Live Like A Philosopher
Are Greco-Roman philosophies still relevant to our times? Aren’t our modern problems very different from those faced by people in ancient times? Conversely, however, fundamental human desires and aspirations haven’t changed in the last two millennia, have they? Don’t we still want love, friendship, money, reputation and tranquillity, and still fear sickness, pain, and death? If that is what most of us would agree with, then the instruments devised by the Greco-Romans still constitute a powerful tool kit to help us figure out how we want to live. That is why the theoretical explanations and practical suggestions of 13 ancient philosophies taken up in this book are even today relatable and can guide us, if we allow them to.
Live Like a Philosopher is a collection of essays that aims to help readers relate to these philosophers, without scaring them off with lofty explanations and grand names. Having done a lot of the heavy lifting themselves to develop a life philosophy, the distilled ideas of these philosophers can be utilised to build a coherent and meaningful way of life. Or at the least, that is the idea! Be it Pythagoras or Socrates, the blueprint for thinking about how to live well that they came up with remains highly relevant. Despite representing different philosophical schools, the three dominant themes that run common in them are — feeling good, being good, and thinking well.
Pigliucci, Lopez and Kunz invite readers to expand their horizons and dive into the vast richness of ancient philosophies. Through each philosopher’s life and works, the authors dish out practical exercises that can be applied in our daily lives. These exercises are relevant teachings to be tested over a course of time. The idea is to help the reader question and explore their own philosophical journey in the process. At the end, what is important is not to stick with one set of ideas but to seek a philosophy that one would like to own.
The idea of buying the latest shiny smartphone gives us pleasure, but it doesn’t last long and soon dissipates. Like a drug addict, we soon resume our quest for another shiny object. Should it be pursued more as a matter of choice or as a philosophical question? Whatever it is, philosophy can help us know what to do in such a situation. Essentially, it provides us with a sense of good judgement. Insatiable desire to accumulate more and more things is a form of sickness that not many are aware of. According to the Cyrenaics school of philosophy, we must own our pleasures instead of our pleasures owning us. In other words, it is the immediate physical pleasure that matters, here and now.
This book is an engaging resource for anyone who would like to test drive the ancient Greek and Roman philosophies to suit present life and circumstances. It creates a much-needed bridge between ancient wisdom and modern interpretation. It helps in better understanding rich philosophical ideas, so that these can be applied in present-day modern life. Live Like a Philosopher gives an illuminating opportunity to navigate existential waters with valuable insights and reflections.
The philosophies explored in the book include the Epicurean doctrines of pleasure and avoidance of pain; the Aristotelian philosophy on virtuous character and radical doubt; and Pyrrhonism, the humbling philosophy of life that admits to not knowing much. Despite distinctions between ancient philosophies, the authors have attempted to draw synergies to address modern-day challenges.
Live Like a Philosopher can help create a meaningful life philosophy to navigate a world filled with uncertainty. How can we build a good life for ourselves? This is the loaded question it seeks to address, by using ancient philosophies as a compass to find a new way forward with a sense of purpose. On happiness, Aristotle had remarked, ‘One swallow does not make a summer, nor does one day’. He went further to say that ‘One day, or a short time, does not make a man blessed and happy.’ When you mull over these statements, it becomes evident that a resurgence of interest in philosophies of life is not without reason.