ThinkingWest Profile picture
Feb 24, 2024 9 tweets 3 min read Read on X
Philosophy doesn't have to be hard.

Many of the best philosophical works are clear and concise, packing tons of wisdom into a short space. Anybody can read them.

6 Easy Philosophy Books to start your journey of enlightenment 🧵 Image
1. The Apology, Plato

The Apology details Socrates’ trial shortly before his execution. It’s a prime example of the Socratic dialogue and, because Socrates left no writings, it's essential to understanding the life and teachings of the “Father of Philosophy.” Image
2. Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle

Plato's student, Aristotle, explores how best to live a good life. He explains that “the good'' is ultimately the goal to which all man’s actions aim. His work is foundational to western ethics and influenced figures from Alexander to Aquinas. Image
3. Letters from a Stoic, Seneca

The quintessential Stoic philosopher, Seneca was a tutor and advisor to emperor Nero. His work is basically a diary containing philosophical contemplations on the contempt of death, the value of friendship, and virtue as the supreme good. Image
4. Meditations, Marcus Aurelius

Never intended for the public, Meditations is a collection of personal insights that Marcus Aurelius recorded while on military campaign. The work is a unique opportunity to peer into the mind of the leader of the greatest empire in history. Image
5. Consolation of Philosophy, Boethius

Written while he awaited execution, the work is a dialogue between Boethius and Lady Philosophy who consoles the author by discussing the fleeting nature of worldly goods. It influenced the medieval mind more than any other secular work Image
6. The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli

Machiavelli’s classic is a 16th century handbook on effective governance. It’s an essential read for anyone who wishes to understand the motivations and reasoning behind great leaders from the past or savvy politicians today. Image
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Sep 4
All empires repeat the same cycle, says 20th-century historian John Glubb.

He observed that for the past 3000 years every civilization has followed the same 6 stages before decline—what are they?🧵 Image
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In his later years he wrote about geopolitics and world history, and penned a succinct description of how civilizations rise and fall… Image
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Aug 21
The East India Company was the most powerful corporation of all time.

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So how did a company become stronger than most countries?🧵 Image
The East India Company's origins started with famed explorer Francis Drake.

His voyage in 1577 opened the world to the East Indies, and when he returned to England in 1580, he brought exotic spices from the Spice Islands that investors believed could be a lucrative venture. Image
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Aug 19
Did you know the American $1 bill references Virgil?

The Great Seal featured on the bill was designed by a Latin teacher, and he left a reference to the Aeneid on the design.

But there’s more — America’s entire ethos has Roman underpinnings…🧵 Image
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It was essentially a type of self-confidence — a belief that Rome’s culture was better than all others. Image
This mindset is hinted at in the Aeneid, where the god Jupiter proclaims:

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Aug 15
The French Revolution was one of the great tragedies of history.

It ushered in an era of:

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Aug 11
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But somewhere along the way it disappears from the record… Image
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Aug 5
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At least, that’s according to 18th-century historian Alexander Tytler.

He claimed democracies always follow a predictable pattern and are doomed to end in servitude…🧵 Image
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Tytler was a Scottish judge, writer, and Professor of Universal History as well as Greek and Roman Antiquities at the University of Edinburgh.

After studying dozens of civilizations, he noticed some intriguing patterns… Image
He believed that democracies naturally evolved from initial virtue to eventual corruption and decline.

In ancient Greece, for example, he argued that "the patriotic spirit and love of ingenious freedom...became gradually corrupted as the nation advanced in power and splendor." Image
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