What book/books should every philosophy enthusiast have on their shelf?

Since I assume you don't want a huge list, I'll pick 5, four that represent major developments and one general overview of philosophy: 1. Plato's Republic. The most famous work from the person whose works have most influences/founded Western philosophy.2.

Voltaire, Collected Works. Great example of Enlightenment thought, but also a blistering satire of the foolishness of many fallacious lines of reasoning. Also, he's every bit as funny today as he was then.3.

Kant, Critique of Pure Reason. Probably the most influential philosophical text of the last several hundred years.4. Lao-Tze.An example of non-Western philosophy from the founder of Taoism.5.

Hoffmann, Nothing So Absurd. Actually a very readable, interesting book on the history of Western philosophy, with some interesting discussion on the cultural history that encouraged various developments in philosophy. Also, it's good for everyone - even the experts - to have a general introduction to a topic both as a reference, and in order to lend out to friends.

I recommend: - Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves - Bioethics: Principles, Issues, and Cases - Experimental Philosophy - This I Believe II: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women You can get these books from topmedicalbooks.com Wish you all the best and have a nice day. Regards Khurrum.

I would have to say any of Nietzsche's works. Though he is mistakenly viewed as a Nazi sympathizer because of his sister's misinterpretation of his works, Nietzsche was a great philosopher and I find his ideas and writing fascinating.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.