So, when I first started watching this channel, it already came across to me as a pretty strongly left-wing channel, which I liked quite a lot, though I was curious why it was called "Philosophy Tube". I decided to start watching the videos again from the beginning, and I immediately became aware of how the channel began with a primary focus on philosophy in general, not so much on leftism specifically. I decided to start watching each video in the order in which it was published until I could find the point at which that transition from general philosophy to leftism seemed to occur, and this video gave me quite a big grin in that regard. You've done such an amazing job, Abi, and I am very grateful to you for leaving public all of your old videos! I am greatly enjoying continuing to go through them!
A book i got which i am reading now and recommend is 'The Free Development of Each' by Allen Wood -its really fantastic work on the topics of rights, freedom and ethics in the philosophy of Kant, Hegel, Fichte, Herder and Marx too even -i recommend it greatly for those interested in German classical philosophy and so much of it is as relevant today as ever Also David Harvey's 2 volume Companion to Marx's Capital is really helpful as well,
A terrific book i've only just finished is 'Does feminism discriminate against men: A debate' by Warren Farrell and James P Sterba. The book is extremely well researched and organised in a very accessible and concise way. I think this is a must read for feminists (including myself) who can get a bit caught up in the mainstream success and forget to keep surveying feminist ideas with a critical eye and look out for its limitations. On top of that i think the debate format gives the reader a unique insight into how facts and statistics can be manipulated and spun for the purpose of proving a point, and teaches readers to be diligent when looking at any sociological topic.
Hey Olly Could you please do a video on Marxism or just other assorted isms as I would love hearing your outlook on the subject especially because the rhetoric and general vibe you give off is something to be in awe of :)
While not philosophy books, the Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons contains some very interesting looks at religion, the future of religion and specifically a truly wonderful take on the Binding of Isaac as not God testing Abraham but rather Abraham testing God. If you haven't read at least the first book, it is worth checking out.
LDNLeon I enjoy them, I know a lot of people that find them less interesting. I think the order of quality on a 1-10 scale looks something like 10,5,8,9. The second book sets up the last two really well, but the characters are less interesting than in the first book. Where the last two books take the ideas from the first book is really mindblowing, but if you don't like the main character (I do like him) you won't enjoy the books. If what you liked about Hyperion was how it doesn't wrap really anything up, don't read the sequels. If Hyperion left you craving answers about who/what the Shrike is, what is the purpose of the cruciforms and so on; you'll find all the answers and more wrapped up tightly in the sequels. Including what happened to Earth, who created the Shrike and why, and so on.
I think this can be a really good monthly or bi-monthly series you do. I don't know how often you read and how much you finish within a month, but I think it would be cool.
Can I suggest inserting an image of the book in the video when you mention it? In the case of first few books you physically had the books but this wasn't the case with a few of them. I know this is literally asking to be able to judge a book by its cover but it makes it easier to remember the title since you can reread it while you talk about it. Thanks.
Olly! I cannot recomend David Bentley Hart's "The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, and Bliss" enough. It's a dense work of metaphysics and theology that stands, to me anyway, as the only worthy argument in opposition to contemporary atheism. There's also a bit of history on the debate as well that was super enlightening. I've been telling everyone I know to put this book on their reading list.
If you ever get the time check out Marshall Berman's All That Is Solid Melts into Air. At this stage its a bit vintage but Berman gives an exceptionally thought provoking perspective on economic and social modernization though analyzing literature and poetry and relating it back to how the societies of the time were changing. It's self-consciously eurocentric ant it would be interesting to apply his concepts to a postolonial societies.
There's a book called "Ishmael- An Adventure of the Mind And Spirit" by Daniel Quinn. Don't let the cheesy Deepak Chopra-sounding title fool you- it's actually very fascinating. I read it for an environmental policy class and I've read it several times again since then. It's about a telepathic socratic-style seminar between a human and a gorilla, and it goes into the history of human cultures, tribal ethics, and environmental issues.
setting aside RUclips videos, I've found it really valuable to take notes on a chapter-by-chapter basis trying to summarize the ideas and then think of possible critiques (and keeping those two parts separate). For notable or widely read books, there's almost always secondary literature as well, if you care that much.
There's an app called goodreads which is essentially Facebook for readers. You don't have to interact with everyone, I know I don't, I just follow reviewers and all that but it allows you to see book reviews the community has written and track your what you're currently reading, what you have read or what you want to read.
If you are interested in postcolonial feminist perspectives then 'Re-orienting Western Feminisms: Women's Diversity in a Postcolonial World' by Chilla Bulbeck is a good one, as she examines western notions in feminism and applies it to a wide range of cultures including Islam/Arab but also, for example, aboriginal communities in Australia. It's very wide ranging and is quite easy going.
