April 4, 2009

Free Philosophy Books & Podcasts on Audio

Check out 30 of the top free philosophy books, lectures, & podcasts available online. For years we’ve put an emphasis on showcasing philosophy as part of our Free Resource of the Day Emails. Now with this list of 30 hand picked titles, you can dive into political theory with Machiavelli or Jean-Jacques Rousseau, learn the Art of War with Sun Tzu, take a film class on Existentialism and ask the big questions of life’s significance. Other philosophers you’ll meet and learn about on this list include Plato, Frederick Nietzsche, Immanuel Kant, Bertrand Russell, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Ayn Rand among many others. You can check them all out by clicking the titles below:

1. Existentialism in Literature and Film Podcast

This is a full college course from the University of California-Berkeley entitled “Existentialism in Literature and Film”. The “Existentialism in Literature and Film” course, taught by professor Hubert L. Dreyfus, cuts right to the roots of existentialist thought, looking at the works of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, and examining Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamazov in depth. It’s an excellent philosophy course and it’s free!

2. Plato’s Republic

The Republic by Plato is one of the most influential works of philosophy in history. In the form of Socratic dialogue, Plato’s teacher and protagonist Socrates sets out to find an answer to the question: “What is justice?”. Along the way Socrates discusses the ideal city-state and his theory of forms, which includes his famous allegory of the cave. This podcast contains all eleven books of The Republic unabridged. It is well read by narrator Doug McLeod and is available on MP3 download from ejunto.com.

3. The Value of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

Listen to the ideas of the great 20th century philosopher Bertrand Russell on “The Value of Philosophy”, which comes from the final chapter of his 1912 book The Problems of Philosophy. In the essay he lays forth his conviction that although philosophy cannot come to any certain answers regarding the questions it asks, these questions are important in that they enlarge our views of the universe beyond the narrow viewpoints of practical men, who are concerned solely with the material world. The piece is well read by Paul Sunderland. You can now download this excerpt directly from LearnOutLoud on MP3!

4. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

ejunto.com is a site which features free mp3 downloads of historical and philosophical audio books (it’s named after Benjamin Franklin’s literary club called The Junto). They currently feature a free unabridged recording of The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. This political philosophy classic describes how political leaders can obtain and maintain power. It is well narrated by Andrew Julow and available on MP3 download from ejunto.com.

5. Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Self Reliance is perhaps Ralph Waldo Emerson’s most famous essay. This version, narrated by Brian Johnson from Zaadz, is both thought-provoking and inspirational. Ralph Waldo Emerson pushes the listener to break free of the dependence on society and the masses of man and to rely solely upon oneself. Always pushing us to follow our own nature & intuition, Emerson denounces those who allow themselves to be victims of society or history. He wants great men to rise from the limitations of cultural institutions and stand as giants casting shadows over the ages. Throughout the essay there is wisdom loaded in every sentence and it can be listened to again and again. Download this free classic audio book on MP3 directly from LearnOutLoud.com.

6. Philosophy: The Classics Podcast

In this podcast, British author Nigel Warburton reads from his book Philosophy: The Classics (now in it’s 3rd edition). The book examines and summarizes 27 classic works of philosophy. Currently on the podcast feed, Warburton reads 5 chapters from his book summarizing Plato’s The Republic, Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Boethius’ The Consolation of Philosophy, Machiavelli’s The Prince, and Descartes’ Meditations. His introductions to these works are clear and concise, and his narration is adequate for the material. Subscribe to this work of philosophical generosity.

7. The Twilight of the Idols by Friedrich Nietzsche

Listen to one of Friedrich Nietzsche’s last and most mature works: The Twilight of the Idols. In this book Nietzsche confronts Socrates, morality, reason, and much else. It is a comprehensive summary of the ideas of this controversial 19th century German philosopher. Recorded for the first time on audio by LibriVox narrator D.E. Wittkower, this audio book is available on MP3 download through LibriVox.

8. Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

In this classic essay by Henry David Thoreau, he stresses that individuals should not allow governments to rule over their conscience by forcing them to contribute to injustices through taxes or other support. Thoreau advocates breaking laws in a civil manner if one believes they are unjust. This essay would go on to influence Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and many others. It’s available as an MP3 download from Voices in the Dark with fine narration by Dawn Keenan.

9. The Philosopher’s Zone Podcast

One of the best things about podcasting is that we can now download and listen to public radio from all over the world. And some of the best public radio comes from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. They’ve recently added The Philosopher’s Zone Podcast which “looks at the world of philosophy and at the world through philosophy”. It’s a very interesting podcast and one of the only philosophy podcasts out there.

10. The Treatise on Friendship by Cicero

Listen to this free audio book by the Roman statesman, lawyer, political theorist, philosopher, and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero. In The Treatise on Friendship Cicero examines the qualities of good friends and bad friends through a philosophical dialogue between three prominent citizens of the Roman republic. Cicero ultimately arrives at the conclusion that nothing save virtue is more valuable than friendship. Enjoy this free MP3 download from ejunto.com.

11. Justice: What’s The Right Thing To Do? by Professor Michael Sandel

In this complete, 12-lecture video course from Harvard University, Professor Michael Sandel presents his popular course which explores difficult moral dilemmas and how we respond to them. In the first lecture he presents a few complex moral dilemmas and asks his class how they would respond to these conundrums. Through the answers students give he brings into question the assumptions behind their moral reasoning. He briefly addresses the ideas of utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham and tells of a true case which brings into question Bentham’s creed of “the greatest good for the greatest number”. It seems to be an interesting course and it is being offered totally free from Harvard University on streaming video through YouTube.

12. The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius

Listen to this classic work of philosophy written by Boethius in 524 AD. Boethius wrote this work while awaiting trial for which he was executed. The Consolation of Philosophy examines the problem of evil, free will, virtue, and much else as Boethius conducts a dialogue with Lady Philosophy. This audio book is available for free from LibriVox and is read by over a dozen of their volunteer narrators. It is available on MP3 download.

13. Answering the Question: What is Enlightenment? by Immanuel Kant

Download this essay by German philosopher Immanuel Kant. One of the last Enlightenment philosophers, Kant puts forth his definition of Enlightenment, in reference to the question about what had occurred during the Age of Enlightenment in 18th century Europe and America. Kant feels that it was not a social movement adopted by the masses, but rather an individual movement where certain persons gained the courage to think for themselves and to argue against the paternalism of institutions which were heretofore unquestioned. Kant sees the freedom of reasoning and argumentation as central to the Age of Enlightenment, but this revolution of independent thought can only be achieved through an individual’s striving for intellectual maturity. Download this free essay on MP3 exclusively through LearnOutLoud.com.

14. Thinking Out Loud Podcast

Listen to over twenty philosophical dialogues with everyday people covering a new topic in each podcast. Host Steve Donaldson is joined by about ten other citizen philosopher guests as they spend an hour talking about topics such as “What is Love?”, “What is Evil?”, “Is Free Will an Illusion?”, “What is Mysticism?”, and many other intriguing topics. These philosophical round table discussions really get one thinking about the topic and they’re entertaining as well. Currently they’re allowing internet guests to join in the discussion through VoIP technology. The audio quality of these podcasts varies, but the content is so consistently compelling that you’ll want to listen to them all. Enjoy.

15. Democracy in America, Vol. I & Democracy in America, Vol. II by Alexis de Tocqueville

Listen to Alexis de Tocqueville’s great work of political philosophy and history Democracy in America. Published in two volumes (in 1835 and 1840 respectively), the French political thinker Tocqueville wrote about America as a social scientist after his travels there, providing a wealth of observations and opinions which still hold true today. If you’ve never had a chance to read this book, then listening to this 30-hour audio book is a great way to get through this classic work of political philosophy. This audio book is read by a number of volunteer narrators at LibriVox.org and is available to download on MP3.

