What Are the Top Philosophy Books to Read Now?

TL;DR

Explore essential philosophy reads, including Miranda Fricker's 'Epistemic Injustice,' which critiques who is recognised as a knowledge bearer, and Ludwig Wittgenstein's 'Remarks on Color,' analysing the complexities of colour perception. Additionally, Carl Schmidt's 'Political Theology' challenges political norms and highlights the parallels between sovereign power and theological concepts.

Transcript

hey everybody its oli here with some more philosophy reading recommendations for you from the last few books I read so first up is a book by Miranda flicker called epistemic injustice power and the ethics of knowing this book's it's a really cool intersection between ethics the study of what's right and wrong and epistemology the study of what know... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🏭 Epistemic injustice involves the unfair dismissal of someone's testimony or knowledge due to prejudicial factors such as race or gender.
• 🤨 Wittgenstein's "Remarks on Color" raises questions about the truth-value of statements about individual experiences of color.
• ❓ Schmidt's "Political Theology" discusses the flaws in politics and the parallels between the sovereign's role and that of God in theological models.
• 🎑 Schmidt's controversial political views have influenced both left-wing and liberal thinkers, despite his association with the Nazi Party.
• ✊ The sovereign's power to decide exceptions to the law is analogous to God's power of creation ex nihilo.
• ✊ Schmidt's analysis of politics and power dynamics resonates with those advocating for broader inclusion and dismantling of oppressive structures.
• 📔 Flicker's book highlights the importance of recognizing the value of diverse knowledge contributors and the harm caused by epistemic injustice.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is epistemic injustice?

Epistemic injustice is when someone's testimony or knowledge is disregarded or disbelieved based on their race, gender, or other prejudicial factors. It denies certain individuals the opportunity to contribute to the pool of knowledge.

Q: How does Ludwig Wittgenstein approach the topic of color in his book?

Wittgenstein questions how statements about color can be considered true or false since individual experiences of color cannot be verified. He also explores the possibility of different individuals perceiving colors in varying ways.

Q: Are Carl Schmidt's political views controversial?

Yes, Carl Schmidt was a member of the Nazi Party, which makes his political views highly contentious. However, his analysis of the flaws in political systems and his exploration of power dynamics has influenced thinkers across the political spectrum.

Q: What is the connection between politics and theology in Schmidt's "Political Theology"?

Schmidt argues that politics has assumed the role of theology and organized religion, with the sovereign akin to a medieval conception of God. The sovereign enforces rules and determines exceptions, similar to how God was viewed as the source of value and decision-making in old theological models.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Miranda Flicker's book "Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing" explores the intersection of ethics and epistemology, focusing on who is allowed to possess and transmit knowledge.

• Ludwig Wittgenstein's "Remarks on Color" delves into the nature of color and how statements about color can be interpreted as true or false.

• Carl Schmidt's "Political Theology" examines the flaws in political systems and discusses the concept of the sovereign who decides on exceptions to the rules.