Tips for reading philosophy
Audio Brief
Show transcript
This episode provides practical strategies for engaging with challenging philosophical texts.
There are three key insights from this discussion. First, apply the 'skim-and-slog' method to dense material. Second, enhance annotation effectiveness by reading a section completely before marking key points. Finally, build mental reading stamina by actively resisting distractions.
The 'skim-and-slog' method involves first skimming a text to grasp its overall argument and structure. This initial overview creates a mental map, making the subsequent close, detailed reading much more effective for comprehension.
For better annotations, avoid marking text as you read. Instead, complete a paragraph or section, then revisit it to identify and mark only the most crucial points. This approach ensures more focused and less cluttered notes.
To build crucial reading stamina, treat attention like a muscle. Actively resist initial urges to stop reading or become distracted, even briefly. Consistent practice strengthens the mental endurance needed for sustained engagement with complex material.
These techniques aim to transform the challenge of dense philosophical texts into a rewarding and comprehensible experience.
Episode Overview
- This episode provides practical advice for reading dense and challenging philosophical texts that often seem boring or impenetrable at first.
- The host demonstrates the difficulty of philosophical writing by reading complex passages from Hegel and Deleuze & Guattari.
- The core of the episode is a series of actionable tips designed to improve comprehension, retention, and critical engagement with philosophy.
- The host emphasizes that while supplementary resources are helpful, the ultimate goal is to engage directly with the primary texts themselves.
Key Concepts
- The Skim-and-Slog Method: A two-step reading process. First, skim a section to understand the overall shape and direction of the argument. Second, go back and "slog" through it with a slow, close reading for detailed comprehension.
- Strategic Annotation: Instead of highlighting or taking notes sentence-by-sentence, it's more effective to wait until the end of a paragraph or section. This allows you to better identify the most crucial points in context.
- Identifying Logical Moves: Reading philosophy involves tracking the structure of an argument. Pay attention to how an author builds on premises to reach a conclusion and be on the lookout for potential logical errors or fallacies.
- Building Reading Stamina: The host compares reading difficult philosophy to physical training, like running a marathon. It's crucial to resist the initial urges to get distracted or stop reading in order to build the mental endurance required.
- Learning to Swim: Each philosopher has a unique style and "flow." The process of learning to read a new philosopher is like learning to swim in their particular "waters"—it feels difficult initially but becomes natural once you understand their rhythm and patterns.
Quotes
- At 00:08 - "Advice for reading texts that seem very boring at first but are actually amazing and very much worth your time." - The host reframes the challenge of reading philosophy as a rewarding endeavor.
- At 02:21 - "What I call the skim-and-slog. The skim-and-slog involves first skimming a portion of a text... and then going back and really closely reading it." - Introducing a core practical technique for tackling difficult material.
- At 11:00 - "Learn to swim. I remember when I was first reading Kant and finding it impossible to understand... Once you actually figure out the basic rhythms of Kant's movements in the arguments, he's really easy to read." - Using an analogy to explain the process of becoming comfortable with a specific philosopher's unique style.
Takeaways
- Apply the "skim-and-slog" method to difficult texts. Before diving into a close, sentence-by-sentence reading, quickly skim the chapter or section to get a "map" of the argument's structure and direction. This context makes the detailed reading more manageable.
- Improve your annotations by reading first, then marking. Resist the urge to highlight or underline as you go. Instead, read an entire paragraph or section, then go back to mark what you've identified as the most important points, which leads to more effective and less cluttered notes.
- Train your attention like a muscle. When you feel the urge to stop reading or check your phone, consciously resist it the first and second time. This practice builds the mental stamina necessary for sustained, deep concentration on complex material.
