Good introductory books in philosophy.

[Dalek Prime]

Since I'm not a philosopher, I thought it best if I yammered less and read something on it. I'm now reading Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy as a general introduction. So far so good, and I do recommend it to others, like myself, with no philosophy background. I find Russell highly accessible.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5827

https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jksadeg ... secure.pdf

Feel free to add others you have personally found useful as an introduction, whether in general, or on a topic eg. Metaphysics, etc. And if not copyrighted, post a link to where it can be found.

[Dalek Prime]

A History of Western Philosophy, for which Bertrand Russell received a Nobel in Literature.

http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/H ... osophy.pdf

Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy

http://people.umass.edu/klement/imp/imp-ebk.pdf

[Sappho]

Matter and Consciousness by Paul Churchland is an amazing intro to philosophy of mind.

http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/se367/1 ... _chap2.pdf

[Rilx]

I have often recommended René Descartes's Discourse on the Method for the beginners. It's classic and relatively short to familiarize oneself with the "philosophical" writing style of e.g. Hume and Kant.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/44

Accordingly, seeing that our senses sometimes deceive us, I was willing to suppose that there existed nothing really such as they presented to us; and because some men err in reasoning, and fall into paralogisms, even on the simplest matters of geometry, I, convinced that I was as open to error as any other, rejected as false all the reasonings I had hitherto taken for demonstrations; and finally, when I considered that the very same thoughts (presentations) which we experience when awake may also be experienced when we are asleep, while there is at that time not one of them true, I supposed that all the objects (presentations) that had ever entered into my mind when awake, had in them no more truth than the illusions of my dreams. But immediately upon this I observed that, whilst I thus wished to think that all was false, it was absolutely necessary that I, who thus thought, should be somewhat; and as I observed that this truth, I think, therefore I am (COGITO ERGO SUM), was so certain and of such evidence that no ground of doubt, however extravagant, could be alleged by the sceptics capable of shaking it, I concluded that I might, without scruple, accept it as the first principle of the philosophy of which I was in search.

[Dalek Prime]

Ive read like 5 books in a row that are only 1-2 stars. I am in such a drought I may give up reading forever......

Read something light and fun then.

[MarkCooley]

I also do not have a philosophy education. Therefore, I was looking for books written in simple language. And it seems to me that the book Russell's The Problems of Philosophy is what I need. Thanks for the advice.