A question for Atheists . . .

[achilles12604]

What are some of your best minds in the literary world? Who should I be reading?

[Furrowed Brow]

What are some of your best minds in the literary world? Who should I be reading?

If you mean novels then I can't help you there. If you mean more academic stuff book yourself into a philosophy major, begin with the Greeks and read on. For me the guy to read without a shadow of a doubt is Wittgenstein. But it is difficult to understand Wittgenstein, if that is even possible, without some wider philosophical grounding in logic and language. So Russell and Frege would be needed.

[Confused]

What are some of your best minds in the literary world? Who should I be reading?

If you mean novels then I can't help you there. If you mean more academic stuff book yourself into a philosophy major, begin with the Greeks and read on. For me the guy to read without a shadow of a doubt is Wittgenstein. But it is difficult to understand Wittgenstein, if that is even possible, without some wider philosophical grounding in logic and language. So Russell and Frege would be needed.

I don't know that I would start with philosophers. My Philosophy 101 class stared out with Dostoevsky (bad choice) but got better with Sir Thomas Moores Utopia and Descartes Method of Discourse.

I think starting with the basics of critical thinking (logical) would be better. After understanding the basics of logic, then I would start with Kant: Foundations of the Metaphysics of morals or Descartes Discourse on Method.

But knowing how devout a Christian you are Achilles, I would say start with Ancient Literature. The Norton Anthology of Ancient Literature is very good and might give you some insights as to why one would question the Christian religion when we have heard the story repeated by so many other religions, some that predate Christianity and the OT, and Judaism. For example, the Epic of Gilgamesh is one of my favorite. When you start to see the parallels in stories (Genesis) you may understand the confusion.

[Furrowed Brow]

What are some of your best minds in the literary world? Who should I be reading?

If you mean novels then I can't help you there. If you mean more academic stuff book yourself into a philosophy major, begin with the Greeks and read on. For me the guy to read without a shadow of a doubt is Wittgenstein. But it is difficult to understand Wittgenstein, if that is even possible, without some wider philosophical grounding in logic and language. So Russell and Frege would be needed.

I don't know that I would start with philosophers. My Philosophy 101 class stared out with Dostoevsky (bad choice) but got better with Sir Thomas Moores Utopia and Descartes Method of Discourse.

I think starting with the basics of critical thinking (logical) would be better. After understanding the basics of logic, then I would start with Kant: Foundations of the Metaphysics of morals or Descartes Discourse on Method.

But knowing how devout a Christian you are Achilles, I would say start with Ancient Literature. The Norton Anthology of Ancient Literature is very good and might give you some insights as to why one would question the Christian religion when we have heard the story repeated by so many other religions, some that predate Christianity and the OT, and Judaism. For example, the Epic of Gilgamesh is one of my favorite. When you start to see the parallels in stories (Genesis) you may understand the confusion.

Well if you are going to read Kant, you better get a library ticket for Hume and J.S Mill who are from the other side of the spectrum.

[Confused]

Point taken. I show my own biases. And Hume isn't to difficult to understand as a beginning author, but Mill, I don't know if that is a good starter.

[Confused]

How about Why Darwin Matters: A case against intelligent design by Michael Shermer.

[palmera]

Plato (Socrates,) Nietzsche, Einstein, Douglas Adams, Isaac Asimov, Primo Levi, Phillip Pulman, Ayn Rand, Salman Rushdie, P.B. Shelley, Kurt Vonnegut, Ibn Warraq

[palmera]

oh yeah, Carl Sagan and Albert Camus... and probably Jesus

[Bugmaster]

What are some of your best minds in the literary world? Who should I be reading?

I think it's a mistake to rate writers based primarily on their religious affiliation, or lack thereof; same applies to their gender or race or food preference or whatever. You should read books because they are enaging, or interesting, or thought-provoking, or just generally well-written, regardless of who the author is.

[wrekk]

I am currently reading Richard Dawkin's "The God Delusion", and I must say it is pretty good.

Probably not of the "best minds in the literary world", but still good reading none the less.