I like where characters have discussion about their opposing philosophical stands. I don't find a philosophy book that interesting. But I've read a few books with scenes where characters of opposing philosophical views have a conversation that turns into impromptu debate, which keep my attention and makes me think
- Justice of Kings series – a judge and apprentice often discuss about justice
- Name of the rose – this is more like teaching than discussion
Suggest some books please
Thanks
by hbe_bme
11 Comments
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder
The Terra Ignota series by Ada Palmer
Venomous Lumpsucker – an environmentalist vs a business guy talk about ethics
The Prince of Nothing by R Scott Bakker is absolutely riddled with philosophical discussion.
Dune by Frank Herbert has a lot of that as well and was clearly an influence on Bakker (along with Tolkien and McCarthy, among others).
The Courage to be Disliked
“Memnoch The Devil” by Anne Rice (Vampire Lestat series) has a really good philosophical convo between the two of them about heaven, hell, the devil, evil, etc. It’s been decades since I read it, but I remember being gobsmacked by it.
Anything by Dostoevsky. Specifically, the Brothers Karamazov. Very long, but the entire book is philosophical discussions between the brothers.
East of Eden is 4 dudes sitting around philosophizing about the meaning of the Cain and Abel passage in the bible and it is *riveting*.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney was basically just a series of conversations about love and relationships and chess and sex. It was basically Therapy the Book.
The Sunset Limited
I think a lot of Hesse is along these lines. The Glass Bead Game for example or Siddhartha if you’re interested in Buddhist philosophy.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance