Since beginning this channel the questions which I am most frequently confronted with
Since beginning this channel the questions which I am most frequently confronted with

regarding philosophy are undoubtedly these: where do I begin, who should I read first
regarding philosophy are undoubtedly these: where do I begin, who should I read first

and how should I go about approaching something as ambiguous as philosophy?
and how should I go about approaching something as ambiguous as philosophy?

These are understandable questions to which even the esteemed professors of philosophy
These are understandable questions to which even the esteemed professors of philosophy

can relate.
can relate.

Something fantastic and one of the great things about philosophy is that it is open to all
Something fantastic and one of the great things about philosophy is that it is open to all

human beings as human beings, the knowledge offered to us so lavishly by our predecessors
human beings as human beings, the knowledge offered to us so lavishly by our predecessors

is offered equally to anyone willing to sit down for a while and listen.
is offered equally to anyone willing to sit down for a while and listen.

Even without access to a curriculum, or spending 100,000$, you can rise to those heights through
Even without access to a curriculum, or spending 100,000$, you can rise to those heights through

your own dedication and stand beside giants.
your own dedication and stand beside giants.

Let us proceed, first, with a question to yourself, what do you hope to gain from this
Let us proceed, first, with a question to yourself, what do you hope to gain from this

endeavor into philosophy, and what are you willing to give?
endeavor into philosophy, and what are you willing to give?

Some outspoken friends or family will undoubtedly inform you, with all their wisdom, of the
Some outspoken friends or family will undoubtedly inform you, with all their wisdom, of the

uselessness of philosophy.
uselessness of philosophy.

We should not take this personally, as most think in terms of financial gain, but my guess
We should not take this personally, as most think in terms of financial gain, but my guess

is that riches are not your reason for your interest, if they are then I regret to inform
is that riches are not your reason for your interest, if they are then I regret to inform

you that while some material gain my come in later years as a result of your studies
you that while some material gain my come in later years as a result of your studies

it should not be expected.
it should not be expected.

In most cases, I would guess it is truth that you seek, simply an answer to your questions,
In most cases, I would guess it is truth that you seek, simply an answer to your questions,

to find some order and semblance in this maelstrom which we call life.
to find some order and semblance in this maelstrom which we call life.

Whether or not this is something you will gain varies from person to person.
Whether or not this is something you will gain varies from person to person.

Some claim to have found it, while others seem to find more perplexities than truths.
Some claim to have found it, while others seem to find more perplexities than truths.

What I can promise is that while on this journey you will gain the joy that comes with understanding,
What I can promise is that while on this journey you will gain the joy that comes with understanding,

and perhaps even calm in the face of the inevitable.
and perhaps even calm in the face of the inevitable.

You may run into hurdles here and there, but press on and you will find yourself a little
You may run into hurdles here and there, but press on and you will find yourself a little

greater than you were before.
greater than you were before.

Philosophy will not cost you significant amounts of money, but what you will be required to
Philosophy will not cost you significant amounts of money, but what you will be required to

exchange is your time which in most cases is worth more than any currency.
exchange is your time which in most cases is worth more than any currency.

Are you willing, each day, to give an hour of two, to give your undivided attention to
Are you willing, each day, to give an hour of two, to give your undivided attention to

some long past sage?
some long past sage?

If you have met this prerequisite then I will give my method.
If you have met this prerequisite then I will give my method.

First, if I can echo the great 20th century philosopher George Santayana, I would tell
First, if I can echo the great 20th century philosopher George Santayana, I would tell

you to let others clean better, if they can, the windows of their soul, that the variety
you to let others clean better, if they can, the windows of their soul, that the variety

and beauty of the prospect may spread more brightly before them.
and beauty of the prospect may spread more brightly before them.

By this I mean claiming philosophical supremacy over another is a vain and trifle thing, move
By this I mean claiming philosophical supremacy over another is a vain and trifle thing, move

to the rhythm of your own tune, but let others enjoy that privilege as well.
to the rhythm of your own tune, but let others enjoy that privilege as well.

Some may wish, like myself, to light their candle at every torch, while others may prefer
Some may wish, like myself, to light their candle at every torch, while others may prefer

a more solitary path.
a more solitary path.

Whichever you choose be sure to not just read and study the philosophies but also the philosophers
Whichever you choose be sure to not just read and study the philosophies but also the philosophers

who generously left them behind.
who generously left them behind.

Read actively and consider if what you have read relates to your own life experiences.
Read actively and consider if what you have read relates to your own life experiences.

Not all that you come across with be worthy of archiving, but being able to separate what
Not all that you come across with be worthy of archiving, but being able to separate what

is important to you and what is not is a valuable tool to acquire.
is important to you and what is not is a valuable tool to acquire.

There are countless books and individuals to choose from, all of which, I think, have
There are countless books and individuals to choose from, all of which, I think, have

something of value to offer us.
something of value to offer us.

I will give my recommendations, but remember, if you find one of interest, or of which you
I will give my recommendations, but remember, if you find one of interest, or of which you

feel better suits your path, then do not hesitate to follow it; where it takes you may be of
feel better suits your path, then do not hesitate to follow it; where it takes you may be of

better use to your own life goals.
better use to your own life goals.

I would also add that this path is a continuous one, philosophy deals with the inexact which
I would also add that this path is a continuous one, philosophy deals with the inexact which

means that the finish line may be only an illusion, you may find that you have more
means that the finish line may be only an illusion, you may find that you have more

questions the further down you go.
questions the further down you go.

This, I hope, will not be an exhaustive list, only a few recommendations to help you along
This, I hope, will not be an exhaustive list, only a few recommendations to help you along

until you find your own philosophic path.
until you find your own philosophic path.

Let us begin, Start by sitting down a while and engaging in dialectic conversation with
Let us begin, Start by sitting down a while and engaging in dialectic conversation with

Plato.
Plato.

Here you will be introduced to metaphysics, theology, ethics, theory of education, theory
Here you will be introduced to metaphysics, theology, ethics, theory of education, theory

of statesmanship, and theory of art.
of statesmanship, and theory of art.

Once you have wholly or at least partly absorbed the radiating passion of Plato move on to
Once you have wholly or at least partly absorbed the radiating passion of Plato move on to

the sobering Stoics; Zeno, Chrysippus, Cicero, Epictetus, Seneca, Rufus, or Marcus Aurelius,
the sobering Stoics; Zeno, Chrysippus, Cicero, Epictetus, Seneca, Rufus, or Marcus Aurelius,

all these men will heed your call and all will help you to withstand the prose of life.
all these men will heed your call and all will help you to withstand the prose of life.

If we forget to mention a few of the eastern sages then what kind of list would this be?
If we forget to mention a few of the eastern sages then what kind of list would this be?

So invite Laozi to sit with you, the old master would lovingly welcome another student to
So invite Laozi to sit with you, the old master would lovingly welcome another student to

study in the way.
study in the way.

Also seek out Confucius a man who has helped shape an entire nation’s culture will certainly,
Also seek out Confucius a man who has helped shape an entire nation’s culture will certainly,

with his golden rule, help to shape your own Ethical ideals.
with his golden rule, help to shape your own Ethical ideals.

Move on to the middle ages and immerse yourself in the Italian renaissance.
Move on to the middle ages and immerse yourself in the Italian renaissance.

Here you will discover Machiavelli, what he offers us is a political philosophy which
Here you will discover Machiavelli, what he offers us is a political philosophy which

will focus upon how individuals of the ruling class actually behave, not how we think they
will focus upon how individuals of the ruling class actually behave, not how we think they

should behave.
should behave.

Once you have had your fill of the Italian Renaissance try your hands at that of France,
Once you have had your fill of the Italian Renaissance try your hands at that of France,

here the garrulous Montaigne has left behind his Essays which is one of the greatest works
here the garrulous Montaigne has left behind his Essays which is one of the greatest works

of the age.
of the age.

