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Philosophy » Philosophical Issues & Topics

Browse book recommendations:

Philosophy

  • Ancient Philosophy
  • Beliefs
  • Ethics & Moral Philosophy
  • Great Philosophers
  • How to Live
  • New Philosophy Books
  • Philosophical Issues & Topics
  • Philosophy of Mind
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In this section leading philosophers recommend books on particular philosophical issues and topics.  Among others, John Kaag, professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell discusses American philosophy, exploring the transcendentalism of Ralph Waldo Emerson, as well as works by Margaret Fuller, the 19th century feminist, Henry David Thoreau and William James.

Robert Talisse, professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University, focuses exclusively on pragmatism in the work of American philosophers, and explains how it differs from the straightforward empiricism of the British tradition.  He chooses work by C S Pierce, the founder of the pragmatism school, as well as William James and others.

Meanwhile, on more general philosophical issues and topics Tim Crane, professor at the Central European University in Budapest discusses metaphysics and Paul Russell, professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia chooses his best books on free will and responsibility.

    The best books on Aphorisms, recommended by Andrew Hui

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - Analects Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)

    1

    Analects
    Confucius (trans. Edward Slingerland)

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - Early Greek Philosophy: Early Ionian Thinkers Heraclitus (trans. André Laks and Glenn W. Most)

    2

    Early Greek Philosophy: Early Ionian Thinkers
    Heraclitus (trans. André Laks and Glenn W. Most)

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - Pensées Blaise Pascal (trans. Roger Ariew)

    3

    Pensées
    Blaise Pascal (trans. Roger Ariew)

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - The Gay Science Friedrich Nietzsche (trans. Walter Kaufmann)

    4

    The Gay Science
    Friedrich Nietzsche (trans. Walter Kaufmann)

  • Read
    The best books on Aphorisms - 300 Arguments by Sarah Manguso

    5

    300 Arguments
    by Sarah Manguso

The best books on Aphorisms, recommended by Andrew Hui

The unexamined life is not worth living; nature loves to hide; you can’t step in the same river twice. No doubt we’ve all grown up hearing aphorisms, but perhaps we take their importance for granted. Andrew Hui, the author of the first full book on the theory of the aphorism, guides us through the history of the short philosophical saying from Heraclitus to Nietzsche and beyond.

    The best books on American Philosophy, recommended by John Kaag

  • Read
    The best books on American Philosophy - Essays: First and Second Series by Ralph Waldo Emerson

    1

    Essays: First and Second Series
    by Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • Read
    The best books on American Philosophy - Woman in the Nineteenth Century by Margaret Fuller

    2

    Woman in the Nineteenth Century
    by Margaret Fuller

  • Read
    The best books on American Philosophy - Walden by Henry David Thoreau

    3

    Walden
    by Henry David Thoreau

  • Read
    The best books on American Philosophy - William James: Writings 1902–1910 by William James

    4

    William James: Writings 1902–1910
    by William James

  • Read
    The best books on American Philosophy - The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James

    5

    The Varieties of Religious Experience
    by William James

The best books on American Philosophy, recommended by John Kaag

Should we be moral? Should we love? John Kaag, philosopher and author of American Philosophy: A Love Story and Hiking with Nietzsche: On Becoming Who You Are, puzzles how five American Pragmatist and Transcendentalist philosophers quarrel with these searching questions and other timeless subjects, from faith and belief to human rights.

    The best books on Free Will and Responsibility, recommended by Paul Russell

  • Read
    The best books on Free Will and Responsibility - Elbow Room by Daniel C Dennett

    1

    Elbow Room
    by Daniel C Dennett

  • Read
    The best books on Free Will and Responsibility - Four Views on Free Will by Fischer, Kane, Pereboom and Vargas

    2

    Four Views on Free Will
    by Fischer, Kane, Pereboom and Vargas

  • Read
    The best books on Free Will and Responsibility - Responsibility and the Moral Sentiments by R.J. Wallace

    3

    Responsibility and the Moral Sentiments
    by R.J. Wallace

  • Read
    The best books on Free Will and Responsibility - Shame and Necessity by Bernard Williams

    4

    Shame and Necessity
    by Bernard Williams

  • Read
    The best books on Free Will and Responsibility - Against Moral Responsibility by Bruce Waller

    5

    Against Moral Responsibility
    by Bruce Waller

The best books on Free Will and Responsibility, recommended by Paul Russell

Many philosophical theories try to evade the uncomfortable truth that luck and fate play a role in the conduct of our moral lives, argues philosopher Paul Russell. He chooses the best books on free will and responsibility.

    The best books on Metaphysics, recommended by Tim Crane

  • Read
    The best books on Metaphysics - A Survey of Metaphysics by Jonathan Lowe

    1

    A Survey of Metaphysics
    by Jonathan Lowe

  • Read
    The best books on Metaphysics - Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes

    2

    Meditations on First Philosophy
    by René Descartes

  • Read
    The best books on Metaphysics - Real Time II by Hugh Mellor

    3

    Real Time II
    by Hugh Mellor

  • Read
    The best books on Metaphysics - Discourse on Metaphysics, Correspondence With Arnauld, and Monadology by Gottfried Wilhelm Freiherr von Leibniz

    4

    Discourse on Metaphysics, Correspondence With Arnauld, and Monadology
    by Gottfried Wilhelm Freiherr von Leibniz

  • Read
    The best books on Metaphysics - Sameness and Substance Renewed by David Wiggins

    5

    Sameness and Substance Renewed
    by David Wiggins

The best books on Metaphysics, recommended by Tim Crane

It’s abstract and not everyone’s cup of tea but, in many ways, inescapable. Philosopher Tim Crane introduces the best books on metaphysics.

    The best books on Pragmatism, recommended by Robert Talisse

  • Read
    The best books on Pragmatism - Philosophical Writings by CS Peirce

    1

    Philosophical Writings
    by CS Peirce

  • Read
    The best books on Pragmatism - Pragmatism by William James

    2

    Pragmatism
    by William James

  • Read
    The best books on Pragmatism - Reconstruction in Philosophy by John Dewey

    3

    Reconstruction in Philosophy
    by John Dewey

  • Read
    The best books on Pragmatism - From a Logical Point of View by Willard Van Orman Quine

    4

    From a Logical Point of View
    by Willard Van Orman Quine

  • Read
    The best books on Pragmatism - Truth, Politics, Morality by Cheryl Misak

    5

    Truth, Politics, Morality
    by Cheryl Misak

The best books on Pragmatism, recommended by Robert Talisse

Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that has dominated philosophy in America from the early 1900s to the present day, argues the philosopher and political theorist. He chooses the best books on pragmatism.

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