100+ Philosophy Books for Free! [PDF]

Are you passionate about philosophy? You’re in the perfect place! Here, you can find and download the best philosophy books for free. We have gathered a wide selection of masterpieces to nourish your mind and spirit.

Philosophy is the art of thinking, questioning, and exploring life’s big questions. Philosophy books allow you to delve into the thoughts of history’s greatest thinkers.

Browse our extensive catalog of philosophy books for all tastes and levels. From the classics of ancient Greece to contemporary thinkers, you’ll find a variety of texts that will help you expand your knowledge and enrich your life.

Don’t wait any longer to start your journey through the fascinating world of philosophy. Join us and download the philosophy books you’ve always wanted to read for free.

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Outstanding Philosophy Books

Republic

Plato

The Republic by Plato is a philosophical dialogue involving Socrates discussing justice, the nature of the soul, and the ideal state.

Nicomachean Ethics

Aristotle

Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle is a philosophical exploration of the concept of the highest good and the role of ethics in achieving human happiness.

Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics

George Matthews

Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics, is an open-access textbook series introducing key ethical concepts, theories, and discussions in philosophy, offering a comprehensive resource for introductory philosophy courses.

An Introduction to Philosophy

Russ W. Payne

An Introduction to Philosophy is an overview of philosophy, covering topics from critical thinking to ethics, emphasizing the importance of philosophy in understanding ourselves and the world.

Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy of Mind

Eran Asoulin; Paul Richard Blum; Tony Cheng; Daniel Haas

Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy of Mind is an open textbook exploring key philosophical concepts like substance dualism and consciousness.

Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy of Religion

Beau Branson

Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy of Religion is an open textbook exploring the intertwining of philosophy and religion, providing theoretical arguments, debunking beliefs, and delving into monotheism.

Introduction to Philosophy: Epistemology

Brian C. Barnett

Introduction to Philosophy: Epistemology is an open textbook that delves into traditional topics like the analysis of knowledge and skepticism, while also exploring expanded areas such as epistemic value, social epistemology, and feminist epistemologies.

Introduction to Philosophy: Aesthetic Theory and Practice

Yuriko Saito, Ruth Sonderegger, Ines Kleesattel

Introduction to Philosophy: Aesthetic Theory and Practice is an open textbook covering various aspects of aesthetics, art, nature, and cultural engagement, relevant for philosophy enthusiasts exploring the intersection of aesthetics and philosophical inquiry.

Introduction to Philosophy: Logic

Ben Martin

Introduction to Philosophy: Logic, this book delves into areas such as what logic is, evaluating arguments, formal logic in philosophy, informal fallacies, and necessary and sufficient conditions.

Words of Wisdom: Intro to Philosophy

Jody Ondich

Words of Wisdom: Intro to Philosophy is a diverse collection of philosophical materials spanning various cultures and eras, offering insights on fundamental questions about life and wisdom.

1) Eastern Philosophy Books

Eastern Philosophy Books

Eastern philosophy is the different currents of thought that evolved in South Asia, especially in countries such as China, India and Japan, and in the zones of influence of Islam (from the Iberian Peninsula to Indonesia). It spread from the invasions carried out by Alexander the Great.

This philosophy defended that the phenomena of nature are the answer to the sins committed by the human being. However, philosophers such as Lao Tse, Confucius and Buddha opposed these superstitious beliefs and favored a wisdom of live and let live.

With respect to this type of philosophy, there have been disagreements about calling some currents of Eastern thought “religion”; for example, Buddhism refuses to be labeled as a religion.

2) Empiricism Books

Empiricism Books

Empiricism is a philosophical movement that relies on human experiences as the only one responsible for the formation of ideas and concepts existing in the world. The term empiricism arose in the Modern Age, in the XVII and XVIII centuries, in the United Kingdom.

In this sense, we could establish that empiricism is basically based on two fundamental principles. On the one hand, it carries out the negation of the absolutization of truth, and on the other hand, it makes it clear that all truth must always be put to the test.

Philosophically opposed to rationalism, empiricism was particularly developed by various English philosophers, which is why it is often referred to as “English empiricism”. Some of its main advocates were Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume.

3) Epistemology Books

Epistemology Books

Epistemology is a branch of philosophy concerned with the study of the nature, origin and validity of knowledge. It studies the foundations and methods of scientific knowledge. To this end, it takes into account historical, social and psychological factors to determine the process of construction of knowledge, its justification and its veracity.

The function of epistemology is to crystallize, i.e., to clarify the circumstances under which knowledge can be acknowledged and its limits, i.e., to determine the scope and validity of knowledge. It uses argumentations as a means to determine the validity or invalidity of knowledge; these can be demonstrative, intuitive, using resources of authority, among others.

