TOP BOOKS TO READ IF YOU WANT TO STUDY PHILOSOPHY AT UNIVERSITY

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1 TOP BOOKS TO READ IF YOU WANT TO STUDY PHILOSOPHY AT UNIVERSITY

2 Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, everything we understand to be connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, the mind, and language. It is a subject that centres on discussion and debate. In short, a lot of people have written a lot about it and have written some great things too! So, as a prospective Philosophy student, get your head out the clouds and into some of these books. These selected texts have been recommended by the Cambridge Immerse mentors who are studying Philosophy at Cambridge University and aim to give a budding philosopher a good grounding in key themes.

3 Table of Content The list below is some of the titles they recommended in no particular order. The Republic... 4 by Plato A Little History of Philosophy... 5 by Nigel Warburton Leviathan... 6 by Thomas Hobbes Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy... 7 by Simon Blackburn The Problems of Philosophy... 8 by Bertrand Russell On Violence... 9 by Hannah Arendt Utopia by Thomas More On Liberty...11 by John Stewart Mill Politics: Ideas in Profile...12 by David Runciman

4 The Republic by PLATO Plato s most famous work and one of the most important books ever written on the subject of philosophy and political theory. Plato s most famous work and one of the most important books ever written on the subject of philosophy and political theory, The Republic is a fictional dialogue between Socrates and other various Athenians and foreigners which examines the meaning of justice. Written in approximately 380 BC, The Republic discusses Plato s Theory of Forms, the nature of the philosopher, the conflict between philosophy and poetry, and the immortality of the soul. An essential read for any student of philosophy or political science, The Republic is a monumental work of antiquity, which forms the foundation for much of our modern policy. The Republic is a classic text and crucial to developing a good grounding in Philosophy. Aspiring philosophy students will benefit from learning to follow arguments to logical conclusions, arguing by analogy and considering the relationship between groups of individuals and the individual and the state. The concept of philosopher kings should make those wishing to study philosophy think about the roles that governments play in everyday life, and the advantages and pitfalls of the different ways of ordering civil society. Plato s exploration of justice (the freedom to follow one s own pursuits to the best of one s abilities so long as it does not interfere with another s right to the same) is instrumental not only to the study of philosophy but also subjects such as law. The Republic has stood the test of time and is a very fascinating read. 4

5 A Little History of Philosophy by NIGEL WARBURTON Philosophy begins with questions about the nature of reality and how we should live. The above sentence characterises the concerns of Socrates, who spent his days in the ancient Athenian marketplace asking awkward questions, disconcerting the people he met by showing them how little they genuinely understood. This engaging book introduces the great thinkers in Western philosophy and explores their most compelling ideas about the world and how best to live in it. Nigel Warburton is a captivating writer and speaker, and Cambridge Immerse has been delighted to welcome him to guest lecture during our summer programmes. A Little History of Philosophy has been read far and wide, most notably Katy Perry, who was snapped reading it while on holiday. It serves as a fantastic introduction to students wishing to study Philosophy at university. 5

6 Leviathan by THOMAS HOBBES Hobbes Leviathan is foundational to understanding the modern state, in spite of its being written over 350 years ago. Hobbes, famously born twinned with fear, believed that human action is determined by self-interest and selfishness. The most important rule for humans (the first law of nature) is to avoid violent conflict and seek peace, in order to ensure self-preservation. The fact that peace will look different for everyone means that only thing we can, and must, agree on is to allow one person or institution to determine what this peace looks like for us- a sovereign or government. This sovereign is our representative, that is, someone who speaks for all of us and to whom we all submit and obey. It is only through this sovereign that we are joined together as a multitude, allowing us to escape the natural condition of war and as a consequence live longer, less violent, happier lives. Although initially a challenging read, Leviathan is a text that remains ever relevant the world we live in. Hobbes ideas are relatively simple but bring into perspective the contrast between individualism and giving up liberty for the advancement of society. It also raises a number of interesting other questions such as the use of force and is a basis for some nationalistic ideas. For students who wish to study philosophy at university, Leviathan is often a key text in a political philosophy course. 6

