The first 7 philosophy texts you should read

I won’t spam you or share your email address with anyone.

I am Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and here is a list of the seven philosophical pieces of writing that I think someone first getting into philosophy should read, and why:
Plato’s Euthyphro (~399 BCE)
Rene Descartes’ Meditations
Princess Elizabeth's letter to Descartes
David Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
HP Grice's Logic and Conversation
HLA Hart's The Concept of Law (just chapters 2, 3, and 4)
Peter Singer's Famine Affluence and Morality

[PatriciusOenus]

Awesome video! Here is the list:
1. Plato's Eythyphro;
2. Decartes' Meditations on First Philosophy
3. Princess Elizabeth's Letter to Decartes;
4. Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion;
5. H. P Grice's Logic and Conversation;
6. Ch. 2, 3, 4 of H. L. A. Hart's Concept of Law;
7. Peter Singer's Famine, Affluence, and Morality

[jamesduffy]

Aristotle wrote dialogues too. They are all lost, but were very highly regarded in antiquity. The most famous was "On Justice." What we have of his writing today are his lecture notes (or so say most scholars). That's why they read so strangely.

[redvelvetsprinkles]

Please post more often, Professor Kaplan! I had you as a GSI during my undergraduate years at UC Berkeley, and I am so happy to have found your YouTube channel. You were the best GSI I had at Cal! The clarity of your teaching (as I remember it from section years ago and still in these videos) is truly a gift. You have the ability to make learning anything really fun (let alone philosophy which I enjoy). UNCG and all your students are lucky to have you. Thank you!!!

[JeffRebornNow]

I love that you seem to genuinely love teaching and imparting knowledge to students. I think it would be great to be a student in your class.

[sanserof]

Plato is actually extremely fun to read. I listened to a lot of his works in audiobook form, with different narrators for the different people participating in the dialogues. It almost made it sound like a modern day podcast in a way, I would recommend this to everyone.

[joshuasroka]

I have been looking for this channel for more than a decade. Not in name, but in spirit. Glad to have finally found it.

[anyoutubehandle]

This guy is great. I watched his videos on how to be a better student, and I managed to go from C's and B's to one B and all A's in college.

[CistiC]

Brilliant! Great approach towards making philosophy fun, clear, approachable! I enjoy your videos immensely! The energy and passion you keep putting into explaining these concepts - remarkable! Transparent whiteboard making it even better. Great work, man!

[turquoise]

Descartes‘ Meditations was one of the first things I read when majoring in philosophy. It is a great Text because of its simplicity and because you can really follow the argument and see where the premise stops and the conclusion starts.

[RobExNihilo]

I found _Russell's Paradox_ in my suggested feed a few days ago and loved it. I'm working my way through the rest of your catalog now. I can't believe I (and apparently many others) have been sleeping on your channel for so long. This is really good stuff! And the presentation is easy to follow and engaging. Absolutely love it.

I wish I had resources like this when I first began to dive into philosophy. So many "masterpiece" works are incomprehensible drivel to the average Joe, who knows how many people have been turned off to philosophy as a whole because they didn't start in a good place. I know I was almost one of them. I'm so glad something like this exists to help people begin from a solid starting point.

I'm sure there's a tired joke to be made about _what else would he do with a philosophy degree other than teach philosophy_ but it's clear that you've got a real talent and passion for it.

I'm probably gushing a little much here, but hopefully this helps to get mor3 attention from The Algorithm™ to spread your stuff around some more.

[aravindappat]

Man had been posting mad videos for the past 3 years. How am I just getting recommends now. Instant new subscription!

[gengis]

Very nice choice and great presentation. Descarte's Discourse on Method is mandatory reading in French high school and the cornerstone of logical thinking, at the origin of both abstract scientific research and French Enlightement. Having a "cartesian spirit", searching for the principles behind the symptoms, is deeply engrained in French minds.
I would add Louise Labbé's Debate of Folly and Love, pursuing Plato's Symposium to analyze how love, even disappointed, creates the impulse for creativity, achievement, mixing illusion and aspiration to perfect harmony.

[AustinWestbro]

Can’t wait to start reading these! I’ve been wanting to start reading philosophy, but had no idea where to start. Thank you sooo much!

[JamesHunterRoss]

Professor Kaplan, I you read these comments then I get to reiterate what many others have said; you are very good at what you do. I had to subscribe.

[christopherschmaltz]

Stumbled on this and other videos of yours, and they are fantastic. Feeds a strong interest of mine and will guide my ongoing deep dives. Thanks so much!

[dauhloweme]

So glad I found your vids through your reddit post. Your sense of humor and ability to make topics easily digestible, if you had the chance to write a book on philosophy I would buy it in an instant lol

[ethansalvesen]

Great stuff! Your energy and way of explaining things makes a lot of these more complicated issues way easier to understand as a relative newcomer and your students are very lucky.

[nickhodge]

My man, you have found your calling. Thank you for your work.

[j_vasey]

I’ve wanted to access philosophy for years. Thank you for this video.

[gerryleb]

It should be noted that Plato wrote the texts bearing his name. Aristotle's texts are probably compilations of notes taken by his students. The texts are redactions.