Philosophy seeks to provide answers to the problems of humanity. Throughout the centuries many thinkers have tried to give individual and social meaning to all human spheres. Philosophy raises the transcendental issues of life that also affects the most everyday and simple. The more we think that philosophy is useless or is reviled by today's society, the more we need to resort to the classics and the new currents that come to our aid.
Philosophy is not out of fashion nor are they just the ideas of a handful of dull and depressed lunatics, quite the contrary, thought has governed our entire existence; The ability to think and to computerize our world is what makes us, precisely, human. Thus, To escape ignorance and violence, we suggest reading some of the works that have helped man the most in this regard..
The Republic
The Republic is a dialogue in which different voices appear and where the conversation is somewhat anarchic on different topics and issues. It is a mature work of Plato, one of the earliest philosophers, and one of the greatest in the Western world. In it he stresses the need for reality and identifies philosophy with the substantive, the material, positioning the discipline as a science, and moving away from appearances. Likewise, she talks about happiness and how it is coupled with morality and temperance.
Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle is another of the most famous Western thinkers in history. He is the author of Nicomachean Ethics, one of the most commented and studied books on ethics. In her it starts from the base of virtue to achieve a happy life; and that it is in the midpoint where virtue is found. That is why he enacts a moderate life without excesses. The work is a set of advice addressed to his son, Nicómaco, although society has been nourished by it as it is a reference for human conduct.
Tao Te Ching
This work by Lao-Tzu represents Asian thought. It is a fundamental piece of Taoism, a religious and philosophical doctrine founded by Lao-Tzu himself in the XNUMXth century BC. C. The title of the work contains the words "way", "virtue" and "book", although it is known with this adaptation of its Chinese pronunciation: Tao Te Ching. It is a highly valued book in Western culture, since it is a treatise that it can be understood beyond cultures and time about the art of living, learning to live, knowing how to live. It consists of simple teachings that can be read as if it were poetry.
On the brevity of life
During this dialogue of twenty chapters, Seneca talks with his friend Paulino about, That, the brevity of life. that life is short and Seneca invites us to situate ourselves in our present, which is what we really have, and urges us to live life according to it; Only in this way will man be able to live fully. You must stop looking forward to the future or fear it. If man misses his future, he will miss his present; however, he also defends the idea of the future, because man needs to have a vision and a direction. Likewise, the past must also be controlled so as not to get caught up in nostalgia.
The speech of the method
This work by René Descartes is since the XNUMXth century the prolegomenon of modern philosophy and rationalism ("I think, therefore I am"). It is based on the search for universal truths that help establish reason over any imagination or fantasy.. Likewise, it legitimizes doubt because it is the expression of thought; and the human being is capable of finding certainties through reflection. The conclusion of Descartes' philosophy is that reason, as a consequence of thought, is the demonstration of human existence.
The social contract
This illustrated work by Jean-Jacques Rousseau is a work on political philosophy that talks about the equality of men. In an egalitarian social environment, all people have the same rights, which, in turn, are regulated through a social contract. The social contract Rousseau's is a defense of human freedom, democracy and just governance. This thought was the propellant of the French Revolution.
Critique of pure reason
This is undoubtedly one of the most important and influential philosophical works of the Modern Age. It was written by Immanuel Kant and published in 1781. He elaborates a strong critique of traditional metaphysics and opens the way to a new understanding and reason. that can be explained by other thinkers. This work is unique and essential because it puts an end to the old thinking and gives birth to a new way of understanding the world; It is key as an illustrated and modern work. He speaks, for example, of a priori judgments (he takes mathematics as a model), and of a posteriori judgments, which are presented through experience.
Manuscripts of economics and philosophy
Written in 1844, these texts from Karl Marx's youth make up to a great extent the lines of Marxist economic and philosophical thought. However, they were published decades after the death of their author and in relation to the rest of his work they are a little distant from the more mature Marx. Nevertheless, these manuscripts highlight the alienation suffered by man in a capitalist system that still survives and dominates the West today.
This is how Zarathustra spoke
Written by Friedrich Nietzsche in the XNUMXth century This is how Zarathustra spoke It is both a philosophical and a literary book. Among his concepts stands out the Superman (Übermensch), the death of God, the will to power or the eternal return of life. In this work of vitalist thought, a positive disposition of life is proposed, but also the acceptance of its miseries, human weakness, or open criticism of Socrates.