Hi Olly, I was wondering if Georg Lukacs's History & Class Consciousness is on your reading list, or if you've read it, what you thought? Lukacs takes queue from Marx, especially the section of chapter 1 on the Commodity Fetish, and theorises the limits of consciousness within capitalist society, especially in his chapter on Reification and the Consciousness of the Proletariat. I think his critique of scientific consciousness and 'bourgeois philosophy' is a must-read for anyone into theory, Marxism, continental philosophy, history of ideas, whatever. Cheers. I enjoy the videos!
What are your thoughts on Hegel? And Marx's dialectic, now that you have encountered Das Kapital? After reading Hegel (namely, The Science of Logic): the underlying dialectic at play in Das Kapital becomes luminous! Hegel began with 'Being', Marx began with the 'commodity'. All of 19th Century capitalism's implicit contradictions become explicit from the analysis of the 'commodity'. It is so succinct and compelling a read!
I've noticed you sometimes say that pre-modern philosophers have misogynistic or homophobic ideas and well its not cool. But if "ought implies can" then morally they are not to be blamed, because the ideas of fair treatment and respect for women and many different groups are rather new. Or do you think that these ideas are intuitive? Super interested in you're opinion! Love the channel!!
I find the "racialization of muslims" questionable, and am thus far unconvinced. But I am also trying to keep an open mind, and look forward to your videos, and perhaps I will even pick up that book. I do not wish to live in an echo chamber, which is half the reason I stay sub'd to your channel. Although eventual mutual agreement is not necessary, it is good to have your opinions challenged and re-examined, and you help me do that.
I recently started getting into reading philosophy on my own. Do you think it’s important that I read more about political economics before reading Das Capital, or just go right into it?
Yeah, as soon as I win the lottery, I'll buy and read all of these books... Seriously, I live in a small town in Germany and I have no idea how I could get my hands on these books (in the original english version) which is frustrating, but I guess I'll just put them on my birthday-/christmas wishlist every year They all sound super interesting!
Hello! Which do you think are the best and most meaningful books you have read in your life? I am personally searching books on consciousness and greek philosophy, yet i am quite new and unimformed when it comes to reading books.
+1210Nique What kind of nihilism though? Nihilism is one of those words in philosophy that has a million different technical uses, some of which I've gone into before, so that's a bit like asking PewDiePie to make a video on video games.
+Philosophy Tube tbh I'm not too sure. You can maybe do a series of the most popular types? I wanted to see your philosophical view on nihilism because I'm unsure of what it actually means. I just know the basic concept that everyone knows. Thanks for replying
+Philosophy Tube I think the implications of moral nihilism, or what a morally nihilistic person would be like, would make for an interesting video. I'm new to philosophy and I'm yet to tackle Nietsche but I've heard people say that a moral nihilist would have few desires other than the occasional impulse to destroy. Why would that be? If a person held the view that their was no objective good or evil but felt joy from doing good, why wouldn't they do that?
do you know any books how to increase the sharpness of the mind ie with decisions and contemplating what is right to do in certain circumstances ?I've got medititons and The Prince on their way now
It's very short and easy read - I recommend Sex at the Margins: Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry www.amazon.com/Sex-Margins-Migration-Markets-Industry/dp/1842778609 Just because it combines post colonialism, sexism, racism, feminism and sexuality as well as migration, human rights of marginalised communities all in one book. - Kind of highlights how we haven't changed much in terms of how we treat marginalised communities since Victorian times. eg. Magdalene Laundries. .. scary stuff.
Hearing this book list really makes me question the distinction between more qualitative social science and philosophy. I've always thought of philosophy, as it exists now, as the study of non-empirical ideas and ways of thinking. Philosophy questions and dissects what it means for something to be good, to be beautiful, to be logical, to be real/fictional, to exist, or to know/believe. Yet, social ideas and concepts are also non-physical, except in the ways they are internalized, reinforced, and enacted by people and institutions. I’ve heard of political science and political theory/philosophy, and I’m not certain there’s any real distinction between the two. It’s not as if theorists never look at the concrete workings of the world to evaluate and apply their ideas. Even if they never do any experiments, they can interview people to collect data, as apparently Marx did. So, was Karl Marx an early social scientist or a philosopher/theorist? Was he both at the same time by doing the same things? He certainly appeared in a sociology class I took once, not that he would have ever given himself that label.
