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Best Philosophy Sources

  • graysonpitcock
  • Jul 29
  • 2 min read

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One of the best parts about studying philosophy today is the accessibility of high-quality resources online. At the same time, there’s a lot of chaos, between social media hot takes, overly technical academic papers, and confusing summaries, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Over the past few years, I’ve found a handful of online sources that have helped me catapult into philosophy. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is probably the most well known site and for good reason. It’s maintained by professional philosophers and offers rigorously sourced entries on almost every major topic and thinker in the field. While it’s definitely on the more academic side, it’s unmatched in reliability. For something slightly easier, especailly new-comers into philosophy, the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a great alternative. It still maintains academic standards but tends to be more readable and better suited for quick reference. If you’re a visual learner or just someone who finds abstract ideas easier to grasp with visuals, Wireless Philosophy (Wi-Phi) is a YouTube channel worth checking out. They create animated videos that break down everything from the basics of logical reasoning to major ethical theories in a way that’s both clear and engaging. On the more conversational side, The Partially Examined Life is a podcast that brings philosophical texts and concepts into real dialogue. The hosts are former philosophy grad students who don’t pretend to be perfect but care deeply about the material. Their discussions are honest, sometimes funny, and always thought-provoking. For more contemporary connections, Aeon’s philosophy section is filled with essays that explore how age-old questions intersect with modern issues, whether it’s technology or political theory. Finally, if you're interested in keeping up with developments in the academic world of philosophy, such as new publications or ongoing debates, Daily Nous is a solid place to stay informed. These are the resources I return to when I want to think more clearly or learn about something new. They don’t try to make philosophy trendy, and they don’t treat it like trivia either. They treat it like what it is: a serious but open ended conversation about how to live, think, and understand the world better.

 
 
 

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About Me

My name is Grayson Pitcock. I founded Philosophy Check, a philosophy blog and student discussion club.

I am a Bergen Catholic High School student and have spent most of my life living in Tenafly, which occupies five square miles in the northern end of New Jersey. With a 41.7% minority population, my hometown is diverse. Neighbors on my street speak Korean, Hebrew, Spanish, Hindi, and Russian. 

My family is multicultural. One side of my family, from the Midwest, has deep American roots dating back to the Revolutionary War, and the other side, from the East Coast, is a second-generation immigrant family of Korean ancestry. Although many aspects of my family upbringing may sound familiar, my multicultural background has enabled me to experience contrasting ideas, beliefs, and perspectives representing the diverse opinions of this vast country. Building relationships across differences happens nearly daily, both within and outside my family. 

I am interested in understanding how people can disagree profoundly yet still share space, community, and even friendship. Living in this environment has made me deeply curious about how people arrive at their beliefs, how truth is constructed and contested, and what it means to live ethically in a pluralistic society. I found myself drawn to philosophy because I was fascinated by the frameworks we use to ask questions about justice, morality, freedom, and self.

In my free time, my background also leads me to look for ways to bring people together in community advocacy, to support youth mental health and environmental justice. This means showing up fully, learning as I go, and getting others with me. Whether between different groups at school or in conversations where people don’t agree, I enjoy challenging myself and those around me to question their assumptions and see all sides of our choices while bridging gaps across divides. 

I am a part of a Youth Advisory Board for NJ4S, a state-led initiative that advocates for youth mental wellness in New Jersey. The Youth Advisory Board is a group of health care professionals, community organizers, and students who meet in person or virtually every month. Of the many communities that I am involved in, this one is significant to me in that I can see in others sharing the same belief I hold in community advocacy, of gathering experiences and building networks between communities and policymakers that can address the health needs of local communities in northern New Jersey. 

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