Do you wish to converse with one of the greatest minds history has bore, replete with endless
Do you wish to converse with one of the greatest minds history has bore, replete with endless

wit, then pick up a copy of Voltaire’s Candide or Zadig, I would rank these among the best
wit, then pick up a copy of Voltaire’s Candide or Zadig, I would rank these among the best

fictional philosophical writings which have been penned by the hand of man.
fictional philosophical writings which have been penned by the hand of man.

Take your leave from the French and spend some time with the Germans.
Take your leave from the French and spend some time with the Germans.

Things may become slightly confusing here so when you come across Kant you may find
Things may become slightly confusing here so when you come across Kant you may find

yourself lost among the metaphysical clouds; in this case enlist some help from William
yourself lost among the metaphysical clouds; in this case enlist some help from William

Wallace, the philosopher not the revolutionary.
Wallace, the philosopher not the revolutionary.

Perhaps the most popular of histories philosophers, at least if we poll those in our time, Friedrich
Perhaps the most popular of histories philosophers, at least if we poll those in our time, Friedrich

Nietzsche, also hails from Germany.
Nietzsche, also hails from Germany.

Here is genius so prominent that it drove the man insane.
Here is genius so prominent that it drove the man insane.

Adding a copy of Beyond Good and Evil and Thus Spake Zarathustra to your library will
Adding a copy of Beyond Good and Evil and Thus Spake Zarathustra to your library will

sit well among the other names which I have given.
sit well among the other names which I have given.

I’d be ashamed if I did not add my personal favorite philosopher to this list.
I’d be ashamed if I did not add my personal favorite philosopher to this list.

So, when you are ready, join Spinoza in ferreting out the ultimate nature of things.
So, when you are ready, join Spinoza in ferreting out the ultimate nature of things.

When you read his Ethics make sure to read it in small portions, it will at first bring
When you read his Ethics make sure to read it in small portions, it will at first bring

confusion, but after some time and repetition I think you will find yourself amply satisfied.
confusion, but after some time and repetition I think you will find yourself amply satisfied.

Finally season your philosophy with the lessons of history.
Finally season your philosophy with the lessons of history.

By reading history as well as philosophy we allow ourselves the ability to humanize our
By reading history as well as philosophy we allow ourselves the ability to humanize our

knowledge, the ability to compare our thoughts to the way that history has behaved time and
knowledge, the ability to compare our thoughts to the way that history has behaved time and

time again.
time again.

There are so many who can deliver these great lessons to you, but the one who I owe the
There are so many who can deliver these great lessons to you, but the one who I owe the

most to is without question Will Durant.
most to is without question Will Durant.

When someone spends half a century writing an eleven volume history of civilization there
When someone spends half a century writing an eleven volume history of civilization there

is no question he will have many valuable lessons to share.
is no question he will have many valuable lessons to share.

I would ask the listener to, if they can, add a name to my list in the comments below.
I would ask the listener to, if they can, add a name to my list in the comments below.

Who knows, there may be some that will benefit from your recommendation.
Who knows, there may be some that will benefit from your recommendation.

Many of the names I have spoken about here in this video are covered in brief videos
Many of the names I have spoken about here in this video are covered in brief videos

on my channel, check in the description below if you are interested in learning more about
on my channel, check in the description below if you are interested in learning more about

these philosophic giants.
these philosophic giants.

If you are interested in entering into the world of philosophy then consider subscribing
If you are interested in entering into the world of philosophy then consider subscribing

to my channel, here my goal is the illumination and exaltation of history’s greatest philosophic
to my channel, here my goal is the illumination and exaltation of history’s greatest philosophic

minds and ideas.
minds and ideas.

As always, thank you for talking philosophy with me, until next time.
As always, thank you for talking philosophy with me, until next time.