When epistemology of medicine, biology or sociology is done, it basically examines the way in which these disciplines study their objects to produce scientific knowledge. Thus, as a study of science, epistemology serves not only the philosopher, but also the scientist.

4) Ethics Books

Ethics Books

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the study of moral principles governing our actions and behaviors. In our extensive collection of free-to-download ethics books, you will find works that cover everything from fundamental theories and concepts to contemporary ethical dilemmas.

By exploring our selection of ethics books, you will have the opportunity to study the ideas of prominent philosophers and thinkers throughout history, as well as familiarize yourself with different approaches and ethical currents. The titles available in our digital library will guide you on your journey through the exciting world of ethics, providing you with the necessary tools to analyze situations and make informed and fair decisions in your everyday life.

Not only will you find classic and well-known works, but also texts by emerging authors who bring fresh and innovative perspectives to the ethical discussion.

5) Existentialism Books

Existentialism Books

If you wish to obtain more information about the philosophical current that studies the human being and his existence, we bring you our selection of free existentialism books in PDF format.

Focused on the human being, his existence, and everything related to this, it can be said that there are two fundamental types of existentialism: the religious or Christian, and the atheist or agnostic; both focused on people and everything that surrounds them.

Through the texts that we share with you in this opportunity, you will be able to discover everything related to this part of philosophy, such as its origin, theories, foundations, etc.

6) General Philosophy Books

General Philosophy Books

Philosophy is a doctrine that uses a set of logical and methodical reasoning about abstract concepts such as existence, truth and ethics based on science, the characteristics and causes and effects of natural things such as human beings and the universe.

He was born in Egypt, although those great thinkers of the golden age of Ancient Greece, such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle would be the ones who have stood out the most in the various philosophical debates that arose at that time; For them, the raison d’être of philosophizing was due to the astonishment generated by certain circumstances.

In the peak moments of humanity, when changes are imposed or chaos arises, public opinion turns to the voice of philosophers, to help it think about what is happening: to determine precisely what is the wisest way to do it, or what are the dynamics of thought that are most convenient and that will yield the best results in the long run.

7) Gnosiology Books

Gnosiology Books

Philosophy is a set of reflections on the essence, effects, properties and causes of natural things, where subjective thought is one of its main characteristics. From it has been derived Gnosiology, a branch of philosophy in charge of studying the knowledge of the human being as a whole.

It focuses exclusively on “knowledge”, that quality that all human beings have, where this knowledge comes from, how it is approached and how it affects our daily lives.

It has a starting point, which is based on the materialistic or idealistic solution that arises from the problem: how our knowledge of the world around us is related to the world itself. Thus, gnosiology is constituted as a practical study to help people in their common relations through knowledge.

8) Hermeneutics Books

Hermeneutics Books

For all our readers, with great interest in the mechanisms of interpretation and understanding of texts, we have prepared a series of free books on hermeneutics in PDF format.

Hermeneutics is in charge of understanding a text to make sure to take the right path when interpreting it.

This art connects the horizon or context of the reader with the author, it is also interpretative, empirical, qualitative, and reflective; everything you want to know about it can find it in the texts that we share in this section.

9) Hermeticism Books

Hermeticism Books

Hermeticism is the religious and philosophical doctrine based on a series of texts attributed to the Greek Hermes Trismegistus (which can be translated as “Hermes, the thrice great”). This historical figure is pointed out as a wise man who devised a metaphysical system that is currently called hermeticism.

This Egyptian philosopher was considered a sage who studied and developed esoteric knowledge of magic, alchemy, and astrology. The followers of Hermes created Hermeticism in Greece and followed the esoteric teachings of this man.

One explanation of how Hermes Trismegistus received the name “thrice great” is derived from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus, in which it is stated that he knew the three parts of the wisdom of the whole universe. The three parts of wisdom are alchemy, astrology, and theurgy.

10) Idealism Books

Idealism Books

For all our regular readers who want to know more about philosophy and its branches, we have prepared a compendium of free books on idealism in PDF format.

The word “idealism” arises within philosophy in the 18th century, to refer to the thought of Plato, who proposed a theory opposed to materialism and realism.

Learn all about the father of idealism, Plato, and his thesis that affirms the preponderance of the idea over the rest of things; in our texts, you can learn about this in detail.

11) Marxism Books

Marxism Books

If you are interested in the social, economic, and human sphere, you can obtain more information about it by reading the collection of Marxism books in PDF format, which we share with you on this occasion.

Marxism has been defined as a current of human thought, mainly associated with the group of political and social movements that were born in the 20th century, such as the Russian, Chinese, and Cuban Revolutions.

This perspective, theoretically proposed by the German Karl Marx, contributed to sociology, economics, law, and history, and also became part of the most influential movements in the world.

