Creating a Philosophy of Life Essay

What is Philosophy? Well, by conventional definition, Philosophy is the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct. This, while providing a contextual definition of the word philosophy, just scratches the surface of its actual meaning. In this essay we will attempt to answer “What is Philosophy?” by discussing the works of Plato and Rene Descartes. First we begin by summarizing and comparing the theme of their works for similarities so as to better form a definition. We will then move on to develop our conclusion and hopefully gain a better understanding of “What is Philosophy?”

Personal lifestyle choices can be influenced by the family of origin, peers, social movements, and global revolutions, and can have a positive or negative life-long impact. A COUPLE OF SENTENCES DEFINING THE LIFE COURSE PERSPECTIVE AND HOW/WHY IT IS USEFUL IN UNDERSTANDING OLDER ADULTS. Based on an in-depth qualitative interview, this paper will include an analysis of lifestyle choices and trajectories, particularly how human agency and cohort effects, have impacted the life course of my interviewee Chris (Christine).

The concept of living “the good life” means something different for everyone. There is a general understanding that living “the good life” is associated with unyielding happiness and lasting satisfaction. The exact meaning of this desired life was pondered by thinkers and philosophers for hundreds of years. They constructed principals of behavior, thought, and obligation that would categorize a person as “good”. Although some of these ancient philosophies about “the good life” had overlapping ideas, their concepts varied widely. This contrast of ideas can be examined through two major characters in two famous works: Aeneas in “The Aeneid” and Socrates in “The Apology”. Aeneas exemplifies the philosophy that the direct route to “the good life" is through faith, trust in the Gods, and family, while Socrates in “The Apology” emphasizes free will, and vast knowledge of life.

Having discussed what philosophy is, we now consider why it is important to study philosophy. We will divide our discussion into 2 parts: (1) Why is it important for all persons in general and (2) Why is it specifically important for Christians to study philosophy? We begin, in true philosophic fashion, by examining the question itself: what we do mean by philosophy being important and we introduce the idea of the philosophic mindset. We then examine 5 reasons why it is important for all persons to adopt the philosophic mindset. We will end by providing an overview of the different branches of philosophy.

Unlike many other disciplines and ways of studying the world, the philosophical approach can vary from person to person and take many shapes, without restricting itself to one specific method at all time. That quality alone has given enormous freedom and variation to the work of many great philosophers, even on the subject of philosophy. To this end, we now turn our attention to Socrates and Voltaire, two of the great philosophers and their concerns and though on philosophy.

In this paper I will be discussing the tripartite (three parts) of the soul that Socrates discussed in chapter 6 of Plato’s Republic, and I will compare and contrast them to that of Aristotle and Anthony Kenny. In Plato’s Republic the three parts of the soul consist of the rational, spirited and, desire. In this dialogue the three parts of the soul go hand and hand with three parts of a just society.

Chapter one in the book Constructing a life Philosophy shows a variety of opinions on life philosophies. From what I understood from reading all four of the views was that they believe it wise for people to be flexible in the way we live our lives. I would like to discuss further what each of them had to say.

What is Philosophy? Well, by conventional definition, Philosophy is the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct. This, while providing a contextual definition of the word philosophy, just scratches the surface of its actual meaning. In this essay we will attempt to answer “What is Philosophy?” by discussing the works of Plato and Rene Descartes. First, we begin by summarizing and comparing the theme of their works for similarities so as to better form a definition. In order to begin answering the question, “What is Philosophy?” we must comprehend each author’s method, themes, and goals throughout their works.

He received a masters degree in philosophy from King’s College London (kcl.ac.uk) and pursued a PhD in French Philosophy at Harvard University (de Botton) before leaving to write his how to philosophy books. In Alain de Botton’s works a genuine love for philosophy can be found. In his book, The Consolations of Philosophy, Alain de Botton provides ample background into the lives and environments of significant Philosophers as a means helping the reader understand both the philosophical concepts, and to help spread de Botton’s passion for learning to his readers. His’ passion is seen through historical background of the philosopher Seneca. This is evidenced in going as far as providing historical context as to Roman Emperor Nero’s sadistic actions against Rome and Seneca (75-76) and providing the details as to Seneca’s numerous forced suicide attempts (76-77). The style in which de Botton provides this historical context gives evidence as to his love of learning as he compares paintings of Seneca’s death to the actual events (77). The career choices, written topics, and the presentation of the topics all point to the fact that Alain de Botton’s first love is to work and live in the learning environment that academia

Every person has a unique answer to so-called life questions, but experts like Blaise Pascal and Rene Descartes have examined and reasoned with the norms of the enlightenment era. The theologians and philosophers during that time have produced such popular works that they have been used as a foundation for reason today. In Pascal 's Pensees, and Descartes’ Discourse on Method, they take steps to examining and reflecting on their own answers to life questions. If Pascal and Descartes conversed with each other about skepticism and searching for the truth, their approaches would be different and highly critical of each other, but their conclusions would be the same.

Philosophy plays an important role not only in modern society, but also in society as a whole.

The purpose of this paper is to explore Seneca meaning of virtue and how one must live to achieve it and what it means to live what he calls the “ultimate good” and how differs from other historic philosophers. Which he concluded that in order for one to become truly happy can only be obtain through virtue. According to Seneca, one must have a natural limit to desires, by living according to nature. Another example he gives is how virtue is not a form of many but a single virtue. Another main reason he provides is the supreme good cannot be diminish. How a man who is happy has the right reasons.

A perpetual conflict emanating throughout all mankind questions the significance of knowledge to human nature, regarding knowledge’s definition, acquisition, branches, and value. Major role models in the foundation of philosophy - specifically, in this essay, Plato and Aristotle - obsess over the significance of knowledge and its importance to and relationship with the development of human beings and their mindsets. Although Plato’s view on knowledge describes the internal predisposed essence of all Forms and the need for a superior being to extract them from the student, Aristotle’s outlook resides as more reliable and realistic due to his beliefs in the premise of knowledge in the sensation and perception, with continuing development in memory, experience, art and science, and, ultimately, true wisdom.

In the later part of this essay, the work of Augustine of Hippo (or Saint Augustine) will be discussed. Augustine is considered as one of the most influential Church Fathers, who developed classical Christian philosophy with his works, in which he drew from Stoic principles, as well as from Plato and other Hellenistic thinkers.

Descartes and Augustine, in their respective examinations of the mind and God, come to the conclusion that the true understanding of all things derives from the withdrawal of the self from foreign influence and the necessity to look inward. Although each thinker’s journey or course of understanding was different, and at times rather contrasting, their ultimate realizations about knowledge are very coherent.