I'm, as advised, starting with the Greeks. I'm planning to follow a generally linear chronological path across major philosophical works, mainly based on several charts and guides from here. My question is where does psychology fit into all these? If I want to also read Freud, Jung, Lacan etc. what is the necessary background? Do they exist relatively separately to their contemporary philosophers? Or are they to be interpreted in their chronological context?Also, on another note, in general I'm anxious about reading "heavy" contemporary non-fiction books since I feel I lack the necessary background to understand them. But trying to brute-force linearly all of western (and not) literature and get "up to speed" is obviously unfeasible. How do you find balance between these two opposites?
>>25491831For quality poetry you should probably read writers who wrote in english.
>>25491850What does poetry have to do with any of this?
>>25491831Go back a LOT of steps, larper. Start with rehashing what your parents taught you instead. Keep doing thát.
>>25491831I'd recommend a history of philosophy book or collection of books first over the Greeks if I'm not memeing.Anthony Kenny's one is decent.Some of the psychologists have books that are easier to understand. Jungs "Memory, Dreams, Reflections" whilst more autobiographical will get you to grasp his basics more easily. The Jung essay in man and his symbols is easy as well, as is modern man in search of a soul. Once again, just get a history of psychology book to get the lay of the land.A trick to understanding a thinker that you deem too difficult is to read a biography on them beforehand, since they're often more easy to understand than the primary texts.What do you actually want to read?Instead of doing it in a way that you feel is the right way, what interests you the most now?If you read the history of philosophy first you may notice a thinker/author/movement that resonates more than the others, if so just start there.>>25491850So much gets lost in translation. But I wouldn't want to dissuade someone from reading Baudelaire or Rimbaud just because they don't understand an iota of french. The themes of the translated poetry may give them something even though the original wording of the poems are gone.Proust (while not poetry) is definitely worth reading in translation. More than Dickens or Austen.>>25491855One of Socrates final acts was to change Aesop's fables into poetry whilst in prison. The leaps in thought that philosophers take from one thing to another have a similarity to a poets flights of fancy.If you do the history of philosophy/autobiography thing. Remember that the history of philosophy is not philosophy.
>>25491831just read what you want u fucking beta fag
>>25491831After you read psychology, specifically Jung, you will want to read all classics again. But you can't understand him without a certain level of culture. The Bible, Homer, Plato, some of Aristotle, Virgil, Ovid, Dante. That should be your start.
>>25491831>But trying to brute-force linearly all of western (and not) literature and get "up to speed" is obviously unfeasible. How do you find balance between these two opposites?by realizing that much of what is termed 'necessary' is merely the squawking of dogmatistsit is not at all necessary to read much of Plato's actual works, for example—he is perhaps the largest sacred cow of all—it is only important to familiarize oneself with a subsection of his ideas and allegories than to deeply attend to his text, which is often dull, meandering, irritating, and full of sycophantic responses>Of course.>Most certainly.>Quite so.>Undoubtedly.ad infinitumI will happily quote John Adams in a letter to Thomas Jefferson on 16 July 1814:>I am very glad you have Seriously read Plato; and Still more rejoiced to find that your reflections upon him So perfectly harmonize with mine. Some thirty years ago I took upon me the Severe task of going through all his Works. With the help of two Latin Translations, and one English and one French Translation, and comparing Some of the most remarkable passages with the Greek, I laboured through the tedious toil. My disappointment was very great, my Astonishment was greater and my disgust was Shocking. Two things only did I learn from him. 1. that Franklins Ideas of exempting Husbandmen and Mariners &c, from the depredations of War, were borrowed from him. 2. that Sneezing is a cure for the Hickups. Accordingly I have cured myself and all my Friends of that provoking disorder, for thirty years with a Pinch of Snuff.>Some Parts of some of his Dialogues are entertaining, like the Writings of Rousseau: but his Laws and his Republick from which I expected most, disappointed me most.
>>25491831Psychology basically didn't exist until the 19th century but William James is a good start
>>25491831Oh and if you're getting into Psychology get a copy of the DSM-4 TR. It's out of date, but it's $35 instead of $150 and the only changes are some fake tranny bullshit and rolling Asperger's back into ASD which only matters to annoying spergs who will be happy to correct you if you get it mixed up.The DSM-4 TR is a fun book to read because all the diagnoses are these little self contained articles you can read while taking a shit or something. Just don't self-diagnose.
>>25492674This seems about right
>>25492958How did people treat psychological and mental issues then?
>>25492958The practical part of psychology has always existed, in the form of myth, prophecy, ritual and religion. Only the theory has lagged behind.
>>25491831>My question is where does psychology fit into all theseThe genesis of Greek literature is a guy getting cuckholded so he assembles a massive army by promising them plenty of loot and women to rape, and goes across the sea to bash people's heads in with rocks then stripping them naked because whoever collects the most hats has the biggest penis. I don't think they really care about gay shit like psychology as their understanding of what drives a male to function was already perfected from the get go.
>>25491831Lacan is a total waste of time. Read Klein or Hillman instead.
>>25494247>How did people treat psychological and mental issues then?Shut people in a dark room for 24 hours.
>>25491831>Also, on another note, in general I'm anxious about reading "heavy" contemporary non-fiction books since I feel I lack the necessary background to understand themDon't. The more you think about "pre-reading" the less reading you will do. I'm speaking from experience.
