The Best Philosophy Books, Chosen by an Expert in the Field

Best Philosophy Books (For Beginners and Experts)

The Best Philosophy Books Of All Time [Updated For 2022!]

23 Of The Best Philosophy Books You Must Read (2022)

Best philosophy books

The text starts by expressing its focus on providing practical advice to rulers, as demonstrated through its dedication to Lorenzo de’ Medici, Florence's ruler. Machiavelli’s straightforward language and uncomplicated logic reflect his intention to offer easily comprehensible counsel. The initial chapters outline the book’s focus on autocratic systems and detail different types of principalities and rulers. These initial sections also discuss maintaining control over unfamiliar territories and introduce key themes like power politics, warfare strategies, and gaining popular favor.

The book's core offers pragmatic guidance on various topics, including the pros and cons of different paths to power, the acquisition and retention of new states, handling internal rebellion, forming alliances, and maintaining a robust military. While Machiavelli’s perspectives on free will, human nature, and ethics are implied in these chapters, they do not become explicit discussion points until later.

The latter part of the book discusses the qualities of the ruler himself, emphasizing that high ideals often result in poor governance. It suggests that while certain virtues are admirable, they can be detrimental to the state, and similarly, while some vices are undesirable, they can sometimes be crucial for the wellbeing of the state. Machiavelli concludes with the argument that the appearance of virtue may be more vital than actual virtue, which can be a liability. In the final sections, the book connects to Italy's disunity, providing an analysis of past Italian rulers' failures. It ends with a fervent appeal to future rulers for the restoration of Italy’s honor and pride, especially urging Lorenzo de’ Medici to take the lead.

The Prince

El Príncipe

Meditations

Meditaciones

Tao Te Ching

The driving question behind this philosophical exploration is the nature of justice: why humans choose to act justly, and whether justice is innately beneficial, or simply a concept enforced by the powerful onto the weak. To delve into these questions, a definition of justice is proposed that focuses on human psychology, rather than observable actions, asserting that justice holds intrinsic value. The exploration leads to the presentation of justice as a principle of specialization, which states that every individual should commit to the societal role they are naturally suited for and avoid meddling in other roles.

This philosophical journey proposes an analogy between societal justice and individual justice. It postulates that the soul of each person is divided into three components: the rational, desiring truth; the spirited, craving honor; and the appetitive, lusting primarily after wealth. The idea is that societal justice is mirrored in an individual when the rational component governs, supported by the spirited, with the appetitive following the rational. This concept is further expanded by aligning these components with societal classes: producers are driven by their appetites, warriors by their spirits, and rulers by their rational faculties. The rulers, or philosopher kings, are the focus of the narrative as they possess knowledge of the Forms - abstract realities that exist in relation to the visible world.

A series of allegories are used to detail the philosophers' understanding of the Forms, the ultimate one being 'the Form of the Good', the source of all knowledge, truth, and beauty. The philosophers, through their desire for truth, transcend the visible world to grasp the nature of the Forms. It's further argued that the philosophers are the most just, as they aim to fulfill the desires of the rational part of the soul. Finally, it's proposed that justice, intrinsically connected to the Forms, is the greatest good because it enables the assimilation of the ultimate good - the Form of the Good - into one's life. Interestingly, the narrative ends by denouncing poetry for appealing to the basest part of the soul and promoting injustice, reinforcing the importance of justice in both society and the individual.

The Republic

La República

The Analects

Las Analectas

Man's Search for Meaning

La búsqueda de sentido del hombre

The Art Of War

El Arte de la Guerra

The Best Philosophy Books Of All Time [Updated For 2023!]

23 Of The Best Philosophy Books You Must Read (2023)

The mainstay of the work is a series of 296 aphorisms or short philosophical reflections, organized into nine thematic chapters. The aphorisms vary in length and while each has its own merit, they also contribute to a broader narrative within each chapter. The preface accuses past philosophers of dogmatism, arguing that in lieu of objective truth, they create complex systems to validate their own biases and beliefs. These systems, the author argues, reveal more about the philosophers' personal values and character than any universal truth. In contrast, the author advocates for the 'free spirit' philosopher, one willing to follow any hypothesis or argument to its end without being tied to a single perspective.

