3-Minute Philosophy Series in Comics (Complete 3-Volume Set)

Authors Kim Jae-hoon, Seo Jung-wook · Publisher Cassiopeia · Published 2025-01-31 · ISBN 9791168272675

About the Book

There has never been a philosophy comic like this! The easiest book to grasp the basic concepts of philosophy!
A perfect grasp of Western philosophy history in 3 minutes through comics!

Commemorating 200,000 copies sold of the "3-Minute Philosophy in Comics" series
Includes 3 types of philosophy stickers and a gift box set

In an era emphasizing the importance of humanities and philosophy, for those who feel at a loss not knowing where to begin studying, the "3-Minute Philosophy in Comics" series has been released as a commemorative 200,000-copy set. It consists of three volumes: "3-Minute Philosophy in Comics: Ancient Western Philosophy," "3-Minute Philosophy in Comics: Medieval and Modern Western Philosophy," and "3-Minute Philosophy in Comics: Contemporary Western Philosophy." It also comes with three types of philosophy stickers and a gift-worthy box set.
The "3-Minute Philosophy in Comics" series lowers accessibility through comics while deepening knowledge. Professor Park Chan-kook of Seoul National University's Philosophy Department praised it as an unprecedented philosophy concept book that "effectively introduces the core ideas of philosophers while humorously depicting their personalities and thoughts with engaging illustrations." It has garnered enthusiastic responses from 200,000 readers and established itself as an essential read for general philosophy.
Volume 1 introduces the ideas of ancient philosophers who sought to clarify the "principles of the world" and initiated modern philosophy. From Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Sophists, Stoics, to Epicurus – you can grasp the ideas of these familiar names at a glance.
Volume 2 introduces Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hume, Kant, Hegel... medieval philosophers who organized faith into academia, and modern philosophers who laid the groundwork for contemporary society after a long dark age.
Volume 3 introduces the ideas of philosophers who added depth to human history through practical thought and transformative ideas, including John Stuart Mill, Bentham, Nietzsche, Sartre, Marx, Lacan, Wittgenstein, and Kierkegaard. Understanding their philosophies allows for a more in-depth comprehension of our society.

Recommended by a Seoul National University Professor
3-Minute Philosophy for Our Times!

"It effectively introduces the core ideas of philosophers while
humorously depicting their personalities and thoughts with engaging illustrations.
I picked it up and read it cover to cover in one go."
_Professor Park Chan-kook, Department of Philosophy, Seoul National University

Is philosophy difficult? Comics are easy! The problem isn't me, it's difficult philosophy books!
Comics lower the barrier to entry and perfectly grasp the essence of Western philosophy in just 3 minutes!

Why should we learn philosophy? In fact, most countries abroad designate philosophy as a basic elective course and teach it from adolescence. This is because philosophy is the foundation of all disciplines. We, too, may have experienced broadening our basic knowledge and scope through various content, only to find it becoming increasingly disparate without gaining depth. This is where philosophy comes in. By building a strong foundation in philosophy, we can not only access most knowledge more easily but also connect the knowledge we have to create our own understanding and deepen it.
However, approaching philosophy is often not easy. Is "philosophy" too serious and difficult a subject for us to learn? While lectures by famous scholars might be interesting at the time, it's hard to tell what exactly we learned and how. We want to learn from the basics, step-by-step, but written philosophy or humanities books often seem daunting, and finding a beginner-friendly philosophy book that matches an入門 level is challenging. Is there an easier way to learn basic philosophy? The "3-Minute Philosophy in Comics" series is precisely for such people.
This book uses comics to lower accessibility while deepening knowledge. Due to the nature of comics, it doesn't require a lot of time to read. It's easy but insightful. In short, it's an essential book for "philosophy beginners" of all ages, from teenagers to seniors, to build their philosophical foundation.

"A book created with the desire that anyone can easily learn philosophy."
The best knowledge-based comic artist Kim Jae-hoon and Professor Seo Jung-wook of Pai Chai University met,
and after 10 years of research and improvement, this book was born!

