A superficial survey of philosophy

I don't really know much about philosophy except for the usual bits and pieces that you pick up inevitably.
Now I would like know more about it. Of course I realize that it would take many years to gain actual in-depth knowledge. Depth isn't all that important for now. Breadth will do.

I am looking for texts giving a first impression of different philosophies and philosophers. Do you have any recommendations? I am not necessarily looking for longer texts that provide coherent overviews in themselves. Random examples are perfectly fine.

If its philosophy in general that you are looking for, Socrates is pretty much the father of all philosophy, in that he changed philosophy to a study of ethics, and politics rather than just natural science.

But Plato, and his pupil Aristotle were the real brick layers of philosophy.

My personal favorite philosopher is Nietzsche.

Recommendations--->

Plato: The Republic
Aristotle: The Metaphysics, The Politics
Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil

This book was a gift a few years ago, and it's very, very good and quite easy to parse.

Pretty much anything by Bertrand Russell is worth reading.

Camus

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Originally posted by AndrewRyan

If its philosophy in general that you are looking for, Socrates is pretty much the father of all philosophy, in that he changed philosophy to a study of ethics, and politics rather than just natural science.

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All we are...is dust in the wind, dude. Dust...wind...dude.


http://ohkrapp.files.wordpress.com/2...-socrates1.jpg

You need two books as stepping off points, The Oxford Companion To The Mind and The Oxford Companion To Philosophy.

I wouldn't claim to know a lot, but what I do know began here.

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Originally posted by Rube E. Tewesday

Pretty much anything by Bertrand Russell is worth reading.

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I'm reading through Russell's The History of Western Philosophy at the moment. It is quite good as an overview. It clearly should not be the only book you read on the subject, though. He makes some rather bold statements (I suspect they're not entirely meant seriously). His love of the ancient Greeks and contempt for religion is palpable, but doesn't detract from the work that it is. It's also, of course, out of date, but I think it suffices for what it covers.

Sorry that I didn't reply earlier! Thanks for your suggestions.

No pain,
No pain.

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Originally posted by Rube E. Tewesday

Pretty much anything by Bertrand Russell is worth reading.

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I love "Why I Am Not A Christian." It's only a few pages long, and it is bracing.