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anitamarie
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| Posted: Oct 26 2012 at 3:22pm | IP Logged
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Has anyone read this in it's entirety. I have been wanting to read this book for years. I started reading to preview it for my high schooler. I confess I flipped ahead to see what he had to say about Christianity. He says that Christianity teaches that there is no immortal soul. Am I reading that right? Does he really mean that, or does he explain that further somewhere? Also, if he gets something as fundamental to Christianity as that wrong, then how can I trust he got anything else right?
Anita
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sunshinyliving
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| Posted: Oct 26 2012 at 6:27pm | IP Logged
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I have read portions of Sophie's World, but I have not read all of it. I would definitely not recommend using this book as a jumping-off point for studying philosophy, however. It is very important when studying philosophy to have a Catholic (or at least Christian) guide.
My recommendation would be to start off your studies by reading the Apologia (Apology) of Socrates. This dialogue could probably be considered the most important philosophical work to know, but it is also fairly short and very enjoyable to read. I would suggest reading it aloud with your student, because you'll both enjoy it and the two of you will probably refer back to ideas in it and make jokes about it together for years. As Catholics, you and your student will be amazed at how close to some Truths (such as monotheism,existence of the soul, importance of virtue) Socrates is able to come as a pagan. I confess that in the past, when I've questioned God's goodness or something else, I've often found comfort in the fact that this pagan man was able to come to Catholic conclusions.
I would then follow up with Kreeft's book called "Philosophy 101 by Socrates" and perhaps with Kreeft's "The Best Things in Life". I personally think that every high-schooler should read these books.
After those books, I would highly suggest Thales to Dewey by Gordon H. Clark. In my opinion, this book (written by a Christian theologian and philosopher) is the very best introduction to philosophy. He writes in a fairly conversational and very engaging style.
An Introduction to Philosophy by Jacques Maritain (Catholic) is also very good, and very readable, although more like a textbook.
Another option would be for your high-schooler to listen to one of Dr. Rioux's recorded courses on Homeschool Connections (Catholic). One class by him, What Philosophers Do and How they Do It" is an excellent overview of philosophy.
Hope that helps!
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Diana, wife to Brad, Mom to dd18, dd16, dd13, ds10, dd7, ds5
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anitamarie
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| Posted: Oct 27 2012 at 7:31am | IP Logged
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Thanks so much. I was very disappointed, especially because I was looking forward to reading this book for so long.
Thank you for all the suggestions. Wow. I feel an Amazon order coming on... 
Anita
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Misty
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| Posted: Nov 07 2012 at 6:00am | IP Logged
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I'm confused someone once mentioned to read Sophies World for Logic? I don't have it but when I saw this post wanted to hear more about it, cause I have it in my notes for later in HS. I guess i can cross that one off.
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vmalott
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| Posted: Dec 31 2012 at 9:43am | IP Logged
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Misty,
I think you may have misunderstood what one poster said about Sophie's World in the post on Logic. She was considering using it *after* logic.
I second what Diana recommends about starting with Socrates (Plato). I received my BA in philosophy and my focus was mainly on the Ancient Greeks, in particular Plato and Aristotle. I was away from the Church at that time, but I often wonder if the professor that I took the bulk of my classes from was a Catholic, since he really did a convincing job of building up the faith rather than tearing it down (in a public institution no less).
Kreeft's Philosophy 101 by Socrates is on my list of possible texts for my newly-returned-home high school student.
Valerie
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Mom to Julia ('94), John ('96), Lizzy ('98), Connor ('01), Drew ('02), Cate ('04), Aidan ('08) and three saints in heaven
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Sophie's World
