Philosophy
Read Philosophy Classics in English
253 philosophy books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best philosophy classics to read in English as a learner?
The best philosophy classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with The Book of Khalid, The Banquet (Il Convito) and The Ball and the Cross. Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
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Level C1FantasyGiphantia: Or a View of What Has Passed, What Is Now Passing, and, During the Present Century, What Will Pass, in the World.A daring traveler ventures into the scorching deserts beyond Guinea, enduring a terrifying sandstorm, only to discover a hidden, fertile plain filled with unexpected wonders.
Level C1HistoricalGalen: On the Natural FacultiesExplore the foundations of ancient Greek medicine as this work delves into the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen, revealing the origins of healing arts, clinical observation, and…
Level C1PhilosophyFriends in Council — First SeriesIn a serene countryside setting, two former pupils engage in thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations that explore philosophy, ambition, and the complexities of intellectual friendsh…
Level C1PhilosophyFree Opinions, Freely Expressed on Certain Phases of Modern Social Life and ConductChallenge the complacency of modern society with sharp critiques on education, morality, and religion, exposing the superficiality of the so-called cultured elite and questioning t…
Level C1PhilosophyFour Americans: Roosevelt, Hawthorne, Emerson, WhitmanExplore the vivid lives and philosophies of four towering American figures—Roosevelt’s relentless vigor, Hawthorne’s dark imagination, Emerson’s transcendental insights, and Whitma…
Level C1PhilosophyFlamesValentine Cresswell, known as the "Saint of Victoria Street," lives a life governed by intellectual refinement rather than passion, struggling with his detachment from the sensual…
Level C1HistoricalFathers and SonsA fierce ideological clash unfolds as the nihilist Bazarov challenges the fading Russian aristocracy, igniting tension between the conservative older generation and the rebellious…
Level C1HistoricalFathers and ChildrenGenerations clash in a Russian provincial town where a young nihilist returns home, challenging the old order with radical ideas and stirring tensions between fathers and sons.
Level C1PhilosophyFashionable Philosophy, and Other SketchesIn a lively London drawing-room, fashionable guests gather to debate the religion of the future, revealing the clash between social pretension, emerging philosophies, and the searc…
Level C1HistoricalFancy's Show-Box (From "Twice Told Tales")An aging man confronts a haunting question: can guilt stain the soul from mere thoughts, without deeds?
Level C1PhilosophyEvergreensAmid nature’s changing seasons, discover the quiet strength of the evergreens—steadfast souls who endure life’s storms with unyielding loyalty and resilience, offering a profound r…
Level C1HistoricalEve's Diary, Part 2In a vivid diary, Eve explores her emotions, nature’s beauty, and the mysterious man who seems indifferent to her world, while she discovers the wondrous and dangerous element of f…
Level C1PhilosophyEuthyphroSocrates confronts Euthyphro, who is prosecuting his own father for murder, to unravel the true meaning of piety before his own trial for impiety.
Level C1PhilosophyEuthydemusTwo sophists engage in witty, paradox-filled debates that challenge the nature of knowledge and logic, revealing the roots of fallacious reasoning in philosophy’s infancy.
Level C1HistoricalEuphorion - Vol. II: Being Studies of the Antique and the Mediaeval in the RenaissanceExplore the intricate balance between realism and idealism in Renaissance portrait art, revealing how artists blend decorative beauty with faithful likeness to capture both the rea…
Level C1PhilosophyEssays, or discourses, vol. 4 (of 4)Explore surprising paradoxes in natural philosophy that challenge conventional beliefs, such as elemental fire not being the hottest and air being colder than commonly thought, rev…
Level C1PhilosophyEssays, or discourses, vol. 2 (of 4)A newly appointed judge receives a stern letter from his father, warning of the heavy burdens and moral challenges that come with dispensing justice impartially.
Level C1PhilosophyEssays, or discourses, vol. 1 (of 4)Explore a collection of thoughtful discourses from a learned Spanish clergyman, addressing philosophy, history, and society with candor and wide-ranging knowledge, while thoughtful…
Level C1PhilosophyEssays on Life, Art and ScienceExplore thought-provoking essays that delve into the intersections of life, art, and science, challenging established ideas on evolution, creativity, and language while inviting re…
Level C1PhilosophyEssays by Ralph Waldo EmersonExplore profound reflections on self-reliance, nature, and intellectual independence as a thinker challenges conventional beliefs and inspires a new American philosophy grounded in…
Level C1PhilosophyEssays and soliloquiesConfined on a stark island by an oppressive regime, a passionate thinker reflects on identity, creativity, and the interplay between life and art.
