Philosophy Archives

Aristotle’s Telos Doctrine—Explained

What is the meaning of the Aristotelian concept of “telos”? What is the basic idea behind the teleological argument? Aristotle had a “teleological” view of the world. He believed that everything had an end goal or purpose (a “telos” in ancient Greek). According to Michael Sandel, the author of Justice, Aristotle used this view to explain politics as a whole as well as the relationship between politics and individuals. Keep reading to learn about Aristotle’s telos doctrine and how it applies to justice and society.

Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave (Book Overview)

Do you consider yourself to be brave? What if you cultivated more courage in your life? In Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave, Ryan Holiday teaches the meaning of courage through the lens of Stoicism. He argues that every person has the innate ability to be courageous. When you overcome fear and choose to do the right thing every day, you can effect positive change in the world. Keep reading for an overview of this inspiring and practical book.

Best Books About the Meaning of Life (Shortform’s Picks)

Why do you get up in the morning? What gives your life meaning and purpose? Many people can’t answer these questions. Even worse, they’re stuck in dysfunctional lifestyles that prevent them from ever finding out what their purpose is. If that sounds like you, a good starting point is to explore different perspectives by reading books on the subject. With this in mind, here are our picks of the best books about the meaning of life.

Brave Decisions: How to Make Choices Like a Stoic Philosopher

Should you make a decision before you have all of the information? How should you balance risk and safety in the decision-making process? In Courage Is Calling, Ryan Holiday gives advice on accepting uncertainty and being bold in decision-making in the style of ancient Stoic philosophy. This involves embracing uncertainty and making choices before they’re made for you. Continue reading to learn about making brave decisions, the Stoic way.

Motivated by Love: Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reason

What’s the opposite of fear? When you do the right thing, how much does your motive matter? In Courage Is Calling, Ryan Holiday asserts that love is the driving force behind heroic acts of courage. He also warns that courageous acts done for the wrong reasons aren’t virtuous at all. Read more to learn why you should be motivated by love—and why doing the right thing for the right reason is so important.

C. S. Lewis: Free Will Solves the Paradox of Evil

Why does evil exist? Why would an all-powerful, all-loving God allow evil and suffering? For millennia, people have struggled with this paradox. According to C. S. Lewis, free will is to blame. He lays out his argument in his classic book Mere Christianity. Keep reading to understand how free will solves the problem of evil and suffering.

Courage Is Calling: Quotes From Ryan Holiday to Inspire Action

Are you looking for Courage Is Calling quotes? What excerpts from the book capture the book’s message? Ryan Holiday’s Courage Is Calling teaches the meaning of courage using principles from the Greek philosophy of Stoicism. Holiday argues that every person has the innate ability to be courageous. When you overcome fear and choose to do the right thing every day, you can effect positive change in the world. Keep reading for five quotes from the book that will give you a glimpse into its ideas.

C. S. Lewis: The Law of Human Nature Points to a Creator

Is morality objective or subjective? Is Christianity credible? Is there evidence for a creator? According to C. S. Lewis, the law of human nature points to something extraordinary. In Mere Christianity, one of his major arguments for the credibility of Christianity is that morality is objective, universal, and non-material. Furthermore, he argues that these qualities provide evidence for the existence of a creator. Continue reading to learn the philosophy of C. S. Lewis on the law of human nature.

The Importance of Asking Questions: Exposing Flaws & Gaps

What are the flaws and gaps in your logic and knowledge? If you don’t already know what they are, how can you surface them? Constantly asking questions will help you strengthen your foundational knowledge because it expands your thinking, opening you to new insights about what you already know (or think you know). You can use questions to expose flaws in your reasoning and gaps in your knowledge. Keep reading to learn about the importance of asking questions when it comes to understanding.

What Is the Monkey Mind & How to Tame It

What is the monkey mind? What causes it? How can you tame your monkey mind? Michael Singer is an American spiritual teacher, motivational speaker, and author. Through the lifelong practice of meditation and yoga, Singer recognized his unwanted mental chatter—his monkey mind—and described advice for silencing it in his book The Surrender Experiment. Keep reading to learn more about what the monkey mind is and how to tame it, according to Singer.