16. Francis Fukuyama: The End Of History Revisited

Fifteen years after the publication of his 1992 book The End of History and the Last Man, author Francis Fukuyama still believes in his thesis that political & economic history is reaching its end in liberal democracy and free market capitalism. In this talk delivered at the Long Now Foundation, Fukuyama defends his argument, pointing out the expansion of science, technology, and free market capitalism and how it has increased the wealth of much of the developing world over the past 15 years, which has in turn led to liberal democracy in many nations. He does point out some of the criticisms of his thesis such as Samuel Huntington’s The Clash of Civilizations book, which argues that certain cultures will never conform to Western liberal democracy & free markets. Huntington argues this will lead to an ongoing clash of civilizations.

Fukuyama doesn’t believe that his “End of History” thesis is certain, and he still feels there is a lot of work to be done in building institutions in developing states, fighting global warming, organizing global cooperation, and preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction. He fields a number of questions, including one regarding the second half of his thesis which addresses Nietzsche’s concept of The Last Man, which he feels is now being catered to under the system of the European Union. It is a fascinating lecture that is available on MP3 download and streaming video through FORA.tv.

17. What is Knowledge? by Professor Colin McGinn

It’s back to school time and before cramming our brains with new knowledge, let us ask, “What is Knowledge?” In this lecture, Professor Colin McGinn deciphers what we mean when we say we ‘know’ something to be true. He traces the history of philosophical skepticism, giving the listener several historical arguments for the theory of knowledge, and also touching on arguments made by the likes of Plato, Descartes, and other important philosophers. This lecture is a foundational exercise for the rest of the program, with McGinn arguing that for someone to begin thinking philosophically, he or she must first understand the methods of thinking that go into the pursuit of true knowledge.

18. The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Written by Sun Tzu in the 6th Century B.C., The Art of War now stands as a definitive distillation of ancient military strategy. The philosophies contained in this book have been applied in variety of settings throughout the centuries. Narrator Michael Scott brings his voiceover gusto to this reading, which is available on MP3 download from ThoughtAudio.com.

19. Authors@Google: John Searle

In a thought-provoking lecture provided by Authors@Google on streaming video, philosopher John Searle discusses the perennial problem of human free will. Starting with the historical arguments associated with free will, Searle then points viewers to how quantum mechanical theories of a chaotic and ultimately indeterminate universe may provide some solution to the problem. Delivered with a sense of fun and respect for the novice, Searle’s lecture is a must for anyone that wonders about the full nature of human choice and whether or not any of our decisions can truly be considered our own. It is available on streaming video through YouTube.

20. Peikoff.com Q&A on Ayn Rand Podcast

Dr. Leonard Peikoff was a long time friend Ayn Rand and she designated him as her legal and intellectual heir. Carrying on Ayn Rand’s Objectivist philosophy, Peikoff has been podcasting weekly for over a year with his Q&A format. In each episode he answers a number of questions that have been emailed to him and provides the answers that Ayn Rand had for many of the questions. Peikoff doesn’t answer all of the questions emailed to him, but he claims to read them all, and he will answer just about any question whether it be in regards to philosophy, politics, ethics, art, sexuality, etc. With each question answered you get a better idea of what Objectivist philosophy is and it’s the closest you’re likely to get to hearing what Ayn Rand would think of things if she were still alive today.

21. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Listen to one of the classic works of Stoic philosophy by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius written between 170 and 180 AD. Aurelius champions reason over passion in order to overcome the pains and pleasures of everyday life. In his practical and straightforward style Marcus Aurelius delivers his thoughts on what it is means to be good. This is an excellent translation by the English classical scholar George Long. The last two chapters are a biography and philosophical summary of Marcus Aurelius written by George Long. This audio book is read by a group of narrators at Librivox, some of which are better than others, but all of them are listenable. Download this unabridged 7-hour audio book on MP3 from Librivox.org.

22. William James: What Makes a Life Significant?

Join Harvard professor & Pulitzer Prize-winner Louis Menand, Princeton professor & author Cornel West, and philiosopher & writer Sissela Bok as they discuss the life and ideas of William James. Louis Menand starts the talk by giving a 20-minute introduction to the life of William James. Sissela Bok expounds on some of his ideas from James’s essay “What Makes a Life Significant?”, and Cornel West uses his trademark oratory skills to show how William James confronted American Empire and how we can still use James’s ideas to do so today. The three then answer a wide range of questions from the audience. This talk is available on streaming video and MP3 download from the Forum Network.