Olly, I see the full veil is in the new lately as UK authorities are criticizing its' use in schools (both by staff and pupils) as being counter-productive to education. I'm quite conflicted on this matter, and not only in its' use in schools. It's a matter of religious freedom, and freedom of expression. For Muslim women it is a matter of womens' rights and freedom from male oppression, but for non-Muslim women it is a _sign_ of male oppression. It is essential for a Muslim womans' dignity, and impossible to justify the need to forbid ski masks / balaclava helmets, cycle helmets, hoodies and baseball caps from public spaces where they may be used to conceal the identity of criminals from security cameras and officials while preserving this right of concealment for (supposed) Muslim women. (ie. how does a security camera know that the person behind that veil _is_ an innocent a Muslim woman, and not a criminal posing as one?) I would _love_ to consider it a matter of personal preference, but I _cannot_ consider it as such while society can ban more revealing clothing in public for it's "deviant" ability to conceal identity. In other situations we'd just say "Muslim women can wear the veil in the comfort of their own home, but must remove it in public", but it's only in public (rather, mixed gender spaces) where it is required. I just can't see any resolution to this conflict. At least, not short of insisting Muslim women who feel the need to wear the veil in public carry a suitably "difficult to steal or forge" identity card / papers or such with them which security officials can check at will. (far too police state for my liking) And what do you compare such documents to? Not a passport photo, clearly. Signature? Fingerprints or DNA? And surely we'd have to allow young men who "feel the need" to wear a hoodie or baseball cap the same "liberty"? (as oppressive as it sounds) Can philosophy shed any light on this issue? At least, the matter of whether it empowers, or demeans a womans rights and liberty? Bearing in mind that, ignoring religion, the confidence and security a young Muslim woman feels from its' use probably isn't much different from that which a spotty young man feels from wearing his hoodie up in public. I can be proud of my veil, my hoodie, my plastered on makeup, or my long, comb over, emo hair even if I'm ashamed of my _actual_ face. This is common for young people, and almost an adolescent equivalent of a comfort blanket. (ie. most of us have been there, or will be there when we reach adolescence XD) Would a translucent veil be a reasonable compromise? Or can it be argued that makeup, hair and hoodies are equally self-deprecating? I've certainly seen feminists argue that they feel oppressed by the social norm of putting makeup on.
+bobsobol Sheth, who is going to be prominent in today's episode, discusses the idea that the veil is a hamper to communication. I did a thing on Twitter about it you can read here: storify.com/PhilosophyTube/david-cameron-and-muslim-women-in-veils
Hello. I'm searching for videos where someone might suggest in which order I should read the works of major philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche,Kiekegaard, Kant, Schopenhauer, Hegel,Derrida, Wittgenstein, etc etc. Could you refer anything like that?
There isn't really a specific order I'd recommend, and that list misses out a lot anyway haha. Read what you like, find interesting, can (mostly) understand and you won't go far wrong. Don't forget to read stuff that isn't just written by European white men.
+Philosophy Tube Thanks a lot for replying. I will be reading some Hindu and Buddhists texts. I've read Plato, Camus and I'm going through James. The problem is with the implanted fear regarding Kant and Hegel, moving on to Deridda, the philosophers I want to read so much, but am petrified by the thought of going wrong with the order and in the process, either losing interest, or worse, coming off as a stupid person for interpreting them incorrectly. Better be ignorant than wrong. How do you think I should go about regarding these three philosophers?
Like I said there is no correct order. And of those three I've only read Kant so far. Don't worry about being wrong: it's a necessary step to learning.
Did anyone pick up the beeps towards the end of the video when he starts reviewing the Marx book? Sounded a lot like morse code and at first I dismissed it but it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for him to put some sort of message there. May just be me, but if anyone has better morse code skills than me let me know!
On the subject of socialism have you ever read red blood white snow and ? It's a quite unique blend of fiction and biography that I think an help someone understand how Lenin Marxism and other theories came to power from both wide picture and from the perspective of individuals. It also explores loyalty to your country and what means through the protagonist's sympathies with Communists vs what his government wants him to do in the name of what they see as "the country"
Readers should give this site “fetching lobon only” (Google it) an attempt. All types of subjects are found here. Some of the subject matter include medicine, history and modern literature. I simply like it!! Among the best website I have seen. It also has all the materials my son needs to start reading. It helps a lot.
There's something about you're demeanour that makes watching you're videos a pleasure to watch. Anyway, how many books do you read a week/month and any techniques or tips on how to maximise what you get from you're books? Thanks.
The point is simply, that Rian was trying to ask a question about books read and the frequency at which they are read. You came in correcting his grammar, which had nothing to do with anything and now cry when your grammar is corrected. If you are going to be a grammar wizard, try to actually be a grammar wizard before correcting others.
Moe Dean Not claiming to be a wizard of any sort. Simply pointing out his mistake as he used the word wrong three times and felt the need to let him know. That is all.
I'd recommend Herman Melville's Moby Dick to everyone and anyone. The narration and plot can be strange and loose, but it's worth it. I think of it as a philosophy book disguised as a novel.
I don’t get why post-colonial academics don’t look at Islam and Arab states outside the Arabian peninsula as colonial. North Africa and the Levant are pretty much the OG settler-colonies.
Do you know the french philosopher Alain Badiou? He's not really famous in France actually but I've heard that he is, in other countries. I'm quite novice in philosophy but he sounds like a very interesting man!
I'm personally looking for books that are written by more modern day philosophers. I recently got the book Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein (haven't read it yet since I'm finishing other books). So any suggestions would be great.
I find your videos highly entertaining and thought-provoking, however, it is also beyond my grasp. Is there another channel/book or any form of media you can recommend for me ease into philosophy?
+Nikolaus Schneider Not off the top of my head, but I do want to do a video on anti-natalism and that'll have recommended reading to check out when it comes.
you are a very great man , philosophy tube is awesome please tell everyone to try to understand Kant'sCritique of pure Reason and all of Arthur Schopenhauers works , then they will understand all of philosophy To complete continued success your mind is fantastic Just a possible discussion Plato over Aristotle or vice versa
+Miriam Rokeach I'd stay away from both Kant and Schopenhauer until you have a serious basis in philosophy, because they're both notoriously hard to read.
Jaum yaung I'm almost inclined to say that this is why they can be disregarded. German idealists took pride in their obtuse writing as a manifestation of the transcendence of the mind. Philosophy became an art rather than mere thirst for knowledge. We need to make good philosophy less dry, complicated and boring, because the bad philosophy that does this has a larger public.
rhetoric is the art if convincing others of a position. What i ment was the art of formulating (finding) a position that is most coherent with ones biases. instead of finding the position closest to truth. Thats a difference i think.
Since you specifically mention wanting to incorporate more work by transgender authors into your reading list, you might want to check out the work of economist Dierdre (formerly Donald) McCloskey, who was a member in good standing of the University of Chicago economics department during the '70s (with all the baggage that implies) but got more heterodox from the '80s onward after diving into postmodern philosophy and comparative literature. Probably the first book to add to the list would be **The Rhetoric of Economics**, which among other things takes quite a few swings at scientism and "physics envy" both among economists and in general.
So, when I first started watching this channel, it already came across to me as a pretty strongly left-wing channel, which I liked quite a lot, though I was curious why it was called "Philosophy Tube". I decided to start watching the videos again from the beginning, and I immediately became aware of how the channel began with a primary focus on philosophy in general, not so much on leftism specifically. I decided to start watching each video in the order in which it was published until I could find the point at which that transition from general philosophy to leftism seemed to occur, and this video gave me quite a big grin in that regard.
You've done such an amazing job, Abi, and I am very grateful to you for leaving public all of your old videos! I am greatly enjoying continuing to go through them!
A book i got which i am reading now and recommend is 'The Free Development of Each' by Allen Wood -its really fantastic work on the topics of rights, freedom and ethics in the philosophy of Kant, Hegel, Fichte, Herder and Marx too even -i recommend it greatly for those interested in German classical philosophy and so much of it is as relevant today as ever
Also David Harvey's 2 volume Companion to Marx's Capital is really helpful as well,
A terrific book i've only just finished is 'Does feminism discriminate against men: A debate' by Warren Farrell and James P Sterba. The book is extremely well researched and organised in a very accessible and concise way. I think this is a must read for feminists (including myself) who can get a bit caught up in the mainstream success and forget to keep surveying feminist ideas with a critical eye and look out for its limitations. On top of that i think the debate format gives the reader a unique insight into how facts and statistics can be manipulated and spun for the purpose of proving a point, and teaches readers to be diligent when looking at any sociological topic.
Hey Olly
Could you please do a video on Marxism or just other assorted isms as I would love hearing your outlook on the subject especially because the rhetoric and general vibe you give off is something to be in awe of :)
While not philosophy books, the Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons contains some very interesting looks at religion, the future of religion and specifically a truly wonderful take on the Binding of Isaac as not God testing Abraham but rather Abraham testing God. If you haven't read at least the first book, it is worth checking out.
I only ever read Hyperion, how are the rest of the books in the series?
LDNLeon I enjoy them, I know a lot of people that find them less interesting. I think the order of quality on a 1-10 scale looks something like 10,5,8,9. The second book sets up the last two really well, but the characters are less interesting than in the first book. Where the last two books take the ideas from the first book is really mindblowing, but if you don't like the main character (I do like him) you won't enjoy the books.
