[Bogart]

As a phil major you ask the impossible, but as the first philosopher I read Plato is a secure candidate.

The Republic and The Symposium are some of the most important and rich texts for study even today. Think of the Cave metaphor (the first written notion of a 'red pill' scenario - the image of the battered and bloodied philosopher struggling towards the light is especially effecting, and his inability to communicate his knowledge of the light of the outside world a true and relatable tragedy)

[Meat Head]

I read Proverbs and Eccl were actually written by some ancient Egyptian pharaoh but plagiarised by Jewish scholars in Babylonian exile.

Would also add Jesus sayings as quite philosophical. Whether or not he existed is another matter.

[Jones]

(11-02-2016 08:40 PM)Enjoythedecline Wrote:  

What's the best Nietsche book to start ? I bought Thus Spoke Zarathustra but I'm not quite sure I understand it.

Yes, TSZ isn't the best place to start. There's some background context going on in that book that you many not get if it's your first book by him. Some literary concepts and a missing of the feeling of humor that Nietzsche has in TSZ that is found once you read his other books.

I'd start with Genealogy of Morals, as its a three-piece work about ethics and morality. It'll provide you a solid foundation to getting at Nietzsche's core beliefs - that the world is currently in a, "black is white, up is down" as far as the virtues and morals of the times.

From there I'd venture to Beyond Good and Evil as it serves as a compliment to that book, but also branches off to give you more information into the wide range of Nietzsche's interests and concepts: eternal recurrence, Schopenhauer, Wagner, bad conscience.

After those two, it's pretty much free reign (I'd go with Twilight of The Idols and The Gay Science myself) with the exception of Will to Power which wasn't complied by him, so I would read all other works before dissecting it.

[Meat Head]

Karl marx and the authors of the Koran are my least favourite philosophers.

[Comte De St. Germain]

Max Stirner because fuck your dogmatism and fuck your laws.

[Orion]

(11-02-2016 08:40 PM)Enjoythedecline Wrote:  

What's the best Nietsche book to start ? I bought Thus Spoke Zarathustra but I'm not quite sure I understand it.

I don't think it's the best one to start with. Go with Twilight of the Idols, The Antichrist, Beyond Good and Evil. Then you can read Zarathustra and Genealogy of Morals

[Demandred]

Besides Nietzsche and Ayn Rand, my favorite philosophers come from the Stoic school of thought.

A lot of guys think that Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is the greatest book about stoicism, but I like Epictetus better.

His Enchiridion (collected writings) is an amazing short book which you can read it in under an hour and is full of wisdom on every page.

This is the beginning of the book:

" Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions.

The things in our control are by nature free, unrestrained, unhindered; but those not in our control are weak, slavish, restrained, belonging to others. Remember, then, that if you suppose that things which are slavish by nature are also free, and that what belongs to others is your own, then you will be hindered. You will lament, you will be disturbed, and you will find fault both with gods and men. But if you suppose that only to be your own which is your own, and what belongs to others such as it really is, then no one will ever compel you or restrain you. Further, you will find fault with no one or accuse no one. You will do nothing against your will. No one will hurt you, you will have no enemies, and you not be harmed. "

You can read the entire text here - http://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html - I highly recommend it.

[Alpharius]

Bruce Lee - “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is uniquely your own.”

“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”

“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.”

“Using no way as way, having no limitation as limitation.”

[ivansirko]

I very much like GK Chesterton and his fence.
To add: Philosophy is too undervalued in school and has been for a long time. It would have been better to learn about Stoicism in high school rather than the late 30's.

[Meat Head]

Roissy in DC 2008 to 2011.

[Aceman]

Marcus Aurelius. He teaches you (I know he wrote the Meditations for himself alone, but still) how to keep your cool whenever, wherever, whatever the situation. Especially if things are falling apart all around you. Keeping the Roman Empire together during a time of decadence ain't exactly the easiest job in the world. Plus, Marcus doesn't complicate things by going into abstractions or talking to much, he just says it like it is.