One book of each philosophy - Question for those with extens

[ONE]

As I've mentioned in another post, I want to read about the various schools of thought/ philosophies - including some one the capitalist literature (ex Adam smith...). The reason for this is to be completely objective. The capitalist ideals don’t appeal to me, but you still have to educate yourself with all the other philosophies.... As they say, you have to know your enemy (or something like that)

My question is this: If you have to pick ONE AND ONLY ONE book of each philosophy (capitalist/Marxist/Leninism/Trotskyism/etc) which one would you pick and who is the author? I.e. Which is THE book to read in each category? (I know the communist manifesto might be one...)

I know there are a lot of recommendations in other posts, but it's a little overwhelming, so where should I start?

Thanks

[RedComrade]

Capitalism: Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy

Orthodox Marxism: Socialism: Utopian and Scientific

Leninism: The State and Revolution

National Socialism: Mein Kampf

[ONE]

Thanks RedComrade. I'll check them out.

What do others think?

[Felicia]

CrazyPete would be a great person to ask about this topic, he's loaded with philosophical knowledge. Unfortunately he wont be around for another month and a half, you should bring this thread up when he gets back, I'm sure that he'll have lots of works to recommend :)

[ONE]

Thanks Felicia (wow, you're everywhere! :-P )

How would I bring this thread up? just reply to it?

thanks!

[suffianr]

Why limit yourself to economics? There is so much more to philosophy than just Right Vs. Left stuff...Pick up any textbook on Contemporary Ethics, and you'll get a few rough ideas about existentialism, cultural relativism or utilitarian thought...

Of course, you can also opt to study Eastern philosophy; for Hinduism, look up the Upanishads or the Rig Vedas, for Buddhism look up the Suttas or the Paramitas...

[Felicia]

Quote: from ONE on 1:18 pm on July 18, 2003
Thanks Felicia (wow, you're everywhere! :-P )

How would I bring this thread up? just reply to it?

thanks!

Yes, I am everywhere, I'm branching out you see :cheesy:

Yeah, just respond to the topic when you notice that Pete's back, or I can just mention this to him and ask him what he thinks, but it's good to bring back the topic anyway :)

I agree with Suffian. You shouldn't limit yourself to just economics. Pick up some Sartre, Nietzsche, Freud, Weber. It's all great stuff!!!!! READ!!!! :cheesy:

(Edited by felicia at 11:35 pm on July 18, 2003)

[ONE]

I have some knowledge in other philosophies (ex determinism/free will/etc) but now I'm more interested in the applied philosophy of politics/law/society/etc... I want to study the main political philosophies (capitalism/communism/socialism) and REALLY understand their various political beliefs at a deeper level. I am also developing my own convoluted political and social theories and learning more about the subject will help.

Freud? never... he sounds like a dumb ass (sorry for my foul language :-P )

Either way, what "existentialism, cultural relativism or utilitarian thought" books would you recommend? What's a good overview book?

So much to read, so little time!!!

Thanks

[Felicia]

Either way, what "existentialism, cultural relativism or utilitarian thought" books would you recommend? What's a good overview book?
Jean-paul Sartre is the existentialism man :biggrin:. I hear that Being and Nothingness is his main work for existentialism (I might buy it online today, lol). There's also The Transcendence of the Ego: An Existentialist Theory of Consciousness by Sartre aswell. Pretty Much anything written by Sartre will be existentialist, you can pretty much count on it, it's just the way he thought ;) . He has many novels, Nausea and The Age of Reason: A novel are supposedly excellent pieces of work...... He has written a lot.


Sigmund Freud was a psychologist that believed if we have anal pleasure as children by pooping we'll grow up to be fat......... hahaha, no joke, and that little boys want to have sex with their mothers and vice versa for girls and dads...... I think that he was a bit of a crack pot, but yet his theories are taught everywhere. He's done other works like The Id and the Ego, and he's written some stuff on dreams/memory I think. Don't take my personal bias against him too seriously, his works are still a good read. Freud also did some work with Carl Jung, he's worth looking into aswell!! :)

Dunno what to recommend for Cultural Relativism and utilitarian thought, sorry.

But it never hurts to read Plato's Republic and Thomas More's Utopia, I hear decent things about them but haven't read them yet, I will soon though.