If what you liked about Hyperion was how it doesn't wrap really anything up, don't read the sequels. If Hyperion left you craving answers about who/what the Shrike is, what is the purpose of the cruciforms and so on; you'll find all the answers and more wrapped up tightly in the sequels. Including what happened to Earth, who created the Shrike and why, and so on.
I will say that Thomas Kuhn's book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions is a fascinating read, well worth a look.
wow, you managed to get to the end of the Capital! this one is playing tricks on me... don't think I can finish it in the near future lol...
I started a list of books I want to read for 2016 and came to check your channel for some more ideas. Perfectly timed.
I think this can be a really good monthly or bi-monthly series you do. I don't know how often you read and how much you finish within a month, but I think it would be cool.
+Mike C Yeah I expect there'll be more :)
my new favourite channel. keep up the good work!
Can I suggest inserting an image of the book in the video when you mention it? In the case of first few books you physically had the books but this wasn't the case with a few of them. I know this is literally asking to be able to judge a book by its cover but it makes it easier to remember the title since you can reread it while you talk about it. Thanks.
+Mentisia All the titles are in the description :)
Olly! I cannot recomend David Bentley Hart's "The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, and Bliss" enough. It's a dense work of metaphysics and theology that stands, to me anyway, as the only worthy argument in opposition to contemporary atheism. There's also a bit of history on the debate as well that was super enlightening. I've been telling everyone I know to put this book on their reading list.
If you ever get the time check out Marshall Berman's All That Is Solid Melts into Air. At this stage its a bit vintage but Berman gives an exceptionally thought provoking perspective on economic and social modernization though analyzing literature and poetry and relating it back to how the societies of the time were changing. It's self-consciously eurocentric ant it would be interesting to apply his concepts to a postolonial societies.
There's a book called "Ishmael- An Adventure of the Mind And Spirit" by Daniel Quinn. Don't let the cheesy Deepak Chopra-sounding title fool you- it's actually very fascinating. I read it for an environmental policy class and I've read it several times again since then. It's about a telepathic socratic-style seminar between a human and a gorilla, and it goes into the history of human cultures, tribal ethics, and environmental issues.
what's a good way to remember what you read for a long time?
+Sam Barkley Make youtube videos about it, I've found
setting aside RUclips videos, I've found it really valuable to take notes on a chapter-by-chapter basis trying to summarize the ideas and then think of possible critiques (and keeping those two parts separate). For notable or widely read books, there's almost always secondary literature as well, if you care that much.
There's an app called goodreads which is essentially Facebook for readers. You don't have to interact with everyone, I know I don't, I just follow reviewers and all that but it allows you to see book reviews the community has written and track your what you're currently reading, what you have read or what you want to read.
+Sam Barkley Don't try to. You remember what you find interesting, so, read with an open and curious mind.
+Sam Barkley I make a lil One Note collection as I go
If you are interested in postcolonial feminist perspectives then 'Re-orienting Western Feminisms: Women's Diversity in a Postcolonial World' by Chilla Bulbeck is a good one, as she examines western notions in feminism and applies it to a wide range of cultures including Islam/Arab but also, for example, aboriginal communities in Australia. It's very wide ranging and is quite easy going.
Hi Olly, I was wondering if Georg Lukacs's History & Class Consciousness is on your reading list, or if you've read it, what you thought?
Lukacs takes queue from Marx, especially the section of chapter 1 on the Commodity Fetish, and theorises the limits of consciousness within capitalist society, especially in his chapter on Reification and the Consciousness of the Proletariat. I think his critique of scientific consciousness and 'bourgeois philosophy' is a must-read for anyone into theory, Marxism, continental philosophy, history of ideas, whatever.
Cheers. I enjoy the videos!
What are your thoughts on Hegel? And Marx's dialectic, now that you have encountered Das Kapital?
After reading Hegel (namely, The Science of Logic): the underlying dialectic at play in Das Kapital becomes luminous! Hegel began with 'Being', Marx began with the 'commodity'. All of 19th Century capitalism's implicit contradictions become explicit from the analysis of the 'commodity'. It is so succinct and compelling a read!
the Universe and Multiple Reality is a book that really changed my life. I would recommended it.
I've noticed you sometimes say that pre-modern philosophers have misogynistic or homophobic ideas and well its not cool. But if "ought implies can" then morally they are not to be blamed, because the ideas of fair treatment and respect for women and many different groups are rather new. Or do you think that these ideas are intuitive? Super interested in you're opinion! Love the channel!!
