Philosophy, Jung, Freud?

[October]

Anyone here big on philosophy, Jung, or Freud? Where's a good place to start? In philosophy, I'm looking into Nietszche or Kierkegaard right now, but I'm not sure where to start with them either, or if there are others who are more interesting than they are. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[DrMetallica]

The Story of Philosophy - Will Durant

it is probably the greatest book on the subject I've ever read

 

[KarmaSutra]

Irrational Man by William Barrett is an extremely well written and decisive book about Existentialism and moreso, It's impact on todays man.


That's where I would start. Once that's completed read anything by Jean- Paul Sartre and Soren Keirkegaard. Both of these philosophers are, in my opinion, the only true Existentialists.

I had a seminar with Robert Soloman at UCONN ( Considered the foremost authority on Existentialism currently breathing) Talk about an eye opener . . .


Hope it helps,

Karma

 

[KarmaSutra]

Jung and Freud were psycho-analysts not deep thinking philosophers.



Karma

 

[seanchai]

Karma,

Wasn't de Beauvoir an existentialist too? I mean, she was sleeping with Sartre and everything...

I don't know anything about philosophy.

 

[doctoroxygen]

De Beauvoir was an existential feminist. Sartre was an existential woman-hater (he hated their "dark wet holes"). But they did have a lot of sex with each other.

I hate philosophy.

 

[Jay-X]

Originally posted by October
Anyone here big on philosophy, Jung, or Freud? Where's a good place to start? In philosophy, I'm looking into Nietszche or Kierkegaard right now, but I'm not sure where to start with them either, or if there are others who are more interesting than they are. Any suggestions? Thanks.

if you don't know anything about platon and aristotle, you'll find it really hard to understand modern philosophes

 

[Jay-X]

Originally posted by October
Anyone here big on philosophy, Jung, or Freud? Where's a good place to start? In philosophy, I'm looking into Nietszche or Kierkegaard right now, but I'm not sure where to start with them either, or if there are others who are more interesting than they are. Any suggestions? Thanks.

if you don't know anything about platon and aristotle, you'll find it really hard to understand modern philosophes

 

[Nighthawk]

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder is an excellent all-ages mystery which incorporates the history of philosophy in easily digested chunks.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1858815304/203-0047638-6378314

And yeah, Jung and Freud were more about psychoanalysis than philsosophy, but they both had a lot of interesting insights. Don't write off Freud because of the oedipal stuff (if we all wanted to **** our mothers surely more people would), his identifying of the subconcious and how it controls us must be understood if you want to truly understand the human mind.

The last great philosopher was Bill Hicks.

 

[Alicorn]

If you want anything that involves something like... facts then stay the hell away from Jung and Freud. They are the touchy-feely types that don't let pesky things like the real world get in their way. If you want real human behavior then read about the behaviorists or evolutionary psychology. Less fun reading than J&F but more fact-filled.

As for philosophy start with Socrates and the Greeks.

 

[cinephile]

The Durrant series is very good. It might be a bit involved for a first time reader. Actually, you can just go here www.philosophypages.com and find out 90% of what you need for an intro to Philosophy.

My personal recomendation for Western Philosophy are

Socarates
Plato
Aristotle
St Thomas
St Augustine
Descartes
Lebiniz
Spinoza
Hume
Kant
Nietzsche
Hegel
Schopenauer
Kiekegaard
And Wittegenstein.

Once you have finished with them, then you can move on to the really interesting stuff

 

[DrMetallica]

Originally posted by cinephile

Once you have finished with them, then you can move on to the really interesting stuff

Details please.

 

[cinephile]

The really interesting /advanced stuff are things like the Philosophy of Mathematics, Marxism, and Deconstructionsism. To really understand them though, you need a good understanding of the Classics to see them in their proper historical context. Of course, this is only Western Philosophy, I have'nt even begun on Eastern yet where they have an entirely diferent set of traditions and logic. It all facinating stuff. The Classics though is where its at. You'll get more out of Plato's Republic than 99% of the Books/Magazines/Movies/People out there.

So who do you like?

 

[KaminoSS]

frued was a a coke adict , not on topic but the thread reminded me of that

 

[MuayThai]

What about the chinese?

Why hasnt anyone mentioned Confucius?

The book "Hagakure" is brilliant and has applications for everyone.

 

[KarmaSutra]

If you're going the Eastern route The Art of War is standard as well as The Zen of OZ by Joey Green.


Karma

 

[NINJA PIMP]

Freud was a pompous jackass who had a thing for his mom.

Jung's writings are much more insightful and resonate with me. He also has a much cooler-sounding last name.

 

[WORKEROUTER]

For an intro read "Guide to Philosophy" By CEM Joad. Fortuanetly it has been printed again. It's a concise introduction to philosphy that takes you into the foundational questions. It also reccomends supplement material. For instance, it begins with the question of "what do we really know?" and then begins to offer suggestions put forth by rationalists and empiricists, then begins to go into monism and realism. I am currently studying the works of the three great empiricists--Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.

 

[GirlCrazy]

3 of my favorites are:

Plato's Republic
Sun Tzu - The art of war
Machiavelli - The prince

All Freud is going to do is convince you that you are a pervert.

The art of war is considered standard reading for military officers and corporate executives.

 

[October]

Thanks guys. So I guess that the Classics are essential...I'll probably start with Aristotle and Plato. Sounds like people aren't into Freud all that much, but I really like some of Jung's stuff. Thanks for the link to philosophypages, that stuff is great. And thanks for all of the recommendations...looking forward to reading it all. Does anyone have any other recommendations for Eastern philosophy?

Sounds like a lot of people are into philosophy around here...that's great. We need more of that, in my opinion. The thinkers of the Enlightenment reasoned that more widespread knowledge (through reason) would lead to a better society and better lives for the people...just something I think we should all keep in mind.