Advice for Beginners in Philosophy

In this column, which I write weekly, I want to address young minds who are just stepping into university, especially those embarking on an adventure as exciting and dizzying as philosophy. I find the audacity to do so within myself, as I hold undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in philosophy. Before this journey, I was a student at medical school. Furthermore, I am a graduate of economics and law. I am still a practicing attorney. Therefore, I have centered my life around philosophy and wandered extensively around it. I made plenty of mistakes. I took many detours. I noticed some shortcuts. But at what cost! A bit of time and a bit of pain. 

I am telling you this so you don't have to go through these troubles. 

When you start wandering the corridors of philosophy departments, your mind will find itself in a vast ocean of names and concepts stretching from Plato to Kant, from Aristotle to Wittgenstein. Your professors will recommend countless works to help you find your way in this ocean. I, however, want to focus on the preparations and strategies that will enable you to better understand those great texts, establish a deeper relationship with them, and most importantly, find your own philosophical voice. Let's take a look together at what you should put in your backpack for this long and enjoyable journey.

1. Philosophy Is Not a Desert Island: Build Interdisciplinary Bridges

One of the most common misconceptions about philosophy is viewing it as an exercise in thought that is isolated from all other fields and closed in on itself. Yet, philosophy stands at the very center of life and knowledge. The object of philosophy is, quite literally, everything: from the structure of an atom to the beauty of a work of art, from the quest for justice to the limits of language. Therefore, engaging with philosophy is also engaging with science, art, history, and life itself. To avoid getting lost in this vast ocean, you need to cast a solid anchor. 

On the other hand, if you are going to read philosophical texts in Turkish, you must choose the right sources. Are you going to read Ancient Greek texts? First and foremost, you should pick up the translations by my friend Yasin Gurur Sev. Or do you want a general grasp of philosophy? You can comfortably buy and read any book by Sadık Usta. Do you want to listen to a narrator faithful to the history of philosophy? Then, without using the simplicity of the language as an excuse, you will read Copleston's history of philosophy in Aziz Yardımlı's translation. Do you want to compromise a bit on fidelity and see the big picture? You will read A. C. Grayling's History of Philosophy in the translation by my friend Ali Berk İdil. 

2. Learn Quickly, Reason Soundly

Since philosophy is concerned with everything, one of the most fundamental skills of a philosopher should be the ability to learn a new subject quickly and effectively. To distinguish the true from the false and the sound from the flimsy among what you learn, your reasoning—that is, your critical thinking skill—must be sharp. Philosophy will provide you with these skills, but it is in your hands to accelerate this process.

3. Understand the Language of Science: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Today, philosophy of science is among the most vibrant and productive fields of philosophy. Every question science asks, from artificial intelligence to the origin of the universe, from cognitive processes to quantum physics, ultimately rests on a philosophical foundation. However, our high school education does not graduate us with the equipment to understand these profound discussions. To close this gap, from the beginning of your university life, showing interest in basic mathematics and at least one branch of positive science (physics, chemistry, or biology), and reading popular science in these fields will broaden your philosophical horizon incredibly.

4. Write to Think, Write to Understand

The test-oriented education system that lasts until university unfortunately dulls our most important thinking tool: the skill of writing. Yet, philosophy is a discipline that is written as much as it is read. Writing is the most intense, instructive, and qualified form of thinking. When you start putting your thoughts on paper, you see the gaps in your mind, logical inconsistencies, and weak arguments much more clearly. To understand philosophy, to think philosophically, and ultimately to produce philosophy, practicing writing regularly is essential. Remember, a good philosophical writer also becomes a much more careful and competent philosophical reader.

5. Expand the Limits of Language: Turkish and English

Philosophy is an activity done with language, and every language is a different window opening to the world. In the past, I would have said you needed to learn many languages like Latin, Ancient Greek, and German for this journey. But let's be realistic: We should have two main goals for the beginning.

• Rediscover Turkish: We all think we know Turkish. However, when you try to translate a philosophical text or write an original philosophical argument, you realize how foreign we are to the subtleties of our language.

• Truly Learn English: Today, the primary language of philosophical production and discussion is English. Knowing English "well enough to get by" is not enough. When you reach a level where you can comfortably read and understand an academic text, one of the world's greatest libraries will be laid at your feet thanks to the internet and e-books.

6. Understand the Human: Psychology, Anthropology, and History of Civilization

Philosophy fundamentally concerns the human, their place in the world, and their search for meaning. Therefore, philosophy done without understanding the mental and social structure of the human will remain incomplete. Readings you will do in fields such as human psychology, cognitive sciences, anthropology, and the history of civilization will help you place philosophers' arguments into their own historical and human contexts.

Book Recommendations

In the philosophy department, you will already be made to read plenty of philosophical texts. My goal here is to recommend "auxiliary" sources that will help you understand those texts better and trigger your own intellectual production:

• To Learn How to Learn: Works such as Barbara Oakley’s "A Mind for Numbers" or "Learning How to Learn," Peter C. Brown and his colleagues' "Make It Stick," or Scott Young’s "Ultralearning" will offer you a brand new perspective on effective learning techniques.

• For Reasoning: Works such as Alec Fisher's "The Logic of Real Arguments," which we brought into our language with my friend Oğuz Akçelik, and Rolf Dobelli's "The Art of Thinking Clearly"... Let's not forget my friend Tevfik Uyar's work titled "Astrolojinin Bilimle İmtihanı" (Astrology's Test with Science). 

• For Philosophy and Mathematics: Eric Steinhart’s book "More Precisely: The Math You Need to Do Philosophy" summarizes the basic mathematical thinking that philosophy needs in a wonderful way. (I am about to finish the translation of this book; it will be in your hands in a few months, but you should still not neglect learning English!)

• For the History of Civilization and Humanity: Works such as Jared Diamond’s "Guns, Germs, and Steel," David Graeber's "Debt: The First 5000 Years" or "The Dawn of Everything," or Wolfgang Schivelbusch's "Tastes of Paradise: A Social History of Spices, Stimulants, and Intoxicants," and above all, works by Emrah Safa Gürkan such as "Ezbere Yaşayanlar" (Those Who Live by Rote) and "Bunu Herkes Bilir" (Everyone Knows This) allow you to see the big picture where philosophical thought was born.

• For Awareness of Language and Translation: Essays on language by Necmiye Alpay, writings by Nurullah Ataç, or texts penned on translation practice by master translators like Ülker İnce and Celal Üster will show you how lively and layered a structure language is.

• For Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Popular but horizon-expanding books such as Antonio Damasio’s "Descartes' Error," Steven Pinker’s "The Blank Slate," Philip Zimbardo’s "The Lucifer Effect," or Dan Ariely’s "Predictably Irrational" are a good start. Additionally, the relevant books in the Oxford "Very Short Introductions" series published by Istanbul Kültür University (Philosophy, Psychology, Consciousness, etc.) offer wonderful summaries.

• Let's Not Skip Artificial Intelligence: I strongly recommend that you do not speak on this subject without reading our professor Cem Say's book "50 Soruda Yapay Zeka" (Artificial Intelligence in 50 Questions). 

Oh, we forgot art! Just kidding; a general grasp of art for reading philosophy should be the subject of another article. Perhaps a more competent friend of ours in this field will write it. 

Remember, philosophy is not a destination, but an unending journey. Enjoy this journey, read a lot, write even more, and most importantly, never stop asking. May your path be clear!