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Your basic introduction to the subject.
Looking for something else? Click on the links below to see material arranged by subject:
'New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common.' An Essay Concerning Human Understanding John Locke (1632-1704)
A good starting point for anyone new to the Theory of Knowledge, or studying it for A level is Peter Cole's book in Hodder's Access to Philosophy series.
To get into the challenge of philosophy and to enjoy the perceptions of a sharp mind and good humour, there are few better places to go than the work of David Hume - his Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, is one of the great works of Scottish philosophy.
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Outline notes, suitable for AS/A2 students, are available on the following:
just click on the 'Notes for Students' link above to get the pdf files - and they're FREE, of course!
For information about Understand Philosophy, my introduction to the subject, just click on the cover on the left. This is also available as an ebook in Kindle format, and a shortened version - pulling out just the essentials - is also available, entitled Philosophy Made Simple.
Nigel Warburton has a new book - A Little History of Philosophy - out in the autumn. For his own comments about the book and why he wrote it, click here.
The Open University offers a good range of free podcasts. To see their new series, called 'Exploring Philosophy' follow this link:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=444084074
The Philosophy of Love! The Open University’s iTunes U channel has produced a set of podcasts on The Philosophy of Love http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=433637948 To mark the Royal Wedding in April, Carolyn Price, senior lecture in Philosophy at The Open University and Timothy Chappell, director of the Ethics Centre, reflect on the meaning of love and marriage in The Philosophy of Love podcast for iTunes U. They discuss the nature of love, from love as a function, to ‘the Doppelganger problem’ – should we also love another person with the same traits and qualities as the person we already love? Finally, the notion of love as a duty within marriage is explored.
Interested in David Hume? The Open University’s iTunes U channel is offering the following free podcasts: Hume: 19th Century Philosopher ( 300 years of David Hume) http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=421362095
The history of philosophy podcasts... Professor Peter Adamson of King's College London, has launched a series of podcasts which will eventually cover the whole history of philosophy. He's starting with Ancient Philosophy, so go on line now to hear him speak on Plato. If the first podcasts are anything to go by, this will be a fascinating resource, both for students and those who have a general interest in philosophy. Each podcast lasts 20 minutes, and he's issuing them each week. Try them on www.historyofphilosophy.net
Want to know my views on writing philosophy? See the interview I gave to Nigel Warburton on his Virtual Philosopher blog: http://virtualphilosopher.com/2006/12/interview_with__1.html
After the huge success of their Philosophy Bites
podcasts, Nigel Warburton and David Edmonds have now produced a
book featuring some of their most interesting and relevant
interviews. As featured on the Radio 4 Today programme,
this is a real step forward in making philosophy accessible to those who
might not have tried it before. There is no need for more
information about this book here because, if you click on the
Amazon link, you will
be able to 'look inside' and see the contents for yourself. (And
for those of you in the USA, click here This is philosophy at its most engaged and enthusiastic!
It provides a good, jargon-free introduction to some of the best philosophers working today and the issues with which they are concerned.
Looking for meaning in life from a secular point of view? I think the following statement by Don Cupitt is a great starting point for reflection: http://www.doncupitt.com/philosophylife/don-cupitt-philosophy-of-life-religion-of-ordinary-life.html
Some introductory texts for philosophy, particularly suitable for those doing A level:
When it comes to philosophy, clarity is (almost) everything. Being able to grasp and express an idea in a straightforward and intelligible way is an essential skill to develop. There are books that can help with this...
Routledge have recently published new editions of two of Nigel Warburton's popular books: The Basics of Essay Writing and Thinking from A to Z. These, along with his Essential Study Guide are extremely useful for students seeking to sharpen up their technique. Further information on these books is available on the Amazon site, and you can 'search inside' the Essential Study Guide to give you more of an idea of its style and content. And f or those new to Philosophy and wanting to get to grips with the basics of presenting an argument, Nigel Warburton's Thinking from A to Z might be just the thing.
Although not listed as a separate subject on this site, the Philosophy of Art is a fascinating area of study. Here are some ideas to get you started.. There are sections on The Philosophy of Art (by Andrew Harrison), Artistic Modernism (by Martin Bentham) and Art and Eastern Philosophy (by Ann Whiteside) in World Philosophy. There are a huge number of ideas to explore within this subject, from the nature and function of art itself, including its social and political impact, through to the problems of expression and representation, to the whole idea of giving visible form to concepts. In many ways, the place of art in society mirrors that of philosophy - both are valid ways of exploring and sharing a fundamental interest in the meaning of human life and its place within the world.
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Interested in Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Sartre, de Beauvoir or Camus?
Curious to know more about philosophy? This double CD audiobook may be just what you're looking for.
Jonathan Glover's website www.jonathanglover.co.uk provides a whole range of interesting material on philosophy and ethics.
'We know our will is free, and there's an end on't.' Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)
'Whereof one cannot speak, thereon one must remain silent.' the ending of Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 - 1951)
If you are studying thinkers from the 16th to 18th centuries, then www.earlymoderntexts.com provides an amazing resource - original texts from thinkers such as Barclay, Hobbes, Descartes, Hume, Kant and many more, all in readable form. Getting into these original works of philosophy, rather than just reading commentaries, is a real eye-opener. They're more accessible that you might imagine!
Want quick and accessible information about a great philosopher? I reckon... might be a useful place to start your quest. |
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All material on this site is © Mel Thompson unless otherwise attributed |
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to go to Amazon.com.)
