Before you come: suggested readings

We don't require students to do any reading before they arrive at Sheffield.  But here are some suggestions for those with a bit of spare time and energy.  Time spent reading items on this list will not be wasted.

Because people's interests vary, we have listed items in several categories.  Try several things until you find something you enjoy.

Ethics

Peter Singer, Practical Ethics (an important work by one of the world's most famous moral philosophers)

Peter Singer (ed.), Applied Ethics (a collection of great essays on the application of moral philosophy to real-world problems)

Christopher Bennett, What Is This Thing Called Ethics? (an introduction by a member of our department)

Philosophical classics

These books will be hard in places, so don’t be surprised if you find them difficult to understand — professional philosophers still debate exactly what they are arguing!  These books come in many good editions.

Plato, Republic

Descartes, Meditations

Hume, Dialogues on Natural Religion

J. S. Mill, Utilitarianism and On Liberty

Contemporary introductions to philosophy

Nigel Warburton, Philosophy: the Basics

Simon Blackburn, Think

Thomas Nagel, What Does It All Mean?

We hope you find these suggestions helpful. If you would like any further suggestions, just email us at philosophy@sheffield.ac.uk.