23. A Discourse on the Passion of Love by Blaise Pascal

In this downloadable discourse from ejunto.com 17th century religious philosopher Blaise Pascal reflects on the passion of love. He expresses his views on love in relation to reason, beauty, and the other passions. This 30-minute discourse is well narrated by Andrew Julow and available on MP3 download from ejunto.com.

24. The Law by Frederic Bastiat

Frederic Bastiat’s “The Law” produced by FreeAudio.org is one of the best free audio books available. Bastiat’s brief treatise on law is a passionate cry for his belief that law should only be put in place to maintain life, liberty, and property. He denounces legislators and philosophers who seek legalized plunder, moral coercion, and numerous other methods of force through law which encroach on liberties. The production quality is professional and Marvin Payne’s narration is superb. You can download this title through LearnOutLoud.com on MP3 or MPEG-4 (if you want to bookmark it in your iPod).

25. The Madman by Kahlil Gibran

It’s the last weekend to download our free audio book for the month of June: The Madman by Lebanese-American poet & philosopher Kahlil Gibran. Gibran also authored one of the bestselling books of the 20th century: The Prophet. The Madman was published in 1918, and this work introduced Americans to the thought-provoking poems and parables of Kahlil Gibran. This audio book is unabridged and, while only 45 minutes in length, it probably demands a second listen in order to better comprehend this clever, enigmatic work. It is available for free on MP3 download from ThoughtAudio.com

26. What Was the Enlightenment? by Professor James Schmidt

In this lecture Professor James Schmidt talks about what Immanuel Kant called “man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity”. The Age of Enlightenment began the elevation of science and reason in Western civilization. It was an era where great thinkers began to think for themselves and question the absolute rule of religious and political authorities. Professor Schmidt talks briefly about many of the key figures of the Enlightenment including Denis Diderot, Isaac Newton, Immanuel Kant, Adam Smith, and Voltaire, and he talks about where the ideas of the Enlightenment prospered primarily in England, Germany, and France. This free lecture is available to download exclusively through LearnOutLoud.com on MP3.

27. The Second Treatise on Government by John Locke

Listen to John Locke’s most famous work The Second Treatise on Government. This book is one of the all-time most influential works of political philosophy, outlining civil government as it has arisen from man’s former state of nature. The book also covers conquest & slavery, property, representative government, and the right of revolution. This audio book is generously made free by ejunto.com with clear narration by Philip Rose. It is available to download on MP3 from ejunto.com and also as a podcast from our site and iTunes.

28. Emerson and the Examined Life

Hear America’s former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky read passages from the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson in this special event commemorating Emerson’s 200th year. Pinsky and Emerson scholars Richard Geldard and David M. Robinson discuss the life and practical philosophy of Emerson and the ways in which his essays still speak to us today. Pinsky reads from classic essays such as Self-Reliance, The Oversoul, and The American Scholar. This tribute to Emerson is available on streaming audio and MP3 download from the Forum Network.

29. The Social Contract

This work of political philosophy by Jean-Jacques Rousseau begins with the famous saying: “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” In this book the great 18th-century Enlightenment thinker proposes a form of government which maintains individual freedom and also represents the general will of a society. This audio book is well narrated by Jason Douglas at ejunto.org and is available on MP3 download through ejunto.org or as a podcast through iTunes.

30. Tete-a-Tete: Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre

In this lecture from the WBGH Forum Network, author Hazel Rowley discusses her book Tete-a-tete: Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre. She discusses many aspects of this legendary 20th-century French couple, drawing off the voluminous writings of Sartre & Beauvoir as well as interviews and new primary sources. Famous for their existentialist philosophy & literature, Rowley probes deeper into the bold openness & unconventionality of their relationship. She also briefly discusses the difficulties of getting the book published in France. This lecture is available on streaming audio & video and MP3 download.

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