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If so, what books would you recommend? I'm an agnostic and have been for most of my life, but I want to educate myself on the great works of philosophy...but I have no idea where to start at?
I guess this was also my first response.... what void?
I don't want to read too much into the OP's question, since "you is one" (agnostic or atheist)! But the unstated implication is that agnostics and atheists have an inherent void to be filled which, by extension, others do not. If so, I haven't seen anything to suggest that believers have their philosophical voids filled.
None of this to suggest that there aren't good books to be read, by all groups! I just don't follow the logic implicit in the question?
"Void" implies something's missing and needing to be filled, at least in the context of the question.
If you want to study philosphy (or mathematics or geology or a second language or grammar or whatever) because you think it'll be interesting, then go for it. :-
This is a very personal view, but you asked. The void is a way of thinking that needs filling. With a mindset that is about getting at the best models of reality and not about being Right, because trying to be Right no matter what the evidence says is cheating yourself and everybody else.
For the atheist, i found that 'The intelligent person's (1) guide to atheism' (Daniel Harbour) was mustread. I only prefer to 'Baroque' and 'spartan' thinking (because they need further definition anyway, as nobody knows what that means) Dogmatic and rational thinking. Other than that, 0 complaints.
Philosophy is not needed to understand the world we live in. Science tells us more. But the Logical thought aspect of philosophy is essential. Where the rules of Philosophy are needed is where Philosophers of the Theistic bent try to use the discipline to dress up theistic fallacies -for-God to make them sound convincing. Lane - Craig on Kalam, Plantinga on Ontological arguments. Matt Dillahunty has (unusually) made a study of Philosophy so I know nobody better to unpack philosophical apologetics and show the underlying fallacy.
(1) I don't claim to be a great intellect, so if I could read it, anybody can.
Last edited by TRANSPONDER; 09-25-2018 at 05:43 PM..
If so, what books would you recommend? I'm an agnostic and have been for most of my life, but I want to educate myself on the great works of philosophy...but I have no idea where to start at?
I'm missing the connection between "I don't believe that Thor exists" and "I therefore must read Descartes".
The only 'void' indicated by my atheism is, obviously, an absence of an affirmative belief in any deities. It does not follow that I must therefore read philosophy - though I in fact have done so.
I don't think that Zortation was talking about the God -shaped bottle that Theist apologists are always telling us that we have. But a way of making sense of the world rather than blundering around with spammers with something to sell constantly confusing us.
Logically sound reasoning, and validated science. Not investing Faith but giving weight to the best arguments. It's surprising how soon things seem to shake down. And listen and learn and never be ashamed to admit being wrong.
I learn and reconsider all the time. It means I don't have to be clever, or learned. Just honest.
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