YourNeonGod

My life interest is in philosophy; in learning.
I am in college, and it is my major.

However, I went through a period of falling away from it. I am finally gaining my interest back.

My problem is I have very little direction. From what I have seen, every idea, every belief, can be systematically torn down.

I need suggestions; I need guidance. Where should I start? What should I read?

I am walking around blindly; I would appreciate help from any of you who have made Philosophy your life interest.

Philosoft

Boy, did you show up at the right time: http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.p...threadid=49012

Please feel free to add suggestions to the linked list.

And welcome to the IIDB.

~Philosoft, Philosophy moderator

yguy

Your perception is perhaps more accurate than you know.

You'd be better off as a plumber than a"professional philosopher". Hell, anyone would be, IMO. What the hell philosphy professors are good for is beyond me.

John Galt, Jr.

Right! You can become like yguy. Never a worry about whether to do philosophy or something else, because not a clue as to what philosophy is. A satisfied pig.

John Galt, Jr.

philechat

Philosophy is an useless pursuit, just like art and music. But they (philosophy, art, you name it) are what culture is based on--a lot of extraneous products, making new forms from the gray, meaningless "void" that our life is consisted of. An enjoyment, a beauty, an interpretation, a design.

At bottom, it is what makes us human.

John Page

Phile, did you really mean this? Or were you just inspired by a Jackson Pollack painting? Of course, everything is useless; unless you posit a purpose or function to be performed.

Cheers, John

John Page

If you find out, please let me know.

Cheers, John

philechat

Useless in the objective or absolute sense, that is.

But subjective meanings...we have them always! (hands waving in air, cheering)

Primal

I'd start with philosophy and critical thinking texts, as well as some basic intro classes.

YourNeonGod

appreciate the help.

Last semester was my first in college. I took an Rhetoric class, Intro to Philosophy class, and an Critical thinking class.

Critical Thinking was by far my favored class, because the subject matter for the first half was arguements for and against the existence of God, which interest me immensly.

However, I did not do so swell last semester; my interest was waning. I am finally gaining it back. The only philosophy related class I am taking this semester is Introduction to Formal Logic, which I am really enjoying. From what I have seen so far, it is probably Logic I will continue studying in, as well as Religion. But it is my goal to expand what I am learning.

I think what I need to do most is put some kind of restraint on what interests me most. I need to evaluate the different forms of philosophy, and figure out which one suits my questioning best.

I hope through this I can narrow it down, and research those who have written on such a topic. Then study it until it is exhausted (or it has exhausted me lol), before going on to the next topic of interest.

There is just so much out there, it weighs me down when I attempt to move forward.