[ONE]

Yeah, I know, Freud is a bit of a sick pervert. From what I understand (and please correct me if I'm wrong), a lot of his theories were culturally biased (looking at one cultural sample) To develop a theory that is applicable to all humans, you have to take various samples from all corners of the world. After all, if you're studying human nature, its everywhere. (I'm not talking about the pooping, I haven't met any Siberians, but I'm sure they poop as well :) ) Unfortunately I can't remember a single theory that I thought was culturally biased - I guess I made a point to forget it :-P


I read some of Plato's republic and I found it to be interesting. He talks about the concept of the "philosopher king". His theory states that a philosopher king will serve as the best choice for a leader. Obviously, he tries to prove this concept in details before getting to this conclusion. However, this concept is only a theory and will never be realized.

[Felicia]

hmmm, Yeah, Freud was a bit off his rocker. But I only have a superficial knowledge of his theories, and I made a point not to memorize his chart on psycho-sexual development (the whole sexual pleasure from pooping thing when a kid, among others, lol). Freud liked to theorize about sexual stuff, if that makes any sense, he always thought about that.

I have to go read some more! :cheesy:

[ONE]

I just bought T. More's Utopia; Plato's Republic and Marx&Engels: Basic writings on politics & philosophy from the flea market... all that for $10! I'll have to keep checking for more interesting books. More's book looks pretty anorexic - and there I was expecting some monster! Have you seen this book?

I also want to read the books recommended by RedComrade at some point.

"I have to go read some more! "
What? Freud? nooooo, don't waste your time :)

[Felicia]

I just bought T. More's Utopia; Plato's Republic and Marx&Engels: Basic writings on politics & philosophy from the flea market... all that for $10! I'll have to keep checking for more interesting books. More's book looks pretty anorexic - and there I was expecting some monster! Have you seen this book?

No, I haven't seen it but I assume it's a little skinny book :biggrin:. You can't imagine the shock I was in when I ordered "che: a revolutionary life", I pulled it out of the shipping box and it was nearly 800 pages, I was expecting 400 pages at best :biggrin:
I hate it when other people find great books and don't spend a fortune on them, *falls into a grumpy slump* .... nah, I'm just teasin, that's what I get for buying from amazon, I suppose :-P

"I have to go read some more! "
What? Freud? nooooo, don't waste your time :)

Well, yes, I'll read some small pieces of Freud. I'm in the mood to buy nearly 20 books online, I'm going to crack and end up buying them all tomorrow.... I can just feel it now, eeeeeee, and I'll be so excited when they get here! You might need to know that the thought of getting books makes me very happy, heee, I squeel with delightment! :cheesy:
I suppose that the smart thing to do it just buy 2 or 3 books at a time until I get them read and then go get some more, but I like to just look at them too, they're shinny! And they say to me "Felicia.....Felicia...... come look through my pages....... touch my surface, put your fingerprints on my shinny exterior...." hehe, I suppose I'm probably scaring you now ;) :cheesy:

[suffianr]

For theories on ethics, humanism & utilitarianism, read Emmanuel Kant or John Stuart Mill.

For existentialism, I'd go with Felicia's suggestions, but also look up Albert Camus; I'd say that his novel L'Etranger is one of his more 'accessible' works...

Speaking about French philosophers, also check out some Revolution-era writing, most of it might be a little hard to get through, but it's well worth your while...

[Felicia]

yeah, revolution era writing. I think that Voltaire, Rousseau, and John Locke count for that? Oh, but Locke's not french :biggrin:

I've heard that some of Sartre's existentialist novels (nausea, etc) beats Camus's The Strangers hands down ;)

But I'll have to read and judge for myself I suppose.... :cheesy:

[ONE]

"And they say to me "Felicia.....Felicia...... come look through my pages....... touch my surface, put your fingerprints on my shinny exterior...." hehe, I suppose I'm probably scaring you now "

Scaring is an understatement.... I'm glad I live in a different province :)

When I read the above, a visual came to my head of an evil looking book trying to seduce you :)


"that's what I get for buying from amazon"

Well at least they're shinny as you said! the books I got are old and dull looking, but they're still in great shape!!! I'm upset because they have no pictures though! :-P

Getting books makes you happy? I know what to get you for your birth day now!!!........ I know what you're thinking now: "too bad I don't know this guy" :)

Suffianr: thanks for your input! I hope I'll eventually read all these books you guys suggested, but I want to start off with politics/economics.

[Felicia]

haha, :biggrin:

Some books are evil, don't let them fool you!

[Fever]

Ayn rand is good if you wanna see another point of view. You can read her stuff on objectivism. She is kind of an anarchist but also a capitalist. Its weird. But some stuff she does make sense.

[ONE]

Thanks for the suggestion Fever.

I just finished Utopia by Thomas More and I wasn't too impressed, I guess I had higher expectations. He was obviously ahead of his time though.

[Wenty]

if you want a good book read history of western philosophy by bertrand russell, it'll blow your mind.