12) Phenomenology Books

Phenomenology Books

If you want to know everything about the philosophical branches that exist, their proposals, and objectives, you should know one of the most interesting, through our free phenomenology books in PDF format.

Phenomenology is a philosophical branch that is responsible for studying everything related to what happens around an object, its relationship with the environment in which the events occur, and how the thing influences the phenomenon.

With the idea that you know how it arose, where, when and what is its current application, you can consult the texts that we present in this section of our virtual library.

13) Philosophers' Books

Philosophers' Books

Philosopher is the person who studies philosophy, a science born from the human attitude of contemplation and reflection on existence. Philosophizing is intrinsic to man and implies thinking, reasoning and wondering about values, being, thought, reason, existence, knowledge, which are just some of the most recurrent themes.

Philosophizing involves asking and raising different questions about the world in general. It is about reasoning, making use of reason and drawing conclusions. To carry out this investigation, the philosopher needs to make use of other sciences such as, for example, theology.

They will seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge itself, above all things and without a pragmatic end. The philosopher is driven by curiosity and in that order will begin to inquire into the ultimate foundations of reality itself. Here is a selection of outstanding books written by great philosophers.

14) Philosophy Books for Children

Philosophy Books for Children

Philosophy, which plays a fundamental role in the formation of committed citizens and with their own judgment, has traditionally been considered a subject too abstract and obtuse for children; it was thought to be a form of knowledge suitable only for the fully developed minds of adults. 

However, in the opinion of numerous experts, children not only can philosophize, but should do so. Among them is Matthew Lipman, philosopher and creator of the Philosophy for Children project, who expressed the following “It is necessary to teach children to philosophize, so they will learn to think and will be able to build a better world, to be active and engaged citizens”.

The Philosophy for Children project and program appeared in the United States at the end of the 1960s and is based on the realization that it is not possible to achieve truly free and supportive societies if we do not have people capable of thinking for themselves within the framework of a supportive and cooperative discussion process.

15) Philosophy of Law Books

Philosophy of Law Books

The philosophy of law is a branch of philosophy whose object of study is the being of law with respect to the spirit of man in a given time and place. It encompasses the total vision of the legal phenomenon in search of the moral, logical and historical conditions that make law possible.

The different schools of philosophy of law (iusnaturalism, positivism, Marxist schools, systems theory, analytical and semiological visions, structuralism or theories of argumentation among others) come to build an ideal legal model for their own vision of society and on the basis of their own categories.

Philosophy as a theoretical reflection comes into contact with law through this subject in order to deepen the theoretical bases of the science of justice on the basis that law is the foundation of social welfare. Philosophy reflects on the bases of law and also on its purpose.

16) Political Philosophy Books

Political Philosophy Books

Political Philosophy studies in a rational and reflective way political questions, such as power, the State, government, the common good, authority, rights, justice, forms of government and laws, in terms of their origin, essence, limits, legitimacy, nature, necessity and scope.

There are great political philosophers who have marked history. Confucius was one of the first thinkers who related ethical action to the practice of politics. Thomas Aquinas also reflected on how human beings can conduct righteous government through the practice of the virtues. Niccolò Machiavelli was an expert in the study of power and law.

The field of knowledge of political philosophy also includes the study of some questions of the philosophy of social sciences, such as the theory of decision and rational action, the theory of systems, the critical theory of society and others.

17) Positivism Books

Positivism Books

Positivism books are an excellent way to understand this philosophical current that originated in the 19th century. It is characterized by its focus on science and empirical observation and its rejection of metaphysics and philosophical speculation.

Although Positivism has been criticized for its limited focus on understanding the world, its influence on philosophy and science remains relevant today.

If you are interested in understanding Positivism, we provide you with books in PDF format that can help you delve deeper into this philosophical current and better understand its fundamental ideas.

18) Rationalism Books

Rationalism Books

We have elaborated a selection of books that treat one of the most determining philosophical currents of history, we invite you to read our free books of rationalism in PDF format.

As one of the main characteristics of rationalism is to maintain thought and reason as the origin of all human knowledge.

In this series of books that we present to you below, you will be able to learn all the aspects that this current covers, how it influenced humanity, and other points of great interest.

Plato’s Books

Plato Books

Born around 428 BC, the ancient Greek philosopher Plato was a student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.

His writings explore justice, beauty and equality, and also contain discussions of aesthetics, political philosophy, theology, cosmology, epistemology and philosophy of language. Plato founded the Academy of Athens, one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western world.

Due to the lack of primary sources of the time, much of Plato’s life has been constructed by scholars through his writings and those of his contemporaries and classical historians.

Here we leave you the link to access our complete collection of Plato’s books.

Aristotle’s Books

Aristotle Books

Aristotle was a philosopher, mathematician and logician born in 385 BC in the city of Estagira, Greece. His father was a renowned physician to King Amyntas III of Macedon.

