Plato's Elixir: Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems: Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems

Author: Lou Marinoff
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-04-01
Features: The author introduces a new industry—the methods used in philosophical consulting. In the author's view, philosophy should not just be an academic discipline but should also be able to solve practical problems, helping people to understand themselves. Philosophical consulting, as a form of advisory behavior that adjusts psychology and guides life, relies on the crystallization of human wisdom over thousands of years. Whether it is Socrates, Plato, Hegel, Laozi, Confucius, or Zhuangzi, the wisdom and teachings they left behind can serve as references and insights for real-life situations. Moreover, philosophical consulting does not treat the consultee as a patient but as an ignorant person—someone who has conflicts between desires and goals, personality and social roles, or self and others. From a philosophical perspective, not understanding oneself is the greatest problem. Some conflicts may be intense, but this is not an illness. Understanding oneself requires one's own wisdom. The author introduces a new industry—the methods used in philosophical consulting. In the author's view, philosophy should not just be an academic discipline but should also be able to solve practical problems, helping people to understand themselves. Philosophical consulting, as a form of advisory behavior that adjusts psychology and guides life, relies on the crystallization of human wisdom over thousands of years. Whether it is Socrates, Plato, Hegel, Laozi, Confucius, or Zhuangzi, the wisdom and teachings they left behind can serve as references and insights for real-life situations. Moreover, philosophical consulting does not treat the consultee as a patient but as an ignorant person—someone who has conflicts between desires and goals, personality and social roles, or self and others. From a philosophical perspective, not understanding oneself is the greatest problem. Some conflicts may be intense, but this is not an illness. Understanding oneself requires one's own wisdom.