Who are some recommended philosophers for beginners in philosophy?

[uman]

Hi all,

I read Russell's "Problems of Philosophy" for school and want to learn more about philosophy. I picked up Heidegger's "Introduction to Metaphysics", but despite the title, it was much too difficult for me.

Any idea on good philosophers for a beginner looking to understand some philosophy to read?

Thanks

 

[JoeDawg]

Hi all,
I read Russell's "Problems of Philosophy" for school and want to learn more about philosophy.

Rene Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy
Plato's Dialogues: Apology, Crito, Euthyphro
Plato: Republic
David Hume: An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding
Friedrich Nietzsche: Twilight of the Idols
W. V. O. Quine: Two Dogmas of Empiricism
Thomas Kuhn: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

 

[ESTÉRA]

Well it depends on what you already know. If its a thorough overview of histories many philosophers and their ideas and doctrines then i would suggest Russell's "history of western philosophy"
For an absolute beginner who wishes an enjoyable and quick understanding of some of the oldest questions in philosophy i would recommend Thomas Nagel's "what does it all mean"

 

[uman]

Thanks, both of you! I picked up the complete works of Plato from the library. Seems like a good starting point. I'll keep your other suggestions in mind!

 

[confinement]

Starting with Plato is good, and then Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, Liebniz, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Heidigger, Wittgenstein, Sartre.