It is four years old, but everyone, read "That's not a feeling" by Dan Josephson
great video idea. i hope u will upload more vidoes about philosophy book suggestion
I find the "racialization of muslims" questionable, and am thus far unconvinced. But I am also trying to keep an open mind, and look forward to your videos, and perhaps I will even pick up that book. I do not wish to live in an echo chamber, which is half the reason I stay sub'd to your channel. Although eventual mutual agreement is not necessary, it is good to have your opinions challenged and re-examined, and you help me do that.
I recently started getting into reading philosophy on my own. Do you think it’s important that I read more about political economics before reading Das Capital, or just go right into it?
Yeah, as soon as I win the lottery, I'll buy and read all of these books...
Seriously, I live in a small town in Germany and I have no idea how I could get my hands on these books (in the original english version) which is frustrating, but I guess I'll just put them on my birthday-/christmas wishlist every year
They all sound super interesting!
Search the Internet for the PDFs. They're out there.
Hello! Which do you think are the best and most meaningful books you have read in your life?
I am personally searching books on consciousness and greek philosophy, yet i am quite new and unimformed when it comes to reading books.
The moral landscape by sam harris
Samuel Moore has a lecture series on Das Kapital here on RUclips
Hey I've been loving you videos a lot recently. I just wanted to know. can you do a video on the philosophy of nihilism please? thanks
+1210Nique What kind of nihilism though? Nihilism is one of those words in philosophy that has a million different technical uses, some of which I've gone into before, so that's a bit like asking PewDiePie to make a video on video games.
+Philosophy Tube tbh I'm not too sure. You can maybe do a series of the most popular types? I wanted to see your philosophical view on nihilism because I'm unsure of what it actually means. I just know the basic concept that everyone knows. Thanks for replying
+Philosophy Tube I think the implications of moral nihilism, or what a morally nihilistic person would be like, would make for an interesting video. I'm new to philosophy and I'm yet to tackle Nietsche but I've heard people say that a moral nihilist would have few desires other than the occasional impulse to destroy. Why would that be? If a person held the view that their was no objective good or evil but felt joy from doing good, why wouldn't they do that?
do you know any books how to increase the sharpness of the mind ie with decisions and contemplating what is right to do in certain circumstances ?I've got medititons and The Prince on their way now
What are good books about morality in general? Also, what are some books on time and identity?
" Beyond Good and Evil" 😀
It's very short and easy read - I recommend Sex at the Margins: Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry
www.amazon.com/Sex-Margins-Migration-Markets-Industry/dp/1842778609
Just because it combines post colonialism, sexism, racism, feminism and sexuality as well as migration, human rights of marginalised communities all in one book. - Kind of highlights how we haven't changed much in terms of how we treat marginalised communities since Victorian times. eg. Magdalene Laundries. .. scary stuff.
+Nada DeCat That sounds awesome: it's on the list.
Hearing this book list really makes me question the distinction between more qualitative social science and philosophy. I've always thought of philosophy, as it exists now, as the study of non-empirical ideas and ways of thinking. Philosophy questions and dissects what it means for something to be good, to be beautiful, to be logical, to be real/fictional, to exist, or to know/believe. Yet, social ideas and concepts are also non-physical, except in the ways they are internalized, reinforced, and enacted by people and institutions. I’ve heard of political science and political theory/philosophy, and I’m not certain there’s any real distinction between the two. It’s not as if theorists never look at the concrete workings of the world to evaluate and apply their ideas. Even if they never do any experiments, they can interview people to collect data, as apparently Marx did. So, was Karl Marx an early social scientist or a philosopher/theorist? Was he both at the same time by doing the same things? He certainly appeared in a sociology class I took once, not that he would have ever given himself that label.
Olly, I see the full veil is in the new lately as UK authorities are criticizing its' use in schools (both by staff and pupils) as being counter-productive to education. I'm quite conflicted on this matter, and not only in its' use in schools.
It's a matter of religious freedom, and freedom of expression. For Muslim women it is a matter of womens' rights and freedom from male oppression, but for non-Muslim women it is a _sign_ of male oppression. It is essential for a Muslim womans' dignity, and impossible to justify the need to forbid ski masks / balaclava helmets, cycle helmets, hoodies and baseball caps from public spaces where they may be used to conceal the identity of criminals from security cameras and officials while preserving this right of concealment for (supposed) Muslim women. (ie. how does a security camera know that the person behind that veil _is_ an innocent a Muslim woman, and not a criminal posing as one?)
I would _love_ to consider it a matter of personal preference, but I _cannot_ consider it as such while society can ban more revealing clothing in public for it's "deviant" ability to conceal identity. In other situations we'd just say "Muslim women can wear the veil in the comfort of their own home, but must remove it in public", but it's only in public (rather, mixed gender spaces) where it is required.