The author furthers his critique of dogmatism by discussing the religious spirit. The work then segues into a discussion of various moral systems, positing them as attempts at self-overcoming. The author strongly criticizes the 'herd' morality that fosters mediocrity and conformity. Modern scholarship receives a similar critique, with its focus on collecting facts rather than creating meaning and values. The author insists on an 'order of rank' among individuals based on spiritual strength, making a universal moral code untenable. The strongest individuals, he suggests, are those who ruthlessly challenge their own biases and assumptions in a quest for self-understanding.

The work then takes a turn into nationalism and national identity, suggesting inherent traits specific to different nationalities or 'races'. The author criticizes anti-Semitism, lambasts the English, and introduces the concept of the 'good European', one who transcends nationalism to achieve true individuality. In the concluding chapter, the author presents his vision of nobility: an isolated and misunderstood soul who has risen far above the masses. The book concludes with a poignant poem about a solitary noble soul yearning for companionship on a mountaintop.

Beyond Good And Evil

Más Allá del Bien y del Mal

And Its Connection with Political and Social Circumstances from the Earliest Times to the Present Day

Y su Conexión con las Circunstancias Políticas y Sociales desde los Tiempos más Antiguos hasta el Día de Hoy

History of Western Philosophy

Historia de la Filosofía Occidental

A Novel About the History of Philosophy

Una Novela Sobre la Historia de la Filosofía

14-year-old Sophie Amundsen from Norway embarks on a peculiar journey into the world of philosophy through a correspondence course. Each day, she receives a letter posing philosophical questions, followed by a package containing the teachings of philosophers related to these queries. These packages, delivered by a dog named Hermes, are from her mysterious teacher Alberto Knox, who emphasizes the significance of philosophy in life and encourages Sophie to question her existence. He guides her through the history of western philosophy, starting with ancient myths and natural philosophers, to the theories of Democritus regarding atoms and fate.

Simultaneously, Sophie finds herself embroiled in a perplexing situation involving a girl named Hilde Møller Knag. She receives a postcard intended for Hilde from her father, which leads Sophie to suspect a connection between Hilde and her philosophy course. Her studies take her from Socrates' wisdom of knowing nothing, to Plato's world of ideas, and Aristotle's extensive classifications. As she delves deeper into her course, the mystery around Hilde intensifies, especially when she finds postcards addressed to Hilde dated June 15, Sophie's upcoming birthday. Sophie's relationship with her mother is strained as she tries to keep her correspondence with Alberto a secret and apply her philosophical learnings to everyday life. 

As the narrative progresses, Sophie's tutor Alberto reveals the influence of philosophers like Descartes, Spinoza, and empiricists like Locke, Hume, and Berkeley. Their teachings revolve around doubt, experience, natural rights, and the possibility that their lives are inside the mind of God, or in this case, Albert Knag, Hilde's father. Eventually, the story shifts to Hilde's perspective on her 15th birthday, when she receives Sophie's World as a present from her father. As Hilde delves into the book, she becomes convinced of Sophie's real existence. Sophie and Alberto, meanwhile, must complete their philosophy course in order to escape from the mind of Albert Knag. The climax of the story takes place at a midsummer party for Sophie on June 15, where Sophie and Alberto vanishes, leaving Hilde to confront her father about the book. Sophie and Alberto manage to escape Albert's mind, entering a new realm of existence as invisible spirits, eager to influence the world of Hilde and her father.

Sophie's World

El Mundo de Sofía

Being and Nothingness

El ser y la nada

Critique of Pure Reason

Crítica de la razón pura

The crux of this narrative pertains to the notion of "the absurd", a profound contradiction between the universe's chaotic nature and our innate desire for coherence, order, and reason. In our quest for meaning, we are met with two alternatives: to either seek solace in a divine entity through faith or be consumed by the meaninglessness of existence. However, this narrative explores a third possibility: the acceptance and endurance of a world devoid of purpose or significance. It questions whether the absence of meaning in life automatically compels one towards self-destruction, and argues that if life truly had no worth, the only remaining paths would be religious faith or suicide.

