Is this book good for an introduction to philosophy?

Is this book good for an introduction to philosophy?
It's $12 so I might go ahead and buy it.

Is there a better book for an introduction to philosophy?

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Yes. Will Durant.

Or Anthony Kenny. Or Copleston. Or the Cambridge history of philosophy series (anthologies by many historians of philosophy). Or getting specialists in every area, starting with Reale's ancient philosophy.

>Is there a better book for an introduction to philosophy?
Pretty much every book is a better introduction to philosophy.

I like Anthony Kenny or Kirk-Raven.

Do you know a good one for Aesthetics?

Pfft, fucking Socrates over here...

I was thinking of getting this book as well, it's like a childrens story but it introduces philosophy in it.
I'm not sure how in depth it goes though.

There's also "a cartoon introduction to philosophy".

Seriously, why all the hate for Bertrand Russell on this board?

What by Kenny?

I'm halfway through it and it's a bit of a slog, and I don't think I'm taking that much in. Maybe I'm just a pleb though.

A New History of Western Philosophy

Op who made these posts.

Should I just cancel those books and start with this instead?

It's a very good book considering that it's covering a sprawling, controversial subject within one volume.
This board is full of catholics who aren't going to like an openly atheist writer talking about the history of western thought, since that's all apparently reddit-fedoralord stuff - being an atheist.

I got into philosophy by reading an analysis of stoicism. I forgot what it was called but it was a good read.

I like Russell, that does not mean that I will praise every single book he wrote.
This book in particular is an example, and it goes beyond being the opinion of anonymous users. It is hard to find anyone in the field of philosophy that recommends it.

The problem with this books is that it makes joke of ancient and medieval philosophy, modern philosophy is treated in the most ludicrous manner, consciously omits many and very much influential philosophers for no reason at all, and he lets his own judgment cloud a writing that should be a history above everything else.

Russell was a genius, but the book is still garbage.

docs.google.com/document/d/1y8_RRaZW5X3xwztjZ4p0XeRplqebYwpmuNNpaN_TkgM/mobilebasic?pli=1

Yes, just buy Kenny if you think you'll actually read a book of that length. If not, he has a Brief History of Western Philosophy available which would be an easier introduction.

Is it one of those books that I'll have to read more than once to fully digest it?

Just realistically consider your reading habits and decide whether you actually want to read a 1,000 page history book.

I'll read it once I guess

Its pretty bad. Dr. Sadler compared his ability to analyze other philosophers with Ayn Rand and recommended Copleston instead.

Bertrand Russell should've stuck to logic and absolutely nothing else

>Dr. Sadler
literally who?

no
Bertrand's is shit. He was a hack.
More a fucking biography of the philosophers than actually arguing their points. Go for Cambridge, then read about specific philosophers you found interesting within it.

The book is very fun to read and there is a lot of information, but it is also really biased. I am reading it right now, and as long as you make some checks and balances for yourself, it can be a good introduction. Personally, I am going chronologically, and I am reading both Russell's and Will Durant's book at the same time, as well as watching the Arthur Holmes and Rick Roderick lecture series.
yt com/ playlist?list=PL6676C3E8A487FEE6
and /playlist?list=PL9GwT4_YRZdBf9nIUHs0zjrnUVl-KBNSM

I also do part time contracting work, mostly on tractors, and for that I have downloaded the "History of Philosophy without any gaps" series, and I listen to that while driving
historyofphilosophy.net/all-episodes


Every one of these sources has their own biased, admittedly Russell is the worst offender, but I also enjoy him the most. As long as you think for yourself it shouldn't affect you too much, and I think a multi-pronged approach is the best here anyway.

Textbooks and general surveys are pointless. Just find a topic in philosophy you're interested in, find the relevant texts, and start reading. Philosophy requires active and focused reading. Otherwise you will quickly get bored with it

How can you be biased in a book about philosophy? What does he do exactly?

>Unironically referencing a meme professor

The point in reading a 1000 page history book is to be familiar with most of the important philosphers.

That's how you find out what you prefer.

He is very dismissive of people he doesn't like. It's obvious though when he is biased, so any normal person will be able to pick this out, but most of Veeky Forums don't understand that. One valid criticism though is that he misrepresents Kant, so be wary of that. I would still recommend the book though, it's possibly the most fun you can have while studying philosophy, and that alone will make you remember and learn much more.

Honestly, just listen to the "Partially Examined Life" podcast. It is a better discussion on philosophy.

In order to even pick a type of philosophy that I prefer I'd have to know what types of philosophy is out there.

It'd be best to read a text book.

Julian Marias' History of Philosophy is my favorite

>Anyone mentioned online is a meme

>Asks gardener to impregnate is wife.

this

What is that even,looks gross

My favorite food! The Swedish cuisine!
Kebab!
(It truly tastes amazing.)

Hmm, kebab? I thought kebab was Mediterranean food?

Don't you fucking slander Sadler in my presence.

If you ever find yourself in Sweden, go find yourself the nearest swede; let them ask themselves: Where's the best kebab place?
And they will show you the way to Ataraxia.

guys I think that was the joke

Swedes love it, I mean why do we ever worry about the immigration problem? All they need to do is learn how to cook KEBAB! (the dark swedish kind) And they'll never be poor.
Swedish kebab is the best kebab.

If only South America and Mexico was next to Europe so you don't have to suffer eating this shit.

>T. Never had Swedish Kebab Pizza

Kenny's books are the best. Bryan Magee's Story of Philosophy is a DK book, simple but good if you're really struggling. Leo Strauss' History of Political Philosophy is a good book to have as well.

Copleston is way too dense to start out on. Literally unintelligible in some parts if you don't know greek/latin.

Take notes

>beta normies discussing philosophy in layman terms for accessibility
maybe if you want to feel like you're learning something

While it is admittedly a huge subject, his treatment of each philosopher/philosophical current is still extremely brief. Other than that, I liked the sections on ancient to pre-modern philosophy the most, even though he seems to assume that it mostly exists as a curiosity and a bygone chapter, but I felt Bertrand becoming more and more opinionated as he moved forwards in time, like he was effectively just saying 'nah you're wrong', but maybe that's just me. The bit on Nietzsche is definitely absolute trash and a blatant refusal to meet a philosopher on his own premises, though.

Russel is a cuck who wrote for cucks. he was also reddit

Do you really want people to read russel? Because this how you get people to read russel.

I don't care what you reddit cucks do. My happiness is not tied to how other people spend their time. I know this is an alien concept to you but try to think about it without getting butthurt for a few minutes.

The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists
by Robin A.H. Waterfield

>My happiness is not tied to how other people spend their time.
And you're the one calling people reddit?

Don't study philosophy. The only reason you and half of the people on this board are so infatuated with it, is because you believe it shall make you more of an intellectual. Scum, all of you. Leave philosophy to philosophers.

I swear to god I fucking hate Americans

This is such a dumb post.

>eats kebab
>hates Americans
Like clockwork.