I just can't see any resolution to this conflict. At least, not short of insisting Muslim women who feel the need to wear the veil in public carry a suitably "difficult to steal or forge" identity card / papers or such with them which security officials can check at will. (far too police state for my liking) And what do you compare such documents to? Not a passport photo, clearly. Signature? Fingerprints or DNA? And surely we'd have to allow young men who "feel the need" to wear a hoodie or baseball cap the same "liberty"? (as oppressive as it sounds)
Can philosophy shed any light on this issue? At least, the matter of whether it empowers, or demeans a womans rights and liberty? Bearing in mind that, ignoring religion, the confidence and security a young Muslim woman feels from its' use probably isn't much different from that which a spotty young man feels from wearing his hoodie up in public. I can be proud of my veil, my hoodie, my plastered on makeup, or my long, comb over, emo hair even if I'm ashamed of my _actual_ face. This is common for young people, and almost an adolescent equivalent of a comfort blanket. (ie. most of us have been there, or will be there when we reach adolescence XD)
Would a translucent veil be a reasonable compromise? Or can it be argued that makeup, hair and hoodies are equally self-deprecating? I've certainly seen feminists argue that they feel oppressed by the social norm of putting makeup on.
+bobsobol Sheth, who is going to be prominent in today's episode, discusses the idea that the veil is a hamper to communication. I did a thing on Twitter about it you can read here: storify.com/PhilosophyTube/david-cameron-and-muslim-women-in-veils
You read my mind!!
interesting, thx for the recs
Saw economics in the description and was hoping it was Das Capital...I was right
yo, read ishmael by daniel quinn! if you already have what did you think of it?
Hello. I'm searching for videos where someone might suggest in which order I should read the works of major philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Nietzsche,Kiekegaard, Kant, Schopenhauer, Hegel,Derrida, Wittgenstein, etc etc.
Could you refer anything like that?
There isn't really a specific order I'd recommend, and that list misses out a lot anyway haha. Read what you like, find interesting, can (mostly) understand and you won't go far wrong. Don't forget to read stuff that isn't just written by European white men.
+Philosophy Tube Thanks a lot for replying. I will be reading some Hindu and Buddhists texts. I've read Plato, Camus and I'm going through James. The problem is with the implanted fear regarding Kant and Hegel, moving on to Deridda, the philosophers I want to read so much, but am petrified by the thought of going wrong with the order and in the process, either losing interest, or worse, coming off as a stupid person for interpreting them incorrectly. Better be ignorant than wrong.
How do you think I should go about regarding these three philosophers?
Like I said there is no correct order. And of those three I've only read Kant so far. Don't worry about being wrong: it's a necessary step to learning.
+Philosophy Tube Ok. Thanks a lot!
Have you read David Graeber's works?
+Randomaited Some, yeah, I cited him in Part 4 of my series on Marx.
Did anyone pick up the beeps towards the end of the video when he starts reviewing the Marx book? Sounded a lot like morse code and at first I dismissed it but it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for him to put some sort of message there. May just be me, but if anyone has better morse code skills than me let me know!
It's the sound that some speakers make when a cell phone signal interferes with them. Odds are he was getting an SMS
+AFGNCAAP the great Yup, I was.
+Philosophy Tube Love that people think I would hide messages in code in my videos though??!
The Journey of Socrates BY Dan Millman
How many hours do you read per day ??
+yogesh sharma Depends on the day, and whether or not I have a train journey in it.
You are reely reely super cute... :)
How would you rank these books in terms of difficulty?
+Tyler Graham In order of hardest to easiest:
Marx, Sheth, Mason and Razack tied, Richardson and Serrano tied.
On the subject of socialism have you ever read red blood white snow and ? It's a quite unique blend of fiction and biography that I think an help someone understand how Lenin Marxism and other theories came to power from both wide picture and from the perspective of individuals. It also explores loyalty to your country and what means through the protagonist's sympathies with Communists vs what his government wants him to do in the name of what they see as "the country"
You look like MrNobody from the movie.
Hey! I feel like I should diversify my reading a bit. I wonder what I shall read?
Oh, I know a long book by a transgender!
shah: I am not sure if that was supposed to be a joke. Is the joke that somebody being transgender is a reason not to read their books?
Have you ever read books about Muhammad?
Check this book on amazon
Untold stories of Existence and Nonexistence True False: New Philosophy
I am obviously not racist because I immediately thought the book was the homophone of race.
bourgoisie bibliography
+Moorzo83 This would be a great title for a masterpiece work!
Readers should give this site “fetching lobon only” (Google it) an attempt. All types of subjects are found here. Some of the subject matter include medicine, history and modern literature. I simply like it!! Among the best website I have seen. It also has all the materials my son needs to start reading. It helps a lot.
