I agree with you, because it would be too time consuming to read all original sources. To get the context (how ideas evolved over time) you need to learn a bit

I agree with you, because it would be too time consuming to read all original sources. To get the context (how ideas evolved over time) you need to learn a bit about the history of philosophy. On the other hand reading original sources gives you more than a summary. The way of thinking leading to the idea or the way the idea is presented is often more interesting than the idea itself. Take Platon for example. The way he teaches his ideas in dialogue form is very pedagogical. It is even used in psychology [0]. An other example is Freud. He uses a very genius style of logical reasoning. Reading a summary of his ideas doesn't help you because you'll probably not understand it (and think it's nonsense) and sometimes he is just wrong (e.g. homosexuality is mental illness). [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_questioning#Psychology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_questioning#Psycholog...