How do you read philosophy?

Question

How do you read philosophy considering how complicated it is?

Answer 1

There are several ways to become a better reader of philosophy.

First, you might want to know that becoming a better reader of philosophy can help you become a better reader in general (including a better reader of practical documents like tax forms).

The first thing I tell my students is that they need to make sure they have good food, water, and rest in order to read philosophy. You also need some peace and quiet. Do not forget the basics of good concentration. It starts with taking care of your mind and body.

Secondly, you want to make note of any words you do not understand. Some you will be able to look up in a dictionary. Others are very specific to the philosopher using them, and you have to pay special attention to his or her own use of the word. Sometimes they will say quite upfront "by x I mean y." You might still not understand after that. That's ok. Just try to understand as much as possible the first time around and makes notes of your progress and your stumbling blocks.

Third, start making notes or even drawing or sketching the relationship between key concepts or key ideas in the text you are reading. Philosophers are obsessed with identifying relationships between concepts, for example, of comparison or of opposition, even of paradox. You might not understand what everything means right away, but you can become more fluent in reading a philosopher if you keep notes or draw sketches of the relationships between words and ideas (they tend to recur). The meaning is in the relationships!

Fourth, get used to identifying your confusion and transforming it into a question. The minute you feel confused about something in the text, pause. Think "why am I confused, and about what exactly?" The better you get at answering this question each time, the more you will understand. Don't be afraid of confusion. Transform it into understanding.

Fifth, do background reading. Consult reliable sources, for example scholarly books on specific topics like Kant's categorical imperative, or general articles from other reliable sources such as the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (online). Do be sure to research the philosopher's life and times. This can help you get a better sense of where the philosopher was coming from, and it can get you more excited to read their work.

Finally, repeat the above steps as many times as necessary. When you are ready take increasingly extensive notes (this can help you if you eventually must write a thesis paper).

After you have done these things independently, more than a few times, talk it out with fellow students, friends, and professors. Visit your professor in office hours and come prepared to class to listen to lecture and ask questions that will help you understand.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like to schedule Philosophy lessons. I myself am a Philosophy professor, and I am happy to help.