Title. What subjects should I bother to systematically study/memorize? I have only preoccupied myself with skill-learning but havent with studying that much. What are the most mind-boggling and interesting subjects you have ever studied? What has expanded your viewpoint on existence the most? What books would you recommend me to study?
2 Likes
In the realm of Really Big Questions, methinks you summoned a giant.
That depends on what your interests are. If you’re aiming to expand your horizons then historical, anthropological and philosophical texts would be a natural answer - I would recommend starting with secondary literature on the broad topic that interests you most within these fields, then pick out the ideas or concepts that most interest you and follow those in finer detail; there’s really no point in working through everything in a given field (ie you don’t have to start with Thales if you’re interested in 21st century philosophy). Perhaps if you can provide a closer description of your goals I can recommend some literature.
Now this is maybe just my personal interests speaking but I think memorizing various myths and legends from around the world (just the important details, not word-for-word) would be not only a fascinating subject but also provide you with a rich tapestry of images, associations and concepts to aid you when coming up with mnemonics in the future while broadening your horizons at the same time. It also makes for decent small talk if you have the right crowd 
1 Like
Thank you for the input!
Tbh im very much so into neuroscience, stem, metaphysics, philosophies of mind etc etc., anything which would help me learn more about the mind, brain, or the universe and aid me in extrapolating new information on my own. It’s just that I have never bothered with systematically studying any of these subjects, I only have an incomplete and biased interpretation of certain subjects within these fields of study which severely limits my capacity of thinking on my own without wildy speculating about them at best
I was going to suggest world history; I find it fascinating to be able to make connections across dates and world leadership.
Given your clarification, though, why not study the history and use of memory techniques themselves…which definitely connects with philosophy, logic, religion, and history. For a starting point, I’d suggest three books: The Art of Memory by Frances Yates, Memory Code by Lynne Kelly, and Logic and the Art of Memory by Paolo Rossi. If these interest you, their sources/bibliographies will help you dive even deeper into the subject.
Bob
1 Like
I think a decent approach to take on neuroscience would be to look up what textbooks your local university uses in its (introductory) courses, since that field can contain a lot of self-study. Many universities will also put some of their lectures up online. In any case, getting a library card for your local university is highly recommended.
If you have reddit, the folks over at r/askphilosophy can recommend you some literature. Personally, I’d recommend going Descartes → Hume → Kant → Husserl → Heidegger, though I’m not an expert on PoM and can’t speak for the analytical tradition. Maybe give Hegel a shot after Kant if his ideas interest you. I can also recommend the plato.stanford.edu online wiki as invaluable secondary literature.
As for metaphysics, the classical starting points would be either Plato’s dialogues (continuing with Aristotle’s Metaphysics) or Descartes Meditations, depending on how interested you are in the pre-modern tradition.
1 Like
Thank you!
Deciding what to remember is a very personal decision. Since the actual memorization is still an investment of time, you should still prioritize what you memorize.
I recommend keeping a running list of things you want to know. Keep reordering the list in order of priority. The priority can be based on whether (or how often) you think you will have use for the information in the future.
What you spend your time on as well as the knowledge you have accumulated say a lot about who you are. Choose wisely!
2 Likes