How do I teach myself philosophy?

Teaching yourself philosophy is a rewarding and intellectually stimulating endeavor. Philosophy encourages critical thinking, self-reflection, and a deep engagement with life's most profound questions. Here’s a structured guide on how to teach yourself philosophy, whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who wants to deepen their understanding.

 1. **Start with the Basics**

Philosophy can be complicated, but one has to start with the basics. Start off with some of the very simple ideas in philosophy that create a concrete foundation. Here's how:

a) **Understand the Big Branches of Philosophy**

Know the major branches of philosophy, as they show where to direct your concentration. The key branches are:

- **Metaphysics**: The study of existence, reality, time, space, and the nature of being.

- **Epistemology**: The study of knowledge, truth, and belief. How do we know what we know?

- **Ethics**: The study of right and wrong, virtue, moral responsibilities, and justice.

- **Logic**: The study of reasoning, argumentation, and critical thinking.

- **Aesthetics**: The study of beauty, art, and taste.

- **Political Philosophy**: The study of justice, rights, freedom, and the role of government.

Starting with an overview of these categories can help orient your studies and give you a sense of the broad scope of philosophy.

 b) **Begin with Key Philosophical Questions**

Ask yourself some fundamental questions to get you thinking philosophically:

- What is knowledge? How do I know what I know?

- What is the good life?

- What is the nature of reality? Is there any purpose of the universe?

- How do we judge right and wrong?

2. **Introduction to Reading Books on Philosophy**

First, go ahead and look for books introducing the history of philosophy or the so-called essential and core idea of philosophy itself. Well, here are some for you:

 a) **Books for Beginners**

- **"Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder**: It's a very good novel to learn philosophy. It covers major philosophers and their ideas in a lucid, accessible manner.

- **"The Philosophy Book" (Big Ideas Simply Explained Series)**: An illustrative book on major philosophical ideas and thinkers in simple language.

- **"The Problems of Philosophy" by Bertrand Russell**: This slim volume is an excellent primer on the fundamental problems of philosophy in a very readable format.

b) **Philosophy for Everyone**

- **"The Consolation of Philosophy" by Boethius**: This is a dialogue about life, fortune, and happiness. It is a good introduction to reflecting on existential and moral questions.

- **"Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius**: The classic of Stoic philosophy that teaches how to live virtuously and without agitation in the presence of difficulties.

 **"The Tao Te Ching" by Lao Tzu**: Core text of Taoism which elaborates on wisdom, simplicity, and natural order.

These books are considered quite easy to comprehend even for those just starting to read about philosophy, and they will give you a glimpse into key ideas in philosophy and how philosophers argue on complicated questions.

3. **Dive into Primary Texts (Gradually)**

Once you're familiar with the basics, you can start exploring the primary texts of famous philosophers. Start slowly, reading carefully and thoughtfully. These texts might be dense, so don't be discouraged if you find them challenging. Here's how to approach them:

a) **Choose Accessible Texts First**

- ***The Apology*** ***by Plato***: A short dialogue wherein Socrates defends his philosophy and his way of life. It's a very great introduction into Socratic thinking and the concept of questioning assumptions.

- ***Nicomachean Ethics*** ***by Aristotle***: One of the foundational works in ethics wherein Aristotle speaks about the nature of virtue and what constitutes the good life.

- **"Discourse on Method" by René Descartes**: A short but heavy treatise where Descartes sets the very foundation of modern philosophy with his renowned phrase, "I think, therefore I am."

b) **Don't Rush—Read Slowly and Take Notes**

While reading these works, do not hurry. Philosophical writing often calls for a slow and reflective reading. Here are some suggestions:

- **Highlight key passages**: Mark or note the important ideas that strike you.

- **Take notes**: Write summaries of sections or jot down questions that arise while you read.

- **Stop and reflect**: At the end of every chapter or section, take time to reflect on what you have read. What does it mean? How does this connect with your life or beliefs?

 c) **Look for Commentaries**

If a text feels difficult, seek out modern commentaries or explanations. Most classic works of philosophical literature have extensive explanations that help to tease apart the more complex arguments.