7 Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy by SIMON BLACKBURN This is a book about the big questions in life: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. It is for anyone who believes there are big questions out there, but does not know how to approach them. Think sets out to explain what they are and why they are important. Simon Blackburn begins by putting forward a convincing case for the study of philosophy and goes on to give the reader a sense of how the great historical figures such as Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein have approached its central themes. Each chapter explains a major issue, and gives the reader a self-contained guide through the problems that philosophers have studied. The large scope of topics covered range from scepticism, the self, mind and body, and freedom to ethics and the arguments surrounding the existence of God. Lively and approachable, this book is ideal for all those who want to learn how the basic techniques of thinking shape our existence. 7

8 The Problems of Philosophy by BERTRAND RUSSELL The key theories of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, David Hume, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Georg Hegel and others. First published in 1912, Bertrand Russell s The Problems of Philosophy has never been out of print and is essential reading for philosophy students. In clear and concise language, Russell introduces to the reader the key theories of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, David Hume, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Georg Hegel and others to lay the foundation of philosophical inquiry. 8

9 On Violence by HANNAH ARENDT Hannah Arendt s On Violence presents an analysis of the nature, causes, and significance of violence in the second half of the twentieth century. This title re-examines the relationship between war, politics, violence, and power. Arendt s idea about the distinction between power and violence is an important tool for thinking about how violence and the monopoly of the state over the means of force is often conflated with political legitimacy. Arendt s work is particularly relevant following the well-publicised police brutality and the Black Lives Matter Campaign in the US, as violence towards the people becomes the way in which political legitimacy is destroyed, rather than reinforced. Her argument that technological innovations have led to a reversal of the relationship between power and violence offers an insight into the hold which terrorist groups like ISIS hold on the political imagination. It is also refreshing to read a political text from a female author. 9

10 Utopia by SIR THOMAS MORE Thomas More s Utopia is one of the most influential books in western literature. Within Utopia is described an idealized island community upon which perfect social harmony has been achieved. On this island all property is community owned, violence is nonexistent and everyone has the opportunity to work and live in an environment of religious tolerance. Many social movements throughout history have drawn upon More s work for inspiration. While possibly unachievable Thomas More s Utopia gives a vision of what could be. Not only is Utopia a delightful read, it also raises questions about the nature of politics which continue to be pressing in the modern day. More explores the difficulties which face a politician or an advisor once they embroil themselves in the murky arena of politics and risk being morally corrupted themselves or exploited by others who are corrupt. The question of whether intelligent people are morally obliged to contribute towards the public sphere, or whether they are better served by concerning themselves with their private interests, is surprisingly relevant to undergraduates deciding what they want to do after university. Further, the idea of a utopia has informed political thinkers, including Marx, since, and is therefore important reading for understanding politics as part of a trajectory towards an ideal system. 10

11 On Liberty by JOHN STEWART MILL A celebration of individuality, diversity, and nonconformity. A celebration of individuality, diversity, and nonconformity, On Liberty still makes a persuasive argument for what John Stuart Mill believed to be humankind s essential liberties: the freedoms of speech, assembly, and the pursuit of pleasure, so long as one s actions do not impede the liberty of another. These freedoms, he maintained, result in a far more successful society than one ruled by the tyranny of the majority. 11

12 Politics: Ideas in Profile by DAVID RUNCIMAN Politics: Ideas in Profile is the first book of an exciting series written by one of the world s leading political scientists. Politics: Ideas in Profile is the first book of an exciting series written by one of the world s leading political scientists asks the big questions about politics: what is it, why we do we need it and where, in these turbulent times, is it heading? From the gap between rich and poor to the impact of social media, via Machiavelli, Hobbes and Weber, Runciman s comprehensive short introduction is invaluable to those studying politics or philosophy, or those who want to know how life in Denmark became more comfortable than in Syria. It is worth choosing a chapter or several chapters from Runciman s book and indulging into the discussion of thinkers that you find interesting. The book is easily accessible and with great graphics and graphs. The Ideas in Profile series is what introductions can and should be. Concise, clear, relevant, entertaining, original and global in scope, Politics makes essential reading for anyone, from students to the general reader. 12

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14 TOP BOOKS TO READ IF YOU WANT TO STUDY PHILOSOPHY AT UNIVERSITY

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