Level C1PhilosophyEssays and DialoguesExplore profound philosophical dialogues and essays that challenge human wisdom and culture, revealing timeless truths through conversations between legendary figures and abstract…
Level C1PhilosophyEssays Before a SonataDive into a profound exploration of music and Transcendental philosophy as a pioneering composer unpacks the spiritual and intellectual essence behind his revolutionary piano sonat…
Level C1PhilosophyEryxiasIn the bustling portico of Zeus, Socrates and companions debate the true nature of wealth and power, exploring early ideas that anticipate modern political economy amid the tension…
Level C1FantasyErewhon Revisited Twenty Years Later, Both by the Original Discoverer of the Country and by His SonTwenty years after a daring balloon escape shakes Erewhon’s society, a new religion emerges around the miraculous event, challenging old beliefs and igniting profound cultural uphe…
Level C1PhilosophyEqualityExploring the complex evolution of equality, this philosophical treatise challenges the popular notion that all men are created equal, tracing its roots through history, society, a…
Level C1PhilosophyElements of Criticism, Volume II.Explore the nature of human perception and taste as it examines the delicate sense of congruity and propriety that distinguishes refined behavior, art, and morality from mere appea…
Level C1PhilosophyElements of Criticism, Volume I.Explore how the fine arts, through refined taste and education, unite society and foster virtue amid luxury's challenges, revealing the delicate balance between sensory perception…
Level C1PhilosophyEditorials from the Hearst NewspapersExplore provocative reflections on human nature, society, and progress through a diverse collection of editorials that challenge conventions, question beliefs, and reveal the restl…
Level C1PhilosophyEarth's Holocaust (From "Mosses from an Old Manse")In a vast prairie, a symbolic bonfire consumes the worn-out relics of society’s past—heraldry, nobility, and faded honors—sparking a fierce debate between those clinging to traditi…
Level C1PhilosophyDiscourses of KeidanskyIn a vibrant Ghetto café, a disillusioned social reformer wrestles with shattered ideals and the relentless grip of harsh realities, questioning whether dreams of revolution can su…
Level C1PhilosophyDickory Cronke: The Dumb Philosopher, or, Great Britain's WonderBorn mute and gifted with a sharp mind, Dickory Cronke defies expectations as he quietly shapes his own path amid hardship and mystery.
Level C1PhilosophyDialogues of the DeadIn a series of imagined conversations between historical figures, opposing views on liberty, power, and conscience unfold, revealing the timeless struggles behind political and mor…
Level C1PhilosophyDesultory thoughts and reflectionsExplore profound reflections on love, life, and human nature as the author dissects the complexities of emotions, character, and society with philosophical insight and candid obser…
Level C1PhilosophyDecadence, and Other Essays on the Culture of IdeasDive into fearless essays that challenge dogma and tradition, exploring reason, truth, and love through sharp skepticism and provocative insights that dissolve accepted beliefs and…
Level C1PhilosophyDe OfficiisAmid the collapse of the Roman Republic, a statesman turns to philosophy to guide his son through the practical duties of life, blending Greek ethical thought with Roman values to…
Level C1PhilosophyDe Amicitia, Scipio's DreamExplore the nature of true friendship through Laelius’s reflections on loss, virtue, and loyalty, alongside Scipio’s visionary dream revealing the soul’s immortality and the cosmic…
Level C1HistoricalDante: Six SermonsExplore the life and principles of Dante as a philosopher, poet, and social reformer driven by a passionate zeal to unite Italy and uplift humanity through virtue and truth, blendi…
Level C1HistoricalDante: "The Central Man of All the World": A Course of Lectures Delivered Before the Student Body of the New York State College for Teachers, Albany, 1919, 1920Explore Dante’s Divine Comedy through a journey across medieval Italy, uncovering timeless struggles of the human soul and the spiritual battles that shape every individual’s quest…
Level C1HistoricalDante. An essay. To which is added a translation of De Monarchia.Explore the origins and impact of the Divina Commedia, tracing the personal history and political context behind Dante's monumental work and his treatise De Monarchia, illuminating…
Level C1HistoricalDante and the early astronomersExplore the captivating intersection of astronomy and poetry as a medieval scholar turns to ancient texts and celestial wonders for solace and enlightenment, revealing the profound…
Level C1PhilosophyCrotchet CastleIn a witty satire blending philosophy and social critique, a cast of eccentric characters debates reform, knowledge, and poetry amid the turbulence of early 19th-century England.
Level C1PhilosophyCritoAs Socrates faces execution, his friend Crito urges him to escape, but Socrates weighs the duty to justice and the laws of Athens against the instinct for survival, exploring the t…
Level C1HistoricalCritical, Historical, and Miscellaneous Essays; Vol. 2: With a Memoir and IndexExplore sharp critiques and spirited debates on government, utilitarianism, and society through a series of essays dissecting influential thinkers and their philosophies, revealing…
Level C1PhilosophyCritical Miscellanies, Vol. 1, Essay 5: EmersonExplore the life and philosophy of a profound thinker who embraced intuition and ethical imagination over systematic doctrine, shaping a spiritual quest for truth that transcends t…
Level C1PhilosophyCritiasAmidst a mythical struggle between ancient Athens and the vast island of Atlantis, gods and heroes shape a world where wisdom, virtue, and war intertwine.
Level C1PhilosophyCratylusPhilosophers debate whether words are naturally linked to their meanings or are mere conventions, exploring the origins and nature of language through wit and skepticism.
Level C1PoetryCowley's EssaysExplore the early life and poetic development of a young scholar whose passion for verse blooms amidst the fields, friendships, and academic trials of 17th-century England.