Are sadists evil?
+peter Sokunbi The ones I've met have been lovely, but there are sadists and there are sadists I suppose.
no transhumanism book ah chucks
You forgot 'how to be a good communist' by Nelson Mandela.
You're west. We are rest.
Nothing more unexpected than a sassy Marx. It makes me wonder, are there any other philosophy books that are intentionally funny?
Oh sure. Lenin's "Imperialism" has some great sarcastic bits.
Comrade Philosophy Tube?
really, really, really, really, really, :D
Would be amazing if you made a video about anarchism. How it can be defended and critique of it. TY and keep it up!
There's something about you're demeanour that makes watching you're videos a pleasure to watch. Anyway, how many books do you read a week/month and any techniques or tips on how to maximise what you get from you're books? Thanks.
Heres a tip, its your, not you're.
Here is a tip for you. It's Here's not heres.
Apostrophes arent necessary to understand the word. You used a different word altogether. Its not that hard buddy.
The point is simply, that Rian was trying to ask a question about books read and the frequency at which they are read. You came in correcting his grammar, which had nothing to do with anything and now cry when your grammar is corrected. If you are going to be a grammar wizard, try to actually be a grammar wizard before correcting others.
Moe Dean Not claiming to be a wizard of any sort. Simply pointing out his mistake as he used the word wrong three times and felt the need to let him know. That is all.
Nice. Definitely gonna read Das Kapital.
Wow, very interesting recommendations on neo-colonialism and political philosophy. Thanks :)
I'd recommend Herman Melville's Moby Dick to everyone and anyone. The narration and plot can be strange and loose, but it's worth it. I think of it as a philosophy book disguised as a novel.
The combination of your name + this hairstyle + philosophy + your face a bit, reminds me of Oscar Wilde.
+Gabrielle Anderson Hah, you're not the first person to suggest that.
I don’t get why post-colonial academics don’t look at Islam and Arab states outside the Arabian peninsula as colonial.
North Africa and the Levant are pretty much the OG settler-colonies.
I find this video to be a bit undersaturated.
Do you know the french philosopher Alain Badiou? He's not really famous in France actually but I've heard that he is, in other countries. I'm quite novice in philosophy but he sounds like a very interesting man!
I'm personally looking for books that are written by more modern day philosophers. I recently got the book Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein (haven't read it yet since I'm finishing other books). So any suggestions would be great.
I find your videos highly entertaining and thought-provoking, however, it is also beyond my grasp. Is there another channel/book or any form of media you can recommend for me ease into philosophy?
Sherene not Sheren in description!!
+lperthel Good spot! Thanks!
I found "Zoopolis" by Donaldson and Kymlicka very interesting.
It is a must-read for anybody interested in animal ethics!
have you read Testo Junkie by Beatriz Preciado? It's an interesting book.
Will and Ariel Durant's Story of Civilization is worth a look.
Have you read "Descartes' Mediations, Bro"?
Ach, can't stand philosophy of politics.
Do you have a book on anti- natalism and maybe something like an introduction to feminism ? :)
+Nikolaus Schneider Not off the top of my head, but I do want to do a video on anti-natalism and that'll have recommended reading to check out when it comes.
you are a very great man , philosophy tube is awesome please tell everyone to try to understand Kant'sCritique of pure Reason and all of Arthur Schopenhauers works , then they will understand all of philosophy To complete continued success your mind is fantastic Just a possible discussion Plato over Aristotle or vice versa
+Miriam Rokeach I'd stay away from both Kant and Schopenhauer until you have a serious basis in philosophy, because they're both notoriously hard to read.
Jaum yaung I'm almost inclined to say that this is why they can be disregarded. German idealists took pride in their obtuse writing as a manifestation of the transcendence of the mind. Philosophy became an art rather than mere thirst for knowledge.
We need to make good philosophy less dry, complicated and boring, because the bad philosophy that does this has a larger public.
+Jaum yaung It is very often regarded as the art of rationalize your biases, primarily by philosophers.
rhetoric is the art if convincing others of a position.
What i ment was the art of formulating (finding) a position that is most coherent with ones biases. instead of finding the position closest to truth.
Thats a difference i think.
Since you specifically mention wanting to incorporate more work by transgender authors into your reading list, you might want to check out the work of economist Dierdre (formerly Donald) McCloskey, who was a member in good standing of the University of Chicago economics department during the '70s (with all the baggage that implies) but got more heterodox from the '80s onward after diving into postmodern philosophy and comparative literature. Probably the first book to add to the list would be **The Rhetoric of Economics**, which among other things takes quite a few swings at scientism and "physics envy" both among economists and in general.