guys, and God bless!
Click to expand...
You need to find some comprehensive survey of a variety of philosophers. There are so many great writers and thinkers, it would be a disservice to name one, two or even a dozen.

Besides you need to find your own “fit” and not be told that this guy or that gal (actually there aren’t too many gals in the game) is the philospher of choice or the one or ones you need to read.

Find yourself a Banes and Nobles store and locate some eclectic work on philosophy. You will soon discover who best suits your intellectual appitite.
 
jonathan_hili said:
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Linusthe2nd:
Linusthe2nd
I don’t think you read my post very carefully.
Click to expand...
Hmmm I mustn’t have - it’s early in the morning here.
Click to expand...
LOL – no, you read it correctly!
I don’t get it - still, please bear with me! - where is the non-Catholic recommendation?
Click to expand...
Here it is:
40.png
Linusthe2nd:
modern philosophies other than Thomas, just stay clear of them
Click to expand...
See? The recommendation is “just say ‘no’”…! :rotfl:

Anyway, Linus2, there’s a whole world of philosophy out there beyond Thomas, you know…! And, if we’re going to be able to interact with people in the real world today, we need (at the very least) to be familiar with contemporary and modern philosophy! I’m not saying that we have to agree with Nietzsche, but we should at least understand what he says, so that we can discuss his assertions cogently with those who advocate for him!

Binto: the Copleston is nice, and will give you a starting point – but don’t expect that it’ll do anything more than give you a head start: it’s good stuff, but in philosophy, it’s important to read the authors themselves, rather than what people say about the authors.
 
By all means, study the non-Catholic philosophers. The truth will stand up to their assertions.

First be sure to have a solid grounding … such as an introduction to logic. I made the mistake of reading Bertrand Russell very young and before I was trained in how to detect the fallacies for which Russell was so famous in spite of the fact that he was supposed to be such a very logical philosopher.
 
Thanks for the responses, guys! Much appreciated. I guess I’m trying to escape this nasty worldview of scientism that I’ve held throughout my kidhood, albiet involuntarily and naively. (I’m 20). I grew up Catholic, but was so excited that this was a religion that accepted the sciences that I never had faith but “knowledge” that the Church was true if you know what I mean. I might not be wrong about the first type of knowing, but I’m certinly missing out on that second way of knowing, which is philosophy. I’m trying to unlock that in me. I don’t want to be a Catholic with a “New Athiest” intellect. 😊

If I’m not making sense, let me know. My thoughts get so jumbled it gets sometimes gets impossible to sort out what i mean 🤷

Thanks again guys! Hope to dialogue with you a lot!

Gos Bless!!!
 
Binto

You aren’t the first Catholic to fall under the seductive sway of scientism. I did many years ago, and it took me a while to get my philosophical bearings back.

The main thing to remember about science is that it deals with knowledge.

The main thing to remember about philosophy is that it deals with wisdom.

That is why we find so many scientists who know little about wisdom.

I will take wisdom over science every minute of my life.
 
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