Comic artist Kim Jae-hoon, who translated complex philosophical knowledge into comics, took lectures with philosophy, sociology, and anthropology majors during his graduate studies. He wondered if he could illustrate and diagram the difficult texts to read, understand, and organize, and brought comics as assignments to every lecture. Unexpectedly, the response was very positive, and that experience led to the planning of this book.
Professor Seo Jung-wook, who continues to lecture at Pai Chai University, felt the same way. He has been dedicated to writing with the firm belief that philosophy should be taught from a young age. Teaching students at the university, he realized the immense importance of lowering the hurdle to philosophy.
Everyone shares the desire to understand and learn philosophy easily. However, even books for beginners can feel too difficult. Is there a way for such beginners to learn philosophy more easily on their own? Is there a way to learn philosophy comfortably and enjoyably without spending hours poring over the same book? Born from the author's 고민, this comic series was written over 10 years, undergoing several trials and errors. Professor Seo Jung-wook wrote the foundational text about the essential philosophers for beginners, and artist Kim Jae-hoon brought that text to life in comics, adding depth to the knowledge.
To make it easier and more instantly understandable, panel comics were changed to cut comics, and characters that could resonate with readers were introduced, undergoing countless revisions and improvements. The abundant humor added to keep readers from getting bored is a bonus.

The Final Completion of the Series to Grasp the Flow of Western Philosophy History
It clearly explains the ideas of philosophers you've heard of but don't know in detail!

From ancient philosophers Sophists, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle to modern philosophers Husserl, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Sartre, Lacan... All the philosophers and philosophical movements appearing in this book are figures that appear in middle and high school ethics textbooks, forming the basis for learning the history of philosophy. The table of contents is structured to organize and understand the key debates and movements often discussed in the history of philosophy. Each chapter explains the core ideas asserted by philosophers and outlines their historical significance.
Contemporary philosophers practically influence the modern history we live in. Understanding their philosophies allows for a more in-depth comprehension of our society. The "3-Minute Philosophy in Comics" series will provide an overview of the entire history of philosophy, connecting readers with the philosophers who have directly influenced world history and our lives.
Through the ideas of various philosophers, we can not only build a foundation of knowledge but also learn diverse perspectives and shifts in viewpoint for observing life. As society becomes increasingly complex, demanding higher levels of culture and knowledge. At such times, philosophy, which helps broaden our intellectual horizons and shift our perspectives, is an everyday necessity. Through this comic series, we hope readers will experience that philosophy is not merely a difficult academic subject but a discipline that permeates every corner of our daily lives and opens new vistas.

Table of Contents

『3-Minute Philosophy in Comics: Ancient Western Philosophy』
PROLOGUE Why should we know philosophy?
1. The Philosopher Who Worshipped Numbers: Pythagoras
2. The Philosopher Who Loved Fire: Heraclitus
3. Laying the Foundation of Metaphysics and Ontology: Parmenides
4. The Philosopher of Paradox: Zeno
5. Those Who Sold Wisdom: Sophists
6. The Philosopher Who Advocated Unity of Knowledge and Action: Socrates
7. Dreaming of Utopia: Plato
8. Organizing the Syllogism: Aristotle
9. The Street Philosopher Who Practiced Asceticism: Diogenes
10. The Name Symbolizing Pleasure: Epicurus
11. The Spirit of the Roman Empire: Stoicism
EPILOGUE

『3-Minute Philosophy in Comics: Medieval and Modern Western Philosophy』
PROLOGUE Why should we learn philosophy?
1. The Father of Medieval European Thought: Augustine
2. Proving the Existence of God with Logic: Thomas Aquinas
3. The Existence of God, Knowledge or Faith?: The Universal Debate
4. Awakening to the Dawn of Modernity: Rationalism and Empiricism
5. Doubting Everything to Find Truth: Descartes
6. The Philosopher Who Possessed a Free Spirit: Spinoza
7. Human Ideas Are a Blank Slate at Birth: Locke
8. Monads Have No Windows: Leibniz
9. The Philosopher on the Brink: Hume
10. The Paradox of Enlightenment: Rousseau
11. The Name of a Philosopher: Kant
12. Dialectical Thought Becomes Reality: Hegel
EPILOGUE

『3-Minute Philosophy in Comics: Contemporary Western Philosophy』
PROLOGUE Why should we learn philosophy?
1. Utilitarianism: Bentham and Mill
2. Kill Manipulated Morality with Your Own Hands: Nietzsche
3. My Anxious and Pitiful Existence: Kierkegaard
4. For Whom Do We Labor?: Marx
5. Structuralism: Saussure
6. The Planner of Phenomenology: Husserl
7. Into the Language Game: Wittgenstein
8. Existence Must Be Illuminated: Heidegger
9. The Existentialist Evangelist: Sartre
10. Structuralism's Helper: Lacan
EPILOGUE