This contradiction of the absurd is irresolvable, and any attempt at resolution is but a futile escape. Renowned scholars and philosophers like Kierkegaard, Chestov, Jaspers, and Husserl have grappled with this contradiction, yet they too seek respite from it. They perceive no cohesion or order in existence, hence seeking transcendence in this very chaos. In contrast, being one with the absurd requires constant confrontation of this underlying contradiction, allowing us to immerse in life more deeply rather than seeking an end to it. Embracing the absurd incorporates three tenets: revolt (refusing to accept any answer or resolution), freedom (absolute liberty of thought and action), and passion (an urge for vibrant and varied experiences).

The narrative further illustrates the concept of an absurd life through four archetypes: the seducer, who revels in the passions of the moment; the actor, who imbibes the passions of countless lives into their career; the rebel, whose energies are consumed by political battles; and the artist, who crafts entire worlds. Absurd art refrains from explaining experiences, choosing merely to depict them and offering a specific outlook on certain problems rather than generic themes. The narrative concludes with a depiction of Sisyphus, the absurd hero, doomed to endlessly push a boulder up a mountain only for it to roll back down. This eternal struggle is a metaphor for the human condition, suggesting that acceptance of this absurdity can indeed result in contentment. It ends with an examination of Franz Kafka's works, commending him for his masterful portrayal of the human condition's absurdity.

The Myth of Sisyphus

El Mito de Sísifo

A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy

Una Introducción Muy Breve a la Filosofía

What Does It All Mean?

¿Qué Significa Todo Esto?

In a quest for unquestionable knowledge, the protagonist decides to discard all his previous beliefs, as they were based on sensory perception, which he believes can be easily deceived. His skepticism extends to the point where he questions the legitimacy of everything he perceives through his senses, as he could be trapped in a dream or be the victim of a superior being's deceit, leading him to the conclusion that his senses are not reliable in the pursuit of truth.

However, in this vortex of doubt, he stumbles upon an undeniable fact - his own existence. This realization stems from the understanding that thought and doubt must have a source, a thinker or doubter. Despite potential deception about other aspects of reality, he concludes that his existence is undeniable and that his existence as a thinking entity is disclosed through his intellect, which he believes is more known to him than his physical form.

His confidence in his existence is a result of a distinct and clear perception. He begins to question what other truths he can discern through this method. But before accepting his clear and distinct perceptions as undoubtable, he seeks to confirm God's existence. He believes that the idea of a perfect God could only be implanted by a being as perfect as God. This leads him to the conclusion of God's existence and trust in God's perfection preventing deception. Any errors, he believes, stem from premature judgments made by the will on matters the limited intellect doesn't fully comprehend. With this faith in God, he investigates physical entities, discerning their primary attributes, such as size, shape, and breadth. He concludes that the essence of physical existence is extension, while the essence of his mind is thought, leading him to believe that mind and body are distinct entities. He also realizes that while primary qualities of things can be perceived clearly, secondary qualities are often blurred due to the sensory limitations, which he believes are designed for practical navigation in the world rather than truth-seeking.

19 Best Philosophers Books of All Time

The Prince

Meditations

Tao Te Ching

The Republic

The Analects

Man's Search for Meaning

The Art Of War

Beyond Good And Evil

History of Western Philosophy

And Its Connection with Political and Social Circumstances from the Earliest Times to the Present Day

Sophie's World

A Novel About the History of Philosophy

Being and Nothingness

Critique of Pure Reason

Beyond Good And Evil

The Myth of Sisyphus

What Does It All Mean?

A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy

Meditations on First Philosophy

Nicomachean Ethics

A Treatise of Human Nature

The Dialogues of Plato

Sources

What To Read Next

19 Best Philosophers Books of All Time

The Prince

Meditations

Tao Te Ching

The Republic

The Analects

Man's Search for Meaning

The Art Of War

Beyond Good And Evil

History of Western Philosophy

And Its Connection with Political and Social Circumstances from the Earliest Times to the Present Day

Sophie's World

A Novel About the History of Philosophy

Being and Nothingness

Critique of Pure Reason

Beyond Good And Evil

The Myth of Sisyphus

What Does It All Mean?

A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy

Meditations on First Philosophy

Nicomachean Ethics

A Treatise of Human Nature

The Dialogues of Plato

Sources

What To Read Next

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