Philosophy for Living Today

09/05/2021

Who Are You? Questions about the Self (from my website). Have you ever wondered who you are?
Have you had the experience of looking at old photos of yourself and wondered, “Was that really me? What did the world feel like at that point to me? Are you ever anxious and overwhelmed by problems during the night, yet wake up confident – which of those is your real self? IS there a real you? Read at https://philosophyforlivingtoday.org/who-are-you-questions-about-the-self/

11/20/2020

Not What I Expected (from my website). As we hike down Linville Gorge, a path to our right takes a precipitous drop over a series of large rocks that ultimately lead lower to what may be a trail. Hard to tell for sure. The other fork has an even sharper drop. Surely that can’t be the trail? Not what I expected. Hiking, Life, and the philosophy of William James: https://philosophyforlivingtoday.org/not-what-i-expected/

07/31/2020

The Ongoing Pandemic: Illness, Anxiety, Anger and “The View from Above” (from my website).
The virus has triggered much anger and a generalized anxiety about survival, death and the meaningfulness of our lives. Hope is found in the Stoic spiritual exercise of “the view from above.” Read at https://philosophyforlivingtoday.org/the-ongoing-pandemic-illness-anxiety-anger-and-the-view-from-above/ .

pandemic anxiety anger freedom Stoicism tells us we have more control of our desires than we think we do hope for the future view from above

05/05/2020

Philosophy for the Pandemic: Stoicism (from my website). Fear is one of the worst things about the pandemic. Fear of an invisible attacker, of isolation, illness and death. “Some things are up to us and some things are not up to us,” wrote the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. His insights are liberating. Read at https://philosophyforlivingtoday.org/philosophy-for-the-pandemic-stoicism/ .

“Some things are up to us and some things are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions–in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not…

12/07/2019

12/07/2019

David McKnight: What Lives On (from my website). David died almost three years ago, but he is not forgotten. As I’ve come to a time in my life when I’ve lost numerous friends and family, people dear to me, I’ve thought often about the question of how they live on. I’m drawn to the answer of Frederick Buechner….

Friendship. Memory. What lives on. David McKnight. Frederick Buechner. As I’ve come to a time in my life when I’ve lost numerous friends and family, I’ve thought often about the question of how they live on.

08/17/2019

The Life of Stuff and the Life of Simplicity (from my website). George Carlin asks in his inimitable way an excellent question, “That’s the whole meaning of life, isn’t it: trying to find a place to put your stuff?” Why DO we buy all that stuff? What has been the result of the ideal of simplicity in U.S. history? Is decluttering enough? https://philosophyforlivingtoday.org/two-lives-stuff-and-simplicity

06/19/2019

Marie Kondo, Me, and the Philosophy of Simplicity (from my website). Marie Kondo is quite the thing these days. Her #1 best seller book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and her Netflix series both appeal to the desire of countless Americans to get rid of much of their material stuff and to live a less stressful, simpler life. As you can see from my office photo, it’s apparent I really need help!

Marie Kondo ...Her #1 best seller book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Netflix series. Simplicity. What would Epicurus say to us?

02/03/2019

Fixin’ Things. My family lived in a small house built in the 1920’s. By the time I was a young teenager, the house was definitely aging. Things needed fixin’. But we had neither money nor the know-how. One evening we heard loud noises coming from the attic, much too loud for a squirrel. As we read and watched television in the living room, we were concerned. What was that?

Learning to Solve and Think About Problems Zen and Motorcycle Maintenance Buddhism and clinging desire Things needed fixin’. Pragmatism Peirce James Dewey

07/26/2018

What Else Matters? Friendship (from my website). Aristotle is right: who would want to live a life without friends? Our friend David McKnight had endured many steep challenges in his life, including homelessness. When the news came about his brain tumor, it seemed to foretell the sad end of a tragic life. Was it? Let me tell the story of David and of some of his friendships, and you be the judge.
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What else matters beside pleasure? Friendship is one thing. Aristotle is right: who would want to live a life without friends? David McKnight

06/13/2018

What Else Matters? Achievement (from my website). Great achievements often are spread out over a long period of time, requiring a vision of a goal, continued efforts and struggles, mastering complex skills, and mastering of self…. for many years Freddie Sherill was addicted to alcohol and other drugs, in and out of jail, and at times homeless. He could not read. One night in 1988 he hit bottom when…
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What makes life worth living? Achievement as a primary good. Achievement as mastering reality. The importance of context in evaluating an achievement.

05/18/2018

Would you plug in, for life, to a machine that could provide whatever experience you want? The first time I did this thought experiment with a class, one guy said, “Yes, I would plug in.” When asked why, the student did not give a list of pleasures (endless ice cream sundaes, a date with the sexiest singer, etc.), but said “I can be with my friends whenever I want for as long as I want.” Someone replied….
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Nozick experience machine what else matters reality Aristotle balance goods