Q&A: Recommended Foundational Books
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Recommended Foundational Books
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I’d be happy if you could recommend books that, in your view, are foundational books for every thinking person.
Especially in the areas of philosophy, psychology, Judaism, and thought.
Thank you.
Answer
I’m not knowledgeable in psychology.
In philosophy, I don’t think there are mandatory books for every thinking person. Each person has his own path.
Discussion on Answer
I started with logic. That’s the foundation for constructing arguments. There’s a book by Irving Copi, Introduction to Logic. A more philosophical and more difficult book is by Hugo Bergmann, Introduction to the Theory of Logic.
Still, it’s such a broad and diverse field.
What’s worth starting with in order to get a good foundation and some direction?