Throughout the storied and colorful history of philosophy, it has made many attempts at defining the good life. With these attempts some common themes began to emerge and a set of general models grew out of the disparate threads of definition that philosophers attached to their specific ideas of what the good life should look like.
When I talk to people about philosophy the conversation is inevitably steered towards the practical value of it. Why does it matter if we engage in deep philosophical inquiry into our lives?
By now you all know my adoration of philosophy as means of personal development. This is especially true of the philosophy of Stoicism, which is seeing a modern resurgence.
There are days, weeks, months when I am worn. Where I am battered and beaten and stretched so thin that I swear I can see through myself.
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We live in an unprecedented time of information. For better or for worse, we have at our fingertips a constant stream of news and social media.
It is a common cry that life is short. There is never enough time to do the things we want to do or to get the things we want to get.
Of all the philosophies so soundly misunderstood and misappropriated, Existentialism deserves to be near the top of the list. During its heyday after World War II it made its rounds –
The world is mostly a cold, dark, bitter, lonely place of gladiatorial-like competition for limited resources, wealth, and power. We are not so far removed from our ancient evolutionary ancestors where we have been able to deny our instincts for territory and abundance with little concern for anyone who lacks them.
The memory of the past can be a haunting thing. A ghost risen and unsettled – wandering aimless through the hollow spaces in our minds and projecting phantom meaning upon our lives.