At the age of 17, when his father died, Proxeno de Atarneo his tutor, sent him to the intellectual school of Greece to study Plato. He spent more than 20 years learning all the knowledge that his great teacher could give him.

After Plato’s death in 347 BC, Aristotle decides to go on a journey through different cities in Greece. It is for this reason that in approximately 343 BC, King Philip II of Macedon called the Greek philosopher to be the advisor to his 13-year-old son, who would later be known as Alexander the Great.

Here we leave you the link to access our complete collection of Aristotle’s books.

Rene Descartes Books

Rene Descartes Books

Descartes was born on March 31, 1596 in La Haye en Touraine, a small town in central France, which has since been named after its most famous son.

The subjects he studied, such as rhetoric and logic and the “mathematical arts”, which included music and astronomy, as well as metaphysics, natural philosophy and ethics, prepared him well for his future as a philosopher.

Descartes is considered by many to be the father of modern philosophy, because his ideas departed widely from the prevailing conception of the early seventeenth century, which was based more on feelings. Although the elements of his philosophy were not entirely new, his approach was.

Here we leave you the link to access our complete collection of Rene Descartes books.

Immanuel Kant Books

Immanuel Kant Books

Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher born in 1724 who is considered by many to be the most influential thinker of the modern age.

His existence was spent practically entirely in his hometown, from which he did not get away more than a hundred kilometers when he lived for a few months in Arnsdorf as a tutor, an activity to which he dedicated himself to earn a living after the death of his father, in 1746.

For Immanuel Kant, philosophy encompasses the relationship of all events with the essential ends to which human reason tends. For this reason, once he discovered it, he gave himself to it completely, without conditions: he studied it, analyzed it, criticized it, wrote it down and disseminated it.

Here we leave you the link to access our complete collection of Immanuel Kant books.

Friedrich Nietzsche’s Books

Friedrich Nietzsche Books

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was born on October 15, 1844 in Röcken bei Lützen, a small town in Prussia (part of present-day Germany). His father, Carl Ludwig Nietzsche, was a Lutheran preacher; he died when Nietzsche was 4 years old. Nietzsche and his younger sister, Elisabeth, were raised by their mother, Franziska.

Nietzsche attended a private school in Naumburg and then received a classical education at the prestigious Schulpforta School. After graduating in 1864, he attended the University of Bonn for two semesters. He transferred to Leipzig University, where he studied philology, a combination of literature, linguistics and history.

He was strongly influenced by the writings of the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. While in Leipzig, he befriended the composer Richard Wagner, whose music he greatly admired.

Here we leave you the link to access our complete collection of Friedrich Nietzsche’s books.

Voltaire’s Books

Voltaire Books

Born in 1694, in Paris, France, Voltaire established himself as one of the main writers of the Enlightenment.

Often at odds with the French authorities for his works of political and religious content, he was imprisoned twice and spent many years in exile. He died shortly after returning to Paris in 1778.

Voltaire was inspired by the philosophers of the Enlightenment, such as Isaac Newton, John Locke and Francis Bacon, and their ideals of a free and liberal society, along with freedom of religion and free trade.

Here we leave you the link to access our complete collection of Voltaire’s books.

Karl Marx Books

Karl Marx Books

Karl Heinrich Marx was one of the nine children of Heinrich and Henriette Marx in Trier, Prussia. His father was a successful lawyer who revered Kant and Voltaire, and was a passionate activist for Prussian reform.

Although both parents were Jews of rabbinical descent, Karl’s father converted to Christianity in 1816, at the age of 35. When he was 6 years old, Karl was baptized along with the other children.

Marx was an average student. He was home-schooled until the age of 12 and spent five years, from 1830 to 1835, at the Jesuit high school in Trier. The headmaster of the school, a friend of Marx’s father, was liberal and Kantian, and the authorities considered it suspicious.

Here we leave you the link to access our complete collection of Karl Marx books.

Arthur Schopenhauer Books

Arthur Schopenhauer Books

Arthur Schopenhauer was born in Danzig on February 22, 1788. In 1797 Schopenhauer was sent to live with a family in France, returning to Hamburg after 2 years to enter a private school.

He later became interested in literature, which earned him the disapproval of his father, who nevertheless gave him a choice between pursuing serious literary studies or traveling with the family for 2 years. Schopenhauer chose to travel.

In 1851, Schopenhauer published the book that brought him fame and followers. Entitled “Parerga and Paralipomena”, it was a collection of highly polished and insightful essays and aphorisms. His style was probably the main reason for the book’s immediate success.

Here we leave you the link to access our complete collection of Arthur Schopenhauer books.


So, here ends our selection of Philosophy books. We hope you liked it and that you already have your next book!

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