 4. **Engage with Online Resources**

The internet abounds with resources for the philosophy student. Here's a few places to start:

 a) **Philosophy Podcasts and YouTube Channels**

* **Philosophy Bites**: A podcast featuring experts discussing a range of philosophical topics.

- **The Partially Examined Life**: where the hosts read and discuss central philosophical texts and ideas.

- **CrashCourse Philosophy** (YouTube) : Videos explaining key moments and ideas in philosophy presented in a very accessible form.

 b) Online Courses

Many universities place their philosophy courses online, for free. Some general platforms for these include:

- **Coursera**: Classes on things like philosophy of science at Yale and Stanford, Ethics, and Logic.

- **edX**: Provides free introductory courses to philosophy by institutions such as Harvard.

- **Khan Academy**: While Khan Academy does not have a specific philosophy section, it does provide free courses on related subjects, like history and politics, which can enhance your learning of philosophical concepts.

 c) **Forums and Discussion Groups**

Engaging with other people interested in philosophy deepens one's understanding of the discipline. Join some online forums or discussion groups focused on philosophy, where you can ask questions and discuss ideas and insights. To name a few: 

* **Reddit (r/philosophy)**: A place where people are sharing philosophical discussions, recommending books, and asking questions.

- **Philosophy Stack Exchange** - a Q&A web site where you can provide specific questions and interact with a community of philosophy lovers and experts.

5. **Practice Critical Thinking and Dialogue**

 Philosophy is as much about  critical thinking  as much as it is about historians or historical thinkers. As you consider philosophical ideas, you shall be exposed to many perspectives. It's important:

Philosophy gets you to question not just others' views but your own assumptions. As you read a text or encounter an idea, ask yourself:

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of this argument?

- Do I agree or disagree? Why?

- How does this idea relate to my own experience or beliefs?

 b) **Engage in Discussions

Philosophy thrives on dialogue. While you are able to reflect and think on your own, discussing ideas with others can help you to develop and test your ideas more richly. If you don't have a discussion group to work with, you can even **write out thoughts** about what you're reading, and reflect on the ideas yourself as though you were in dialogue.

 6. **Explore Specializations in Philosophy**

Once you have a good grounding, you might want to explore one or more areas in depth. Here are some areas to consider:

* **Ethics**: Explore questions about morality, human rights, justice, and the good life.

* **Political Philosophy**: Examine theories of government, democracy, and social justice from the likes of **John Locke**, **Karl Marx**, and **John Rawls**.

- **Existentialism**: Life's meaning and the human condition were debated by such thinkers as **Jean-Paul Sartre** and **Albert Camus**.

- **Philosophy of Mind**: Questions of consciousness, mind-body problem, and artificial intelligence.

7. **Write and Reflect**

As you go on in your studies, attempt to write philosophical essays or reflections yourself. Writing can help solidify your comprehension and permit you to present your thoughts in a better way. This will also foster critical self-reflection.

Writing Tips

- **Frame a question**: Identify at least one central question or problem you want to explore.

- **Present arguments, not opinions**: Give reasons for your beliefs and considerations of counter-arguments

- **Thoughtfully Conclude**: Reflection on Implications of Arguments and Lessons Learned

8. **Stay Curious and Keep Learning**

Philosophy is a lifelong process. There is no "end" to learning in philosophy, and even the most seasoned philosophers are still participating in active debates. Keep asking questions, seeking new ideas, and reading both classic and contemporary philosophical works.

---

Conclusion

Teaching yourself philosophy is a rewarding path that involves curiosity, patience, and a willingness to challenge your own beliefs. Start with introductory materials, explore classic texts, engage with online resources, and practice critical thinking and dialogue. With time, you’ll develop your own philosophical perspective and deepen your understanding of the world. Keep an open mind and remember that philosophy is not just about finding answers but about learning to ask better questions.