Philosophical Practice
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The Afternoon of Life
From Carl Jung’s On the Psychology of the Unconscious: Our life is like the course of the sun. In the morning it gains continually in strength until it reaches the zenith-heat of high noon. Then comes the enantiodromia: the steady forward movement no longer denotes an increase, but a decrease, in strength. Thus our task Continue reading
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On the Separation of the Soul From the Body
As I grow older, I find myself increasingly inclined toward the Platonic position that the body is indeed something akin to a prison of the soul. My body is my own, yes. And yet, I and my body are not one and the same thing. In youth, we experience a false sense of security with Continue reading
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Mind, Memory, and the Craft of Learning
I would like to share some reflections on an interesting book from my library: Mind and Memory Training by Ernest E. Wood (1974 edition). In the second chapter, Wood identifies four principles (or laws, as he calls them) that aid the student in concentration. These are: L1. The Law of Classes Example: Mammal → Cow; Continue reading
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Philosophy and its Literary Forms
While academic philosophy has a place in philosophy, its method and mode of inquiry constitute merely a subdivision—a species or specification—of philosophical inquiry itself. In many cases, academic philosophy even diverges from genuine philosophical inquiry, particularly as it trends toward increasing specialization. There is a sense in which over-specialization erodes philosophical inquiry, as it shifts Continue reading
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By Word and Deed II
To live “by word and deed” is not merely to do in accordance with one’s declarations. It also serves as a metaphor for the philosophical way of life—or perhaps better, a philosophical way of life, for each life lived is uniquely one’s own. While the particularities of life differ from person to person, the philosophical Continue reading
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By Word and Deed I
Achilles, loved of heaven, you bid me tell you about the anger of King Apollo, I will therefore do so; but consider first and swear that you will stand by me heartily in word and deed; for I know that I shall offend one who rules the Argives with might, to whom all the Achaeans Continue reading
Remarks 