Ethics
Resources for Matt Cleaver's ethics classes

Philosophy Resources & Further Reading

Below are some general introductory resources if you want to expand your philosophical knowledge. The best way to approach most self-study is to dive into a broad topic, and then start chasing whatever more specific topics interest you. I would love to have a conversation with you to find out what you are most interested in and give you some personalized recommendations. Send me an email or Canvas message or come see me in my office.

If you want to get serious about philosophical study, see my Philosophy Reading List.

Note: links to Amazon may contain affiliate links, which will earn me a small commission if you purchase something. It does not change the price you pay.

Short Introductory Philosophy Books

These are all books that introduce you to the broad ideas of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, value theory, etc. I have physical copies of all of the following books in my office. If you want to see any of them, let me know.

  1. What Does It All Mean? A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy (112 pages) - This book is as short as it gets, covering the broad topics in philosophy (the audiobook version is only 2 hours and 11 minutes long). A physical copy of this book is available in the Athens campus library.
  2. Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy (320 pages) - This is a very interesting book that provides a broad overview of the main issues in philosophy in, as the title suggest, a very compelling way.
  3. Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (160 pages) - Another very short book that covers the basics of philosophy.
  4. Philosophy 101: From Plato and Socrates to Ethics and Metaphysics, an Essential Primer on the History of Thought (288 pages) - This book does a good job covering the major philosophical thinkers and ideas, each chapter honing in on one primary topic or person at a time.
  5. The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained (352 pages) - This book has a feel closer to that of a traditional textbook, and covers philosophical ideas in chronological order.

Long Introductory Philosophy Books

If you want longer, more comprehensive overviews of philosophy, these are more in-depth without being overly technical or academic.

  1. Sophie’s World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy (544 pages). With over 30 million copies in print, many people who “stumble” across philosophy for the first time do it through this book. It does a pretty good job of engaging the reader and cultivating “wonder” that is necessary for true philosophical reflection. I would say this is written at a high school reading level. Some dismiss it as too elementary.
  2. The Cave and the Light: Plato Versus Aristotle, and the Struggle for the Soul of Western Civilization (704 pages) - This book isn’t a “history of philosophy” book in the strict sense, but it does serve as a great primer on philosophical thinking, especially of Plato and Aristotle, and how philosophical ideas have shaped the western world. A well-written and compelling read.
  3. The Passion of the Western Mind: Understanding the Ideas that Have Shaped Our World View (560 pages) - Similar to The Cave and the Light, above, this book is not strictly a philosophy book. It is closer to an intellectual history. However, it is impossible to do intellectual history without a heavy dose of philosophy. This book is an excellent overview of western civilization.

YouTube Videos

  • Crash Course Philosophy - I use some of these videos in my PHIL 1301 - Introduction to Philosophy course, but there are lots of videos here beyond what we cover in class.
  • Pursuit of Wonder - I haven’t watched many of these videos, but this page has a following of over 3 million subscribers. It’s not exclusively philosophy, but it is philosophical, with an especially existentialist bent.
  • TED-Ed Philosophy - TED-Ed has a great collection of videos from a philosophical perspective.