Texts

Plato: Republic, Translated by G.M.A Grube, Hackett Pub. Co., 1992

Arguably one of the best translations in English, this text gives helpful margin citations for quick referencing of specific sections of the text.

Meditations on First Philosophy, by René Descartes, Hackett Pub. Co., 3rd Ed., 1993

This slim volume betrays it's impact on 17th century thought. Along with Hobbes' Leviathan and Machiavelli's The Prince, this short treatise has had a lasting impact - just ask the Wachowski brothers and Christopher Nolan.











Despite (or in light of) the recurring f-bombs, this is quite a strong general account of Descartes' approach:

Treatise on Human Nature, by David Hume.

Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics, by Immanuel Kant, Prentice Hall, 1997.

Probably the most densely written "preliminary writings to a particular subject" (which is how we can understand Kant's use of "Prolegomena" in the title), Kant nevertheless elucidates the fundamental conditions of possible experience and the inability for human to substantiate claims beyond said possible experience. Confused? Don't worry, everyone, including the people Kant partied with in the 18th century. We'll work our way into this text slowly and by the end, the edifice Kant builds will reveal itself.