Philosophy Reading List

For prospective students

We advise you to read the Philosophy subject page thoroughly.

For offer holders

No knowledge of Philosophy is presupposed by the course at Cambridge. It is essential, however, to have done some advance reading, and this list is provided for guidance. The aim has been to list mainly works of original philosophy and to list only such works as can (with more or less effort) be understood by people new to the subject. Please do not be discouraged if you find the books difficult. You are welcome to write to us if you would like further guidance or recommendations about subjects not covered here. Texts likely to be in use for first year coursework are marked with a (T).

  • J L Ackrill, Aristotle the Philosopher. Opus

  • A J Ayer Language, Truth, and Logic. Penguin

  • George Berkeley Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous (many editions)

  • Simon Blackburn Think. Oxford

  • Simon Blackburn Being Good. Oxford

  • Tim Crane The Mechanical Mind. Penguin

  • Rene Descartes Meditations.(many editions)

  • Ross Harrison Democracy. Routledge

  • Peter Smith An Introduction to Formal Logic. CUP (T)

  • D Hume (T) Dialogues concerning Natural Religion. OUP

  • D Hume Enquiries.OUP

  • T Kuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Univ of Chicago Press

  • J S Mill (T) On Liberty. (many editions) (available with Utilitarianism etc in J S Mill, On Liberty and Other Essays, World Classics. Oxford)

  • T Nagel What Does It All Mean?. OUP

  • Plato Meno. (many editions)(T) (Available in Protagoras and Meno). Penguin

  • Graham Priest Logic. Oxford

  • B Russell The Problems of Philosophy. OUP

  • R M Sainsbury Paradoxes. CUP

  • M Budd Values of Art. Penguin

  • Mary Midgley What is Philosophy for?

  • Mary Wollstonecraft  A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

 

 

  •  

For more information, please consult the Faculty of Philosophy website via the links below. This includes more reading suggestions for prospective students, Part 1A course outlines and reading lists, and course guide.

offer_holders
All the information and documents you need if you've already been accepted for an undergraduate place at King's.
icon_documents
You are strongly advised to read these documents which form part of the terms of admission referred to in your offer letter.

Recent News

quasar_providedbyjameswang_crop

Quasar, with keyboardist James Wang (KC 2020), wins University’s band competition

Quasar was crowned the winner of this year’s Take it to the Bridge band competition at the Cambridge Junction on Friday 1 March.

2024 Rylands Art Prizes awarded

Teddy Graham has been awarded first prize for his work 'Surrogate', with second prize going to Em Dirs and a joint third for Eden Hogston and John Palmer.

e-lab_social_venture_residential_2024_crop

First E-Lab Social Venture Residential begins

In collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation programme and the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation at CJBS, the E-Lab is running a Social